Discalced Carmelite Nun Communities

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='Blessed&Grateful' timestamp='1337734222' post='2433805']
I have always had a soft spot for the Port Tobacco Carmel. I don't think they are bilingual though.
[/quote]
They are not. I'm discerning with them! Deo Gratias! I was priveleged to visit in January and I absolutely loved it.

[quote name='miles Christi' timestamp='1337698266' post='2433664']
[sub]The fact that all the sisters at Port Tobacco received our Lord in the hand during Holy Communion really saddened my heart… [/sub][sub]I visited them with our diocesean women's discernment group and the Vocation Director took some photos:[/sub]

[sub][img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yylua9kUfhY/SBDApkp5tLI/AAAAAAAABMA/yYsz7FKjBkU/s720/2008%2520Spring%2520Nun%2520Run%2520043.jpg[/img][/sub]

[sub][img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QAcQe1z2NDw/SBDAr0p5tMI/AAAAAAAABMI/bXiMVkIISSM/s720/2008%2520Spring%2520Nun%2520Run%2520045.jpg[/img][/sub]


[/quote]
Actually, not all the sisters recieve in the hand. Their novice, Sr. Therese received on the tongue. I really loved PT Carmel because of their moderate views towards having to leave the cloister for family death, doctor's appointments, and the essentials. I met with the NM and had the loveliest time there. She was so fun and sweet, and at the same time so holy. It felt like home for me at PT. I have been discerning with them since Fall of 2011. God be praised.

Oh, and I LOVE these pictures of the sisters.

Edited May 23, 2012 by FutureCarmeliteClaire

[miles Christi]

+
ahhh alpargatas – thanks so much Reminiscere for reminding me what they’re called, I couldn’t remember for the life of me.
Good to know that the nuns within the enclosure actually wear them – thanks for insight
I’d be interested to know why they don’t have them in Valparaiso?!

And I must say that I’m quite impressed at how much you know about women religious for being a guy… how’s that if I may ask?!

[miles Christi]

[i]+[/i]

[i]" Actually, not all the sisters recieve in the hand. Their novice, Sr. Therese received on the tongue."[/i]

Deo gratias!!

[Indwelling Trinity]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1337219364' post='2431531']
I'd recommend the Carmel in Buffalo, NY. I was corresponding with Mother Miriam and fully intended to visit, but I realized that, the only reason I was seeking out the Carmelites was for my own selfish desires -- not the desires of God. I had become obsessed with St. Therese of Lisieux and this monastery was named for her the day she was canonized in 1925. They say that the whole monastery smelled of roses that day. I'd recommend it to anyone who had a true desire to live the Carmelite life.

The monastery was begun by Mother Elias of the Blessed Sacrament from Mexico. She lived during the Mexican Revolution, at a time when nuns were not safe in Mexico and were persecuted if they were discovered. She was found out and brought before the firing squad along with her companion. She promised St. Therese, that if she protected her, she would build a monastery in her honor. Mother Elias and her companion heard the shots and sunk to the ground. But they were not killed. She was able to escape to Cuba and then, eventually, to New Orleans.

She had great devotion to the Infant Jesus, and a beautiful, life-like statue which is now at the Ada-Parnell monastery. Once, during her travels through Mexico, trying to avoid arrest, Mother was on a train, dressed as a housewife. She had the statue of Baby Jesus in her arms wrapped in a blanket, like a real baby. There were revolutionary soldiers on the train. One of them, vigilant for escaping religious, noticed Mother Elias and her little bundle. "That baby is being awfully quiet," he said, and started over towards Mother. At that moment, the statue of the Infant came to life, and began to wail like a living child. The soldiers left Mother alone.

The first foundation was in Grand Rapids, MI (now Ada Parnell, MI). But Mother had to keep her promise and found a monastery in honor of St. Therese, however, since St. Therese was not yet canonized that was impossible. News of the canonization began and Mother received permission to dedicate the new monastery in Buffalo, NY on the day of the canonization. This occurred on May 17th, 1925. On the day of the dedication, the nuns claimed that they smelled roses and felt Therese's presence. The monastery was the first dedication EVER to St. Therese.

Here is some more information on Mother Elias:

[url="http://fountainofelias.blogspot.com/2009/07/mother-mary-elias-of-blessed-sacrament.html"]Part 1[/url]
[url="http://fountainofelias.blogspot.com/2009/07/mother-elias-part-2.html"]Part 2[/url]

The Brooklyn Carmel is a foundation of the Buffalo Carmel. The original Carmel in Brooklyn closed and the nuns were dispersed to a few monasteries, however, it was their hope that Brooklyn would, once again, be opened. They didn't see it in their lifetime, but their dream came true.

Since there is not a website for Brooklyn and they don't appear to be a part of a Carmelite association (Buffalo is part of St. Joseph's Association of Carmelites), it's quite difficult to remember when the new monastery was founded. The Carmel in Brooklyn actually doesn't have the Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) but the Ordinary Form as Buffalo does, with a mix of Latin and English. Then they pray the entire Office (of the new rite) in Latin, as Buffalo and Alexandria do also. I've never visited there, but know a couple people who have, and I've heard it's beautiful.

The Carmel in Alexandria, SD is also a foundation from Buffalo so they are very strict in their observance, as well. Ada (Parnell)'s Carmel has relaxed it's observance and is no longer a 1990 Carmel but a 1991.

I hope this helps!
[/quote]

There is one sister there who was from the first Brooklyn Carmel who did make it back to Brooklyn when it was re-founded. I will leave her name out. I was a Novice in Brooklyn Carmel at the time they were suppressed. They are a very strict Carmel.

[Indwelling Trinity]

[quote name='Antoniette' timestamp='1337641905' post='2433369']
Brooklyn is slowly growing. Of the five nuns who were there when the original closed in 1997,3 went to Bufallo, where they interacted with the young sisters who made the foundation. So there was continuity. Unfortunately 2 were very old, and the third, though young became seriously ill. Mother Miriam went ahead with the foundation-she gets a lot of thanks and prayers from me. The 4th, Prioress Mother Marie Ange went to Dallas, where she has since passed. (The 5th, Sr. Maria is at St. Helens England)

Brooklyn, Buffalo, Dallas and even Philadelphia Carmel are all worth inquiries. I'm sure there are more, but I know of these and recommend them.
[/quote]

Mother Marie Ange was my Novice Mistress and sub prioress. Mother Josephs Marie was my Prioress... they all suffered very much. I wonder what happened to the canonization process of Mother Mary Electa who was from Brooklyn?

[Indwelling Trinity]

[quote name='miles Christi' timestamp='1337698266' post='2433664']
[sub]+[/sub]
[sub]I’d totally second MaterMisericordiae’s Buffalo recommendation – I visited their monastery back in 2008 and it was such a wonderful experience. [/sub]
[sub]One of their extern sisters, Sr Agnes was super kind and very accommodating and even arranged a visit with Reverend Mother despite my unannounced visit. She gave me the cell # of the other extern sister, Sr Consolata, in case I needed to reach them during my time there. I wasn’t actually staying at the monastery - I was just visiting in the Niagra Falls area in Canada and since I heard from the MCs how wonderful the Buffalo Carmelites were I decided to visit them… [/sub]

[sub]My visit with Rev. Mother was particularly memorable but unfortunately not for any spiritual reason but more so because I think I managed to make a fool of myself… when she asked me where I was staying I just blurted out (without thinking about how it would sound) that I was staying at Yogi Bear camp in Jellystone Park – need I describe Rev. Mother’s look on her face? Well, what can I say, I truly enjoy camping and wouldn’t have exchanged that little cabin for the finest hotel … sorry for the sidetrack there.[/sub]

[sub]After all that though, Sr. Agnes invited me to spend as much time at the Monastery as I wished so I ended up driving down from Jellystone Park and over the Canadian border to the Monastery every morning. The 2 extern Sisters stayed in the main church during the Hours, chanting along with the rest of the community behind the grilles – Sister Agnes told me where to sit so I could have a peak at them . Those who have already been there know how lovely their chant is. I can’t recommend enough a visit there and I can’t imagine them not thriving either.[/sub]
[sub]Their habit is the beautiful traditional Spanish habit too – without the rope sandals though (or at least the externs weren’t wearing them)[/sub]

[sub]Here is Sr. Agnes in Buffalo on the day of her final vows (I think these were posted on other threads too a few yrs back):[/sub]

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ttZdWkLjkpc/T7ugzeyp3BI/AAAAAAAABXU/f0UjOzSVtoQ/s596/june%25202008%2520001.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8DUXaEh3ZrQ/T7ugzBkx_NI/AAAAAAAABXQ/XPHnCGrkH_4/s400/Sr.%2520Agnes%2520Marie%2520of%2520the%2520Eternal%2520High%2520Priest.jpg[/img]
[sub]I[/sub]
[sub]also visited a couple other East Coast Carmels – Port Tobacco in MD and Flemington NJ.[/sub]

