Who We Are

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Discalced Carmelite Seculars, the third branch of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, live the same charisms of the friars and nuns, but take them into the world to share in charity their love of Jesus Christ and their Carmelite spirituality. We immerse ourselves in the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, the 16th century reformers of the ancient Carmelite Order.

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“Secular” in the Carmelite definition refers to lay people who may be married or single, and who live actively in daily settings with their families, friends, and co-workers. We come from all walks of life. We gather monthly and at other times to study Carmelite spirituality and the lives of the saints and to associate in a community of Discalced Carmelite Seculars to develop fraternity and our life of prayer.

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“Charisms” are graces of the Holy Spirit that call us to serve and build up the Church, and to contribute to the well-being of humanity and the needs of the world. Teresian Carmelite charisms are eremitical (called to silence and solitude), contemplative, oriented to service, community, and Marian.

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We make a commitment to the promises to live the spirit of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity (according to one's state in life) and obedience, and to live the spirit of the Beatitudes.

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The Virgin Mary is present in a special way, most of all as a model of faithfulness in listening to the Lord and in service to Him and to others. We are also under the watchful guidance and paternal intercession of St. Joseph, himself a lay person and model for Carmelite Seculars. 

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