Question about religious communities

[CarmeliteGirl25]

I was wondering if anyone knew or had visited these communities:

Poor Clare Nuns of Belleview, IL
Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (Mother Angelica’s nuns)
Carmelite Sisters by the Sea (Carmel, CA)
San Antonio Carmelite Nuns
Carmelite nuns of Terre Haute, IN (the Heartsawake.com nuns)
Iron Mountain, MI Carmelites
Rochester, NY Carmelites

Or any of these active communities:

Sister Servants of the Eternal Word
Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ
Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
Nashville Dominicans

I just want to know more about any of them. I am still discerning whether or not I am called to the Savannah Carmelites. I would rather join a Carmelite order with the 1990 Constitutions instead of the 1991 Constitutions. Also, the full habit really attracts me. I’m drawn to it like it might be what God wants me to do. Everytime I see a nun in a full traditional habit (the long veil, more complex habit), it just feels right.

Your help would be appreciated! And Happy Solemnity Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila, everyone!

 

[daughterofmary]

Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (Mother Angelica’s nuns)

I have visted the Shrine many times, but have never met with the community. My friend lives down there. Her father works at the Shrine. She is hoping to join there. They are a wonderful community. There is a lot of emphesis on community. I believe someone who had entered there and left on phatmass said that it was even frowned upon to spend a lot of time in one’s cell. It is great if one feels called to community and to adoration of our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The monastery is beautiful, and it just doesn’t get any more orthodox. They have the EF sometimes too!

Carmelite Sisters by the Sea (Carmel, CA)

Never visited. I do know they are a 1991 Carmel though.

San Antonio Carmelite Nuns

If these are the ones in Texas, then they are also 1991. EJames had a video of one of the sisters here: vocation-station.blogspot.com/search/label/Carmelite

Carmelite nuns of Terre Haute, IN (the Heartsawake.com nuns)

They are 1991, but very traditional. A lot of people have posted really positive things about the sisters and the community of Terre Haute on phatmass.

Iron Mountain, MI Carmelites

Very good community. 1990 Constitutions. Link to some pictures and older booklet of the carmel here: picasaweb.google.com/ocdnuns/CarmelOfTheHolyCrossIronMountainMI#

I haven’t visited, but I know those who have. I have only heard awesome things about the Carmel. Mass in the OF.

Sister Servants of the Eternal Word

I love these sisters. I have visited them, and they are so wonderful. They have retreats at their convent. Mass is in the OF and is so solemn and beautiful. Liturgy of the Hours is in English. If you are wondering anything specifically please ask. I know too that someone over at phatmass entered there and had to leave due to health reasons. That member may be able to help you too. The Vocation Director, Sr. Louise Marie is so nice. You should write her. She is very helpful. They are both Franciscan and Dominican. They were founded by a Nashville Dominican. The community was originally externs at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery (Mother Angelica’s monastery), but then they felt called to found this new community. There are about 20 or so sisters. They have a beautiful convent, which they built mostly themselves. They are continuing to build on, and add more rooms for future vocations. Something I found really charming is that they pray every morning for the guardian angel of their future vocations to guide that vocation to the community and watch over that vocation. The sisters are very sweet and down-to-earth. Very holy. Most appear very young (20s/30s). Have a deep respect and love for the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Father, and the teachings of the Church. When the Holy Father came to New York Sr. Louise Marie was the first sister in the full habit to receive Holy Communion from the Holy Father at the Mass. They have really good food too. They make the best meat-less spaghetti.

 

[daughterofmary]

List of 1990 Carmels:

Alexandria, SD
Brooklyn, NY
Buffalo, NY
Clearwater, KS
Dallas, TX
Des Plaines, IL
Erie, PA
Flemington, NJ
Georgetown, CA
Iron Mountain, MI
Jefferson City, MO
Kensington, CA
Lake Elmo, MN
Littleton, CO
Louisville, KY
Mobile, AL
Pittsford, NY
Traverse City, MI
Valparaiso, NE

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

I have visted the Shrine many times, but have never met with the community. My friend lives down there. Her father works at the Shrine. She is hoping to join there. They are a wonderful community. There is a lot of emphesis on community. I believe someone who had entered there and left on phatmass said that it was even frowned upon to spend a lot of time in one’s cell. It is great if one feels called to community and to adoration of our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The monastery is beautiful, and it just doesn’t get any more orthodox. They have the EF sometimes too!

Never visited. I do know they are a 1991 Carmel though.

If these are the ones in Texas, then they are also 1991. EJames had a video of one of the sisters here: vocation-station.blogspot.com/search/label/Carmelite

They are 1991, but very traditional. A lot of people have posted really positive things about the sisters and the community of Terre Haute on phatmass.

Very good community. 1990 Constitutions. Link to some pictures and older booklet of the carmel here: picasaweb.google.com/ocdnuns/CarmelOfTheHolyCrossIronMountainMI#

I haven’t visited, but I know those who have. I have only heard awesome things about the Carmel. Mass in the OF.