[sub]Neither of these have left such a great impression on me though as Buffalo did.[/sub]

[sub]The fact that all the sisters at Port Tobacco received our Lord in the hand during Holy Communion really saddened my heart… [/sub][sub]I visited them with our diocesean women's discernment group and the Vocation Director took some photos:[/sub]

[sub][img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yylua9kUfhY/SBDApkp5tLI/AAAAAAAABMA/yYsz7FKjBkU/s720/2008%2520Spring%2520Nun%2520Run%2520043.jpg[/img][/sub]

[sub][img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QAcQe1z2NDw/SBDAr0p5tMI/AAAAAAAABMI/bXiMVkIISSM/s720/2008%2520Spring%2520Nun%2520Run%2520045.jpg[/img][/sub]

[sub][img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6MZUjjQsfII/SBDAvkp5tOI/AAAAAAAABMY/TSEKb6KEfbE/s720/2008%2520Spring%2520Nun%2520Run%2520060.jpg[/img][/sub]

[sub]The Flemington Carmel was in more of a rural setting with cows, goats, chickens… nice quite place and they had an Indian priest as their chaplain.[/sub]

[sub]Sorry but I don’t know of any English-Spanish communities.[/sub]
[/quote]

Laughing.... all of this is taking me down memory lane..... After i had to eave Brooklyn Carmel because of its closing i eventually entered Port Tobacco. I left before profession. They were very beautiful sisters but we had very little regular life at the time i was there. I found it kind of lax. The hermitages are amesome, but we spent very little time in them. Too much time in the parlour and too many politics. However It was a healthy community. The 1991's are a bit more liberal than the 1990's I am sad to see only two new sisters in the picture after 20 years of my having left them.

Mother Virginia Marie is a beautiful soul and Sister Corazon a holy and simple one.

[Indwelling Trinity]

In all fairness to Port Tobacco. I was there during a time when the community was being newly re-established so it was not yet settled and much building was gong on. Port Tobacco community was the re-establishment of of the first Carmel in America. So it was very high profile at the time i was there. I think much of this added to the rather irregular life at the time. I guess I am not the founding member type. I needed more regular life and in having very little i became frustrated, perhaps mildly depressed. My Prior Carmel was very strict and i did not know how to cope with the drastic change. Also i did not like all the lime light they had at the time.

As for receiving communion in the hand or on the tongue, it was up to each individual sister. I always receive on the tongue no one made an issue of it.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

I didn't know there were so many former Port Tobacco-ers on PM. I will definitely take what y'all said into consideration as I am discerning with them. We shall see. God has been opening many other doors for me to discern where I am called, so I won't stress about it I suppose.

[Indwelling Trinity]

Buffalo Carmel is a wonderful and well respected Carmel.

[the171]

About Laffy. If anyone is questioning the modified veils, the reason they had to modify was because of the humidity and heat of the region. Too many constant ear infections. They are a bi-ritual community. They used to do the Byzantine rite often, but now it is only on the rare occasion that a bi-ritual or Byzantine rite priest visits. One of the former, long-time chaplains was bi-ritual but when the Diocese of Lafayette split into the Diocese of Lafayette and the Diocese of Lake Charles there was a higher need for priests in the newly formed diocese. Thus, Father was sent over there.

At least that's how I remember it. Not that I remember the event. I just remember the story as told by the desk lady at Laffy Carm. Very orthodox community where many prominent people have visited. INCLUDING, then Bishop, Cardinal DOLAN. He loves Lafayette Carmel.

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='miles Christi' timestamp='1337764961' post='2433917']
+
ahhh alpargatas – thanks so much Reminiscere for reminding me what they’re called, I couldn’t remember for the life of me.
Good to know that the nuns within the enclosure actually wear them – thanks for insight
I’d be interested to know why they don’t have them in Valparaiso?!
[/quote]

I love the alpargatas too [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/102855-carmel-of-jesus-mary-and-joseph/#entry2057850"]Here[/url] Tridenteen says they don't have them there for practical reasons. I know Dallas doesn't have them either. The others I know that do besides Buffalo, Brooklyn & Alexandria are Iron Mountain, Cristo Rey (San Francisco, and yes they are bilingual, 1991 Constitutions) and I believe Wichita. Also I think Lake Elmo has them, another thriving community.

You can see them in Brooklyn [url="http://youtu.be/JDFYE3-W9w4"]here[/url] (note: when that TV station asked the nuns if they could do a program on them they said no, but then the bishop asked them and they said yes, learned that from a friend who entered there, I like how they were careful to keep their faces hidden too bad they didn't have the host wearing a more modest shirt though :/ they are also in part 1 a bit [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vAzSNZWElXo#t=142s"]here[/url])

[quote name='AnneLine' timestamp='1337206198' post='2431401']A number of communities (including Valpariso and Elysberg and Ada and Wheeling have Mexican roots, but I don't know if they still are bilingual..... Anyone know for sure?
[/quote]
The [url="http://historic-wheeling.wikispaces.com/Mount+Carmel+Monastery"]monastery in Wheeling, WV[/url] was beautiful and very Spanish in architecture, but the community was actually from the French line of Carmels. They merged with Elysburg in the 70's and the monastery is now used for apartments .. too bad as it was so beautiful and built especially for Carmel. How wonderful if it could be reclaimed one day, but that would probably be not possible/&terribly expensive. A couple more links, [url="http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/524426/Frederick-Faris-Drew-on-Variety-of-Architectural-Styles.html?nav=510"]here[/url] & [url="http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/102-Carmel-Rd-Wheeling-WV-26003/2145904579_zpid/"]here[/url].

[AnneLine]

Thank you for updating my knowledge!

[StayingFaithful]

[size=4][font=georgia,serif]The Discalced Nuns of the Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey in San Francisco recite the Divine Office in English and Spanish, they alternate every two weeks. They also have both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of Holy Mass. They were founded in 1927 from Mexico due to the Cristero War (the For Greater Glory film focuses on this religous persectuion). [/font][/size]

[size=4][font=georgia,serif]Speaking of the Cristo Rey Community, you may already be aware but in case you are not, the Carmel of Cristo Rey has another granddaughter! [url="http://cal-catholic.com/wordpress/2012/07/30/new-carmelite-house/#comments"]http://cal-catholic....house/#comments[/url][/font][/size]

[size=4][font=georgia,serif]Interestingly, the Cristo Rey Carmelites have the 1991 Consitituions but you would not be able to guess it by their Community as they have preserved the traditional relgious life - perhaps this is why the Kensington Carmelite Nuns (1990) chose to be with the Cristo Rey Community. [/font][/size]

Edited August 2, 2012 by StayingFaithful

[ToJesusMyHeart]

The Carmelites at the monastery of the Infant of Prague in Dallas are thriving! They have 2-4 novices right now and at least 2 postulants. They're bilingual. I've been to mass at their monastery several times (beautiful chapel, with altar rail, and EF celebrated once a month!) and this most recent visit I ran into a man who does their yard work, and when I said "Good morning" to him, he articulated that he doesn't speak English. Thankfully my Spanish hasn't totally gone out the window yet, so I was able to converse with him briefly about his work at the monastery. He has worked there for 20 years! The sisters definitely know Spanish well enough to keep him employed for that long. I'm sure there are some sisters who are fluent. [url="http://www.dallascarmelites.com/"]http://www.dallascarmelites.com/[/url]

There's also a Carmel in Arlington, TX, which I believe has novices. They also have German Shepherds...so that's a plus. (The dogs are brown and black in color...just like the habit of the sisters!!! ...also, one of the dogs is actually a puppy...! ) [url="http://www.carmelnuns.com/"]http://www.carmelnuns.com/[/url]

Also, the Carmel in St. Louis is thriving. I visited them on a Nun Run at the end of this past semester, and they have several novices and a postulant. When we talked with them in the parlor, they were all absolutely beautiful and their joy was utterly astounding. Also, they mentioned being the only Carmel in the US with daily Eucharistic Adoration. I thought that was pretty spectacular. They pray the Divine Office in front of the exposed Sacrament.

From their website: "In our Carmel we are privileged to have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every day. We also pray the Divine Office in English for the Church and for the world in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament day in and day out."
[url="http://mtcarmel.stormpages.com/"]http://mtcarmel.stormpages.com/[/url]

I love Carmelites...in case it wasn't obvious. Yet strangely, I don't think I'm called to be one. God is so weird.

[ToJesusMyHeart]

And for those to whom it matters, the Dallas Carmelites all receive our Lord kneeling and on the tongue. I know for some it doesn't matter, but for others this is of great importance. They also use the communion flap to cover their eyes.

Edited August 3, 2012 by ToJesusMyHeart