Every Carmel has a title of special dedication and our own Carmel is under the patronage of Christ the Good Shepherd. This was at the request of Bishop Wheeler at the time of our Foundation. He was anxious to have the prayers of Carmel for Ecumenism, the work that was at the heart of the Diocesan Centre.
The desire of Christ “that they may all be one, as you Father are in me and I in you … so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.” (Jn 17:21) was the goal of all that took place here.
This is a title we love as it reflects the rolling hills and pastoral setting in which we live. Our friend Rosemary Roberts carved for us a plaque of the Good Shepherd from a discarded piece of elm wood – drawing beauty out of the chaos of that destruction.
This carving is among us in our chapel as we continue to pray there, day in and day out, with and in Christ, for the unity he so desires.
We are also called to share in Christ’s shepherding, by holding in our hearts his world and his Church in love and service. Through prayer, especially, we desire to unite with Christ’s own work of looking for the lost one, bringing back the stray, bandaging the wounded and making the weak strong -embracing God’s world in our prayer.
“[T]hat they may all be one, as you Father are in me and I in you
… so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.”
(Jn 17:21)