I love these sisters. I have visited them, and they are so wonderful. They have retreats at their convent. Mass is in the OF and is so solemn and beautiful. Liturgy of the Hours is in English. If you are wondering anything specifically please ask. I know too that someone over at phatmass entered there and had to leave due to health reasons. That member may be able to help you too. The Vocation Director, Sr. Louise Marie is so nice. You should write her. She is very helpful. They are both Franciscan and Dominican. They were founded by a Nashville Dominican. The community was originally externs at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery (Mother Angelica’s monastery), but then they felt called to found this new community. There are about 20 or so sisters. They have a beautiful convent, which they built mostly themselves. They are continuing to build on, and add more rooms for future vocations. Something I found really charming is that they pray every morning for the guardian angel of their future vocations to guide that vocation to the community and watch over that vocation. The sisters are very sweet and down-to-earth. Very holy. Most appear very young (20s/30s). Have a deep respect and love for the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Father, and the teachings of the Church. When the Holy Father came to New York Sr. Louise Marie was the first sister in the full habit to receive Holy Communion from the Holy Father at the Mass. They have really good food too. They make the best meat-less spaghetti.

Wonderful! Thank you so much, daughterofmary! Do you have Facebook? I spend a lot of time one there, so if you are on it, we could perhaps chat more? You have been a great help, not only here, but in other threads. God bless you!

I just got an email back from Sr. Mary Helen, the vocation director for the Carmel in Terre Haute, and it was written so nice. She said she is going on a retreat tomorrow for 8 days, but when she returns, she will answer some more of my questions. I really love their website. Plus, I would love to wear the full Carmelite habit, and not just the modernized one.

I also received an email from the Carmel in Wahpeton, ND. They follow the 1990 Constitutions (their monastery is even called ‘of the Ancient Observance’). Sr. Margaret Mary wants to send me some more literature, which I look forward to receiving.

God bless you!

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Also, I should mention that I am taking an interest in the Poor Clares of Roswell, NM. (poorclaresroswell.com/) Their community and charism is beautiful! I read all about St. Clare on their website and I feel drawn to them. Unfortunately, they don’t have email, so I will have to mail them snail mail (LOL).

 

[daughterofmary]

It is so good to hear you had such a pleasant and good experience writing to Terre Haute. Like I said, everyone really seems to think a great deal of those sisters.

I also received an email from the Carmel in Wahpeton, ND. They follow the 1990 Constitutions (their monastery is even called ‘of the Ancient Observance’). Sr. Margaret Mary wants to send me some more literature, which I look forward to receiving.

When I was first looking into Carmels I wrote the Wahpeton Carmel as well. They are O.Carm (Ancient Observance), which is not the reform of St. Teresa. The thing with the O.Carm is that they do not follow the Constitutions of St. Teresa. They just follow the Rule of St. Albert (I believe). They are very good sisters. When I wrote they said they would place my name under the Infant of Prague and remember me in their prayers daily. It looks like such a beautiful monastery, and the literature they sent was so nice. I just really feel called to the Discalced Carmelites.

I don’t know much about the Poor Clares. If you haven’t, please get a name on phatmass. You would love to speak with some of the others at Vocation Station. There is some women over there that are seriously discerning with different Poor Clare monasteries and can tell you so much about each one. If you posted about some of these communities over there (or even did a search for past threads) you could find a lot of information.

www.phatmass.com

I will pm you!

 

[KaylaP]

I’m going to be making an aspirancy with the cloistered Dominican nuns of Lockport. Very awesome community.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

It is so good to hear you had such a pleasant and good experience writing to Terre Haute. Like I said, everyone really seems to think a great deal of those sisters.

When I was first looking into Carmels I wrote the Wahpeton Carmel as well. They are O.Carm (Ancient Observance), which is not the reform of St. Teresa. The thing with the O.Carm is that they do not follow the Constitutions of St. Teresa. They just follow the Rule of St. Albert (I believe). They are very good sisters. When I wrote they said they would place my name under the Infant of Prague and remember me in their prayers daily. It looks like such a beautiful monastery, and the literature they sent was so nice. I just really feel called to the Discalced Carmelites.

I don’t know much about the Poor Clares. If you haven’t, please get a name on phatmass. You would love to speak with some of the others at Vocation Station. There is some women over there that are seriously discerning with different Poor Clare monasteries and can tell you so much about each one. If you posted about some of these communities over there (or even did a search for past threads) you could find a lot of information.

www.phatmass.com

I will pm you!

LOL, that’s exactly what the Wapheton Carmelites did for me. They told me they put my name under the Infant of Prague statue. I didn’t know the difference between O.Carm. and OCD. Thank you for letting me know about that. I wonder why they don’t follow St. Teresa’s Constitutions? Did they ever tell you why?

And about phatmass, I will definitely get an account there. Thank you for the tip!

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

I’m going to be making an aspirancy with the cloistered Dominican nuns of Lockport. Very awesome community.

Very cool! I am a friend of a friend who is friends with the newest novice’s sister. I watched the video of the investiture ceremony and it is just beautiful! If you haven’t seen it, let me know and I will give you the link. God bless you in your discernment, KaylaP.

 

[Lilllabettt]

If you are wondering anything specifically please ask. I know too that someone over at phatmass entered there and had to leave due to health reasons. That member may be able to help you too.

Hello, all. I am that person mentioned who was dismissed from the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word. I’m happy to answer any and all questions. I highly recommend religious life in general and the Sister Servants in particular. I do miss the meatless spaghetti (among other things.

 

[daughterofmary]

LOL, that’s exactly what the Wapheton Carmelites did for me. They told me they put my name under the Infant of Prague statue. I didn’t know the difference between O.Carm. and OCD. Thank you for letting me know about that. I wonder why they don’t follow St. Teresa’s Constitutions? Did they ever tell you why?

And about phatmass, I will definitely get an account there. Thank you for the tip!

St. Teresa of Avila entered the ancient Order of Mt. Carmel in Avila at 21. At the time Carmel had become very worldly. Silence was not respected and kept. The cloister was not respected and kept. The sisters indulged in things we would consider little, but were actually quite scandalous considering their vocations as cloistered Carmelite nuns. They had huge cells with their own private kitchens and they would receive visitors how they pleased. One day St. Teresa was speaking with some friends and other sisters when the idea came to them to found a Carmel that resembled that of the early Carmelite fathers; who were true ascetic hermits. They felt called to return to the basics and to do away with all the vanity and worldliness that had crept in. So, under a lot of persecution St. Teresa did this. St. Teresa was called on to found more Carmels like this. Soon, the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance (the original Carmelites) and those new foundations of St. Teresa began to be referred by the people as two different Carmelites and there was great hostility between the two at the time. Thus, there became two families of Carmelites under the same umbrella of Carmel. the Discalced Carmelites were founded. The O.Carm (Carmelites of the Ancient Observance) follow the Rule of St. Albert. The Discalced Carmelites follow the Rule of St. Albert and the Constitutions of St. Teresa of Avila, their founder.

Blessed Titus Brandsma wrote:

“Looking at Carmel from above, its two branches are united at their summits. Despite the separation which exists on the trunk, the two branches intermingle their foliage and blossoms without our being able to distinguish those which belong to the one from those which belong to the other. The blind singer of Rennes, Ven. John of Saint Samson, does not have a different melody from that of the inspired singer imprisoned in the Carmel of Toledo, because both repeat what the Institutio primorum monachorum had inculcated in the Carmelites of the first centuries, namely, that all Carmelites, Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in order to be faithful to their vocation should do their very utmost to go, under the guidance of the saintly hermit and prophet Elijah, across the desert of this life up to the Mt. Horeb of the vision of God, strengthened by the heavenly nourishment which is shown on the altar.”

The Rule of St. Albert is efficient, as it is no doubt inspired by God, to lead one to the heights of sanctity. One of the most beloved saints of Carmel was a Carmelite of the Ancient Observance, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi. Because she was O.Carm she did not follow the Constitutions of St. Teresa (and because she was just not in the area or time to follow such) St. Simon Stock, the Carmelite friar who received the brown scapular from Our Lady, was also a Carmelite of the Ancient Observance.

Personally for me I have just always, since my conversion, had a great love for St. Teresa of Avila. I took her as my patron saint. She played a large part in my conversion. And it was through her writings that God first raised the idea to me to give myself wholly to him as a religious. St. Teresa of Avila told her daughters, "“My daughters and my ladies, I ask you for the love of God to take great care to observe your Rule and Constitutions. Take no notice of the bad example this wicked nun has given you, and for the love of God, pardon me.” St. Teresa is my second mother, after Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and I just feel called to observe her last words.

There is nothing wrong at all with the O.Carm. It is beautiful and I have often thought what a great vocation to be called to the original, ancient observance of Carmel…

There is an O.Carm friar here that may be able to shed more light if there need be or if I have mistaken anything.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Hello, all. I am that person mentioned who was dismissed from the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word. I’m happy to answer any and all questions. I highly recommend religious life in general and the Sister Servants in particular. I do miss the meatless spaghetti (among other things.

May I ask what the reason was for your dismissal? The reason I ask is because I have a history of depression and ADD, so I want to make sure that the order would accept me before getting involved with them.

I hope you are all better now. I actually am considering the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word for my discernment. What was the best thing to you about them?

 

[jheii]

I was wondering if anyone knew or had visited these communities:

Poor Clare Nuns of Belleview, IL
Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (Mother Angelica’s nuns)
Carmelite Sisters by the Sea (Carmel, CA)
San Antonio Carmelite Nuns
Carