Fr Januario (Janu) Pinto OCarm, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Wentworthville, has mastered the art of living in the moment. Over the course of our conversation, we return to this point, whether we are talking about his work as a priest, the upcoming Diocesan Synod or even advice for our young pilgrims about to head to Europe in the footsteps of the saints.
Originally from Timor-Leste, Fr Janu joined the Carmelites straight from school in 2004. He arrived in Australia in 2014 to continue his Theological studies at the Yarra Theological Union (YTU) in Melbourne after studying English at the Australian Catholic University.
His first parish placement was in Brisbane before arriving in Wentworthville as Assistant Parish Priest in 2021 in the middle of the pandemic lockdown. In December 2022, he was appointed Parish Priest.
While we sit over a ‘cuppa’, Fr Janu reflects on his philosophy for life.
“Just keep going, keep planning, keep doing and keep learning.”
Fr Januario (Janu) Pinto OCarm, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville, in his workshop, where creating beautiful woodwork creations brings him peace and balance. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
This approach to his spirituality sees Fr Janu keeping busy serving others, and ensuring there is balance in his life. “We all need to have dreams and plans and goals,” he says. But rather than focus on the goals, he remains focused on the present.
“It’s important to find God’s presence where you are, and whenever people need me, I will be there.”
When I ask how he can stay in the present in a busy, stressful world, Fr Janu reveals, alongside hobbies such as photography, fishing and cycling, his great passion. “When I’m stressed, I go to my ‘chapel’,” he says of his woodworking studio metres from his parish office. The cuppa abandoned, we go to explore Fr Janu’s converted garage. Inside, hundreds of pieces of timber that Fr Janu collects when he is out and about are piled alongside two mitre saws, a planer, a table saw, a large workbench and dozens of tools. Everything, says Fr Janu, has been donated or recycled.
On the wall is a picture of St Joseph teaching the child Jesus carpentry skills. As a child in Timor-Leste, Fr Janu’s grandfather taught him carpentry. Now, working with wood brings him peace. Fr Janu makes beautiful timber tables, crosses and other items using a variety of woods. One of his favourite pieces is a small altar used in the Carmelite Community Chapel with an intricate pattern of inlaid wood. The pieces he has used reflect his life in Australia so far. “There’s wood from Glenrowan in Victoria, wood from Brisbane, Tasmanian Oak from the old kneelers in the Wentworthville Church and some Cedar given to me by a parishioner,” he points out.
Fr Januario (Janu) Pinto OCarm (left), Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville, and Fr Anthony Scerri OCarm in the community’s chapel with the altar made by Fr Janu. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
Fr Janu sees Jesus as someone who also lived in the moment through his availability to the people around him.
“Jesus was there to listen to people. It’s one thing that made him famous.”
“People felt listened to. They could tell him about their grief, or their experience and he was just there with them,” he says. “We are all called to do that in our pastoral ministry,” he says.
“Listening is healing. When people can share their stories, it is like a release.”
The World Youth Day pilgrims will be visiting the convent of Carmelite saint, St Teresa of Ávila. Fr Janu’s advice? “Don’t think too much about the history when you go to a holy place,” he advises. “But think what it is about that saint that you can bring into your own life right now.”
This article was originally published in the 2023 Ordinary Time | Winter edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here.
