Lay Carmelite Community
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October 2024
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 29Month View September 29, 202430Month View September 30, 20241Month View October 1, 20242Month View October 2, 20243Month View October 3, 20244Month View October 4, 202459:00 Lay Carmelite Ministry10:00 Council MeetingsMonth View October 5, 2024-
Saturday, October 5, 9:00 AMThe Lay Carmelites serve as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers for Saturday morning Mass. Please also join us for Morning Prayers before the Mass begins.Read More
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Saturday, October 5, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMThe Lay Carmelite Council meets every first Saturday at 10:00 AM following the 9 o'clock Mass.Read More
6Month View October 6, 20247Month View October 7, 20248Month View October 8, 20249Month View October 9, 202410Month View October 10, 202411Month View October 11, 2024129:00 Lay Carmelite Ministry10:00 Lay Carmelite Community MeetingsMonth View October 12, 2024-
Saturday, October 12, 9:00 AMThe Lay Carmelites serve as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers for Saturday morning Mass. Please also join us for Morning Prayers before the Mass begins.Read More
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Saturday, October 12, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMThe Lay Carmelite Community meetings occur every second Saturday of the month starting at 10:00 AM following the 9 o'clock Mass.Read More
13Month View October 13, 202414Month View October 14, 202415Month View October 15, 202416Month View October 16, 202417Month View October 17, 202418Month View October 18, 2024199:00 Lay Carmelite MinistryMonth View October 19, 2024-
Saturday, October 19, 9:00 AMThe Lay Carmelites serve as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers for Saturday morning Mass. Please also join us for Morning Prayers before the Mass begins.Read More
20Month View October 20, 202421Month View October 21, 202422Month View October 22, 202423Month View October 23, 202424Month View October 24, 202425Month View October 25, 2024269:00 Lay Carmelite MinistryMonth View October 26, 2024-
Saturday, October 26, 9:00 AMThe Lay Carmelites serve as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers for Saturday morning Mass. Please also join us for Morning Prayers before the Mass begins.Read More
27Month View October 27, 202428Month View October 28, 202429Month View October 29, 202430Month View October 30, 202431Month View October 31, 20241Month View November 1, 202429:00 Lay Carmelite Ministry10:00 Council MeetingsMonth View November 2, 2024-
Saturday, November 2, 9:00 AMThe Lay Carmelites serve as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers for Saturday morning Mass. Please also join us for Morning Prayers before the Mass begins.Read More
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Saturday, November 2, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PMThe Lay Carmelite Council meets every first Saturday at 10:00 AM following the 9 o'clock Mass.Read More
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Who are the Third Order Lay Carmelites?
Many people are not familiar with the Carmelite's Third Order. The call to Carmel is a vocation, from friars and monks, religious sisters and cloistered nuns, to lay people who want to follow the path of Carmel. Third Order Lay Carmelites are neither a prayer nor a social group. It is a vocation. It is a call to learn and live a way of life that is dedicated to prayer, community and ministry. All Carmelites seek to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Lay Carmelites are men and women who have heard and answered the call of God to live more deeply their Baptismal promises. Carmel's spirituality is but one path to God. Our path is not for everyone. But for those who are called to this way of life, it becomes a comfort, guide and beautiful source of spiritual strength.
To become a Lay Carmelite, one must be:- A practicing Catholic in good standing, registered with a parish;
- If recently confirmed, a practicing Catholic for one year, in good standing and registered with a parish;
- One who is searching for a deeper spiritual guidance in Christian living; and
- One who has a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
What is Carmel?
The Carmelites of the Ancient Observance, also known as the O. Carms., is a religious order of the Catholic Church that is now more than 800 years old.
During and following the Crusades in the early 11th and 12th centuries, monks and pilgrims, tired of war, gathered on Mount Carmel to live a life of prayer in communion with God. They took up the life of hermits and chose Elijah as their Spiritual Founder. Mary became their patroness, mother, sister and model in obedience. They formed a loosely knit community as they lived in their solitary cells, but gathered for prayer and support in their quest for a closer relationship with God.
Sometime between 1206 and 1214, Albert of Jerusalem responded to their request for a way of life, Curriculum Vitae, which now is known as The Rule of St. Albert.
Gradually, and because of continuing wars and strife, the hermits started migration from Mount Carmel to European cities around 1238 where they became mendicant friars. The Order was finally recognized as a Religious Rule in 1247 by Pope Innocent IV.
It is from these beginnings that the Carmelite Order has grown. The history of this order is a stirring story of humankind's quest for Divine Intimacy with God.
What are the Practices of a Third Order Lay Carmelite?
Lay Carmelites wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a witness of the commitment made in Carmel.
- As much as possible, attend daily Mass and Eucharist
- Daily Prayer, including Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours (which is the official prayer of the Church), mental prayer and praying the rosary.
- Frequent reading of Sacred Scripture for a deeper knowledge of God and a greater understanding of Carmelite charism.
- Participation in the Day of Recollection, our annual weekend retreat, and the Community’s July novena is strongly encouraged.
- Regular attendance at monthly meetings and on-going formation classes, with studies focused on the history of Carmel, its spirituality and lives of its Carmelite saints.
Formation and Profession
Formation is divided into three specific periods:
Phase I ~ preparation for Reception
Phase II ~ preparation for Temporary Profession On-going ~ preparation for Final Profession.
Phase I & II Formation meetings are two hours in duration, usually held on the 3rd Saturday of every month.
Phase I candidates prepare for reception. This initial phase lasts 12 months, but may be extended to 24 months if necessary. When the candidate has completed all lessons and homework, a period of discernment follows. Through discernment, both candidate and Council will determine if the candidate is ready to be received. If all is in order, the candidate makes their Reception.
Phase II members receive a course of instruction that deepens their prayer life, their sense of community and their call to ministry. There are 24 lessons in Phase II, lasting a minimum of 2 years. At the end of 2 years, with approval of Council, the member may make their Temporary Profession to observe the Carmelite Way of Life as a Lay Carmelite for a discernment period of 3 years.
Temporary members participate in on-going formation with the whole community. With Council's approval, (after the above 3 years) Final Profession is made promising to God, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, and to the Most Reverend Prior General of the Order of the Brothers and Sisters of the same Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, and to his successors, to observe the Carmelite Way of Life as a Lay Carmelite until death.
For more information, contact:Desi Byerley, Regional Coordinator
Cindy Perazzo, Provincial Coordinator, Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary
630.969.5050
707.426.0314
Jess Pacheco, Community Director
707.688.8613
Annabelle Estrella, Formation Director
707.227.5510
Visit the Lay Carmelite website at: http://www.laycarmelitespcm.org