““Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, [Who] if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.””
The Carmel of Elijah
In March 2019, four Carmelite nuns took their first steps into their new rural home in Mathoura, NSW. These Sisters, two of whom were born and raised in Australia before moving to the United States to pursue their vocations, were invited by Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green to found a Carmelite monastery in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes. Originally known as the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, when it attained canonical autonomy in 2024, the monastery was renamed the Carmel of Elijah, in recognition of the Prophet Elijah’s special intercession and his example for the Sisters’ remote Carmelite life.
History
The Carmel of Elijah traces its roots back to one of the initial foundations of St Teresa of Avila in Caravaca, Spain. This foundation oversaw the establishment of a Carmel in Puebla, Mexico, and from Puebla came another Carmelite foundation in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Due to religious persecutions in the early 1900s, these Carmelites escaped in secret to San Francisco, where they founded the monastery of Cristo Rey. From there, a group was invited to make a foundation in Las Vegas (1988-1999), which subsequently relocated to Lincoln, NE (1999), the monastery from which the sisters came to establish the Carmel of Elijah in Australia.
a mission in the australian outback
Living a simple and hidden life, the Sisters offer their daily prayers and sacrifices for all those living in the world, especially priests and leaders of the Church. In the years since their arrival and with the generous support of benefactors, the Sisters have truly made their 20 acre property into a home. The Sisters keep a large variety of animals, such as sheep, alpacas and donkeys, and employ themselves in many simple tasks such as spinning, weaving, cooking and sewing. Although the hot climate has presented a challenge to establishing gardens, the Sisters have managed to grow many of their own fruit and vegetables.
A new monastery
Since their arrival to Australia in 2019, they have been joined by a number of young vocations from the wider local area. To accommodate their growth, the Sisters have been living in temporary housing on their property. After many years of prayers and planning, construction for Stage 1 of their new monastery residence is expected to commence in 2026. Built principally from rammed-earth, with a stone Chapel, the monastery will not only provide extra living space for the Sisters but will serve as a haven of prayer in the Australian outback.