Vocations

"Jesus said to His Disciples, 'The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest'." (Matthew 9:37-38)

A vocation to the Community of Teresian Carmelites is a vocation to be a living prayer in the heart of the Church. We are a contemplative community, offering our prayers and life here in the Monastery for the service of the Church. As our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila intended her Carmelite Monasteries to be. To us Carmel means:

Contemplation...is the grace of communing with Jesus, heart to heart.

Adoration...is the fruit which springs forth from contemplation.

Recollection...is the practice of the presence of God in our lives and the awareness of God’s gifts dwelling within us.

Mortification...is the daily dying to self, ‘Nada,’ in the desert of Carmel. It provides the means for a new life within the oasis in the Garden of Carmel and disposes each soul for an experince of Divine life.

Eucharist...is the center of our life. As we adore and recieve the Eucharist , we begin to be transformed into the image and likeness of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ.

Love...is the ultimate goal of every Carmelite. A Carmelite is called to be a passionate lover for Jesus. Love does not count the cost of giving and caring. Sacrifice is love translated into action. All Carmelites are called to be the loving expression of God everywhere — the living Icon of Christ.

A vocation is a gift from God. ‘I stand at the door and knock.’ (Rev.3:20) You have heard Christ knocking at the door of your soul and have chosen to cooperate with the grace the Lord has given you. You’ll experience the beauty of the Lord through our Carmelite heritage and our way of life. We must make ourselves aware that God’s grace beckons us, From all eternity...that we might be holy in His sight.’ (Ep 1:4)

Corresponding to the grace of a vocation to Carmel is the beginning of Divine Intimacy, where prayer is the communication of love with God, who is love. Through prayer we begin to experience God’s intimacy with the soul. ‘Live in me, as I live in you.’ (John 15:4) In Carmel, we strive to continually live and pracitice the presence of God. Our holy mother, St. Teresa tells us, ‘God dwells in heaven, but God also has another heaven.’ It is with this in mind that we go about our daily duties, listening to the Word and meditating on on it. Each one is to ponder the Lord’s Word day and night, keeping watch at prayer unless attending other duties. (Rule of Carmel)

 

Vocation Requirements

The first step in seeking to become a member of our community is to contact one of the Vocation Directors. Those interested in joining should:

• Be practicing Roman Catholics between the ages of 21-40.

• Enjoy good physical, mental and emotional health to meet the challenges
  of consecrated life.

• Have completed High School or High School equivalency.

• Be able to speak and write English fluently.

• Be citizens of the United States.

After contacting the Vocation Director, you will be sent an initial questionnaire. After the Vocation Board reviews this material you may be invited to the community for a week long vocation visit during which you will live with the community following the daily schedule of prayer, work, meals and recreation. This experience will be a time of discernment for you as well as an opportunity for the Vocation Board to meet you to gather additional information as to your interest in our life and more clearly evaluate your potential for continuing in the application process.

Vocation Director

Brother Solomon-Benedict, CTC

Email: carmelsol@aol.com

The Vocation Director can be reached by phone at the Vocation Office:

or by mail at: