“Be ye therefore perfect as also your heavenly Father is perfect”
(Matt. 5:48)

 “The Third (Secular) Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and of the Holy Mother Saint Teresa of Jesus is an association of persons who, though living in the world, desire to aim at Christian perfection in the way most suitable to their state of life, according to the spirit and under the direction of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, under the protection of the August Queen of Carmel, and in imitation of the many saints whose virtues have adorned her venerable Order." (From the manual of the of the Third (secular) Order of Our Blessed Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Teresa of Jesus)
 
Many people feel an interior desire to enjoy a greater intimacy with God. “Carmel not only invites souls to come and eat of the fruits of her vineyard and the best fruits thereof, but she clothes them as well in the garment of salvation and the livery of the Queen of Heaven. The bestowal of a garment is a token of a most intimate friendship. Jacob gave to Joseph, the child of his predilection, a robe of many colours as pledge of his tender love. Anna brought to her little son Samuel a tunic made by her own hands as token of her maternal solicitude. Jonathan despoiled himself of his princely garments to clothe David, because he loved him ‘as his own soul,’ and Eliseus demanded the mantle of Elias, as the most precious inheritance of his departing father; so the most holy Virgin has woven in Heaven a garment for her exiled children, and has made the Order of Carmel her almoner to distribute the precious gift as a token of her unceasing care and a ‘sign of salvation.’ The Scapular, then, is the great and distinctive devotion of Carmel, the priceless treasure of Mary’s chosen Order. The extraordinary favours accorded to it, through the infinite mercy of God, have been gratefully received and treasured for centuries by the learned and the simple, the great and the humble children of Mary the Mother of Mercy and Queen of Carmel." (Mt. Carmel, chapter VIII, pages 95 - 96)
 
All Carmelites are devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the great example for the tertiary of patiently accepting our state of life and living it in union with God. As Our Lady’s only desire whilst on earth, was to do the will of God, we as tertiaries turn to her constantly to teach and guide us in this way of total abandonment to His Holy Will.
 
Our vocation is a hidden life of prayer and sacrifice, offering all the duties of the day and keeping our Carmelite Rule, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. This simple life, if faithfully lived, is most pleasing to God and brings great peace and joy to the soul.
 
The Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Teresa of Jesus was revived in 1991 at The Child Jesus and St. Joseph Church, Rockdale, NSW Australia, and has grown to a membership of 69 members, 12 of whom reside in other countries.

Meetings

New South Wales

The Child Jesus and St. Joseph Church, Rockdale

Third Saturday of the month at 10am.

Victoria

Corpus Christi Church, Tynong

Second Saturday of the month, after 8am Mass.

For more information, please contact:

Fr. Edward F. MacDonald
Director

17 Alexander Road
P.O. Box 1022
Oxley, QLD 4075, Australia

Phone: [61] 7 3278 6607
Fax: [61] 7 3278 6608

The Novice Mistress
Mrs. Denise Von Hagt
Flat 1/7 Main Street
Nar Nar Goon, VIC  3812
Australia

Phone: [61] 3 5942 5791