The creation of a new O.C.D.S. Community usually begins with establishing a Recognized Group. Where there is present a Discalced Carmelite monastery of either nuns or friars there is usually a Community already established that meets at or near the monastery. Many Communities and Groups, though, do meet at a local parish, which is the case for the Recognized Group to which I belong.
This Group must be formed with the permission of the Provincial Delegate (a Discalced Carmelite priest assigned to oversee the O.C.D.S. Communities and Groups in a particular province of the Order). To seek to start such a Group, a person must have a good knowledge of the Order and its charism and what is entailed in living a life in committment to Christ through the Order. A priest - who may be a diocesan priest or a priest of another Order if no O.C.D. priest is available - must be chosen and approved by the Provincial Delegate.
It’s a given, of course, that to take the above steps one has gathered together at least a small group of like-minded individuals who are interested in the Teresian Charism and want to discern if they have a vocation to the O.C.D.S… An individual having received permission to form such a Group must then undertake to lead a study of the Discalced Carmelite vocation and the formative writings of St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross (beginning with the former).
There should be a period of several months in which Guests are invited to “come and see”; they then may be invited to make application to enter into the Aspirancy program which entails a year-long foundational study; Welcome to Carmel, available at Holy Hill Monastery in Wisconsin, is an extremely helpful book to use for this.
The Aspirancy Program is a one-year course of study on various topics pertinent to the life of a Secular Discalced Carmelite. At the end of this year the Aspirant is eligible to receive the habit of the Order, the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in a simple ceremony at which time he or she officially becomes an Aspirant to the Order and enters into the period of Formation. Formation is divided into two parts:
Formation for the Temporary Promise covers a period of three years. At the end of this time there is a ceremony during which the member makes the Temporary Promise.
Formation continues for another two years at the end of which the member may make the Definitive Promise.
Once a Recognized Group has 10 members (two of whom have made their Definitive Promise with the rest having made at least their Temporary Promise) it can be canonically established as an O.C.D.S. Community with an elected President and Council (together they selected someone to serve as the Director of Formation), and a Secretary and Treasurer.
So, if you are interested in starting such a Group you must, then, contact the local Provincial Delegate for the area in which you live.
I hope this has helped, littleone. It’s a beautiful vocation.
. . . and sorry to hear about the difficulties she’s having. I contacted my formation director and provincial councilor to see if they might have any info on the situation with new study groups but, unfortunately, they aren’t able to help since Ohio is in a different province.
- we’ll be praying for you.