This issue of Carmel Contact:
Prior Provincial's Message
In this issue, Fr Bruce Clark (Prior Provincial) highlights the recent General Chapter held in Malang, Indonesia. A General Chapter is a time to asses the present and plan for the future, a time for both renewal and new beginnings. The Chapter, held in a place where there are a large number of young Carmelites in training, brought a sense of vitality, energy and optimism.
During the Chapter a new leadership team (General Council) was elected: Fr Desiderio García Martínez (Prior General), Fr Hariawan Adji (Vice Prior General), Fr Michael Farrugia (Procurator General), Fr Christian Körner (Bursar General), Fr Eric Chrisostome N'Do (General Councillor for Africa), Fr Rolf Nepomuk (Nepi) Willemsen (General Councillor for The Americas), Fr Robert Puthussery (General Councillor for Asia, Australia, Oceania) and Fr Richard Byrne (General Councillor for Europe).
The new General Council will gather up the reflections and decisions of the Chapter in formulating a plan for the next 6 years of development for the Carmelites.
Guisarudo: A growing mission in the heart of Timor-Lest
Find out all about our newest mission in Timor covering some 26,000 residents. Through the Carmelite mission, Guisarudo is entering a new chapter. By strengthening spiritual life, supporting education, improving infrastructure, facilitating community programs, and assisting in critical challenges such as malnutrition, the Carmelites are walking alongside the community to build a more resilient, sustainable future. As the mission grows, it reflects the heart of Carmelites: a life of prayer and service, rooted in faith and lived in love.
Building community across boarders
In July 5 Australian Lay Carmelites visited the Lay Carmelites in Timor-Leste for the first time. They were welcomed by around 80 Timorese Lay Carmelites with singing, dancing and generous hospitality. They joined in celebrations for the feasts of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Prophet Elijah. The visit also included stops at the new Carmelite chapel in Guisarudo, the Carmelite Student House in Hera, and the Carmelite Sisters’ orphanage, offering a glimpse into the vibrant life and ministry of the Carmelites in Timor-Leste. A farewell gathering in Hera brought together youth, children, neighbours, and community members for an evening of music, dance, and celebration.
With over 300 Lay Carmelites in Timor-Leste, this visit was a beautiful reminder of the strength and joy found in shared faith and community.
Scholarships that change lives - stories of strength and service
This year, 12 students supported by the Community Scholarship graduated from university in Timor-Leste. Among them were Zelia dos Santos Alves and Sebastiao Fonseca Gusmao—two future nurses whose journeys reflect the transformative power of education. Aida da Costa, Development Program Coordinator, attended their graduation ceremonies, celebrating not only academic achievement but the courage behind each milestone.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, our scholarship programs continue to offer life-changing opportunities for young people pursuing tertiary and vocational education. Zelia’s and Sebastiao’s graduation marks a step toward that goal and are a testament to the impact of donor-supported scholarships. Their journey reflects the power of education to create meaningful change - one patient, one community, one future at a time.
We are deeply grateful for the commitment and generosity of our donors, supporters, and communities across Australia and Timor-Leste. Your contributions continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and their communities in Timor-Leste. If you would like to learn more or to support Carmel Impact please visit www.carmelimpact.org.au. Thank you!
In quiet light: The life and legacy of Fr Jerome Watt, O.Carm.
The Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste are mourning the loss of Fr Jerome Watt, who died peacefully on 21 August 2025 at St Vincent’s Care, Kangaroo Point (QLD), where he had lived for the past eight years. He was 89 years old and had been a Carmelite for 73 years and a priest for 66.
At his Requiem Mass in Middle Park, his nephew Marty McKenna shared a reflection Fr Jerome once wrote.
“How you would love to meet a person, whose silence overflows into their works. We priests carry within us a special silence, as listeners and keepers of the silences of others...
Perhaps, in the minds of some, there is an expectation, that whatever silence we carry within us, or speak from, is in league with God.”
As we remember Fr Jerome—Uncle Jim to his family—we give thanks for a life lived in loving memory and in living mission. His legacy continues in the light he shared with others, a light that, as Psalm 18:28 reminds us, God keeps burning even in our darkest moments.
These are just some of the stories in this issue of Carmel Contact. pdf Download and read the full issue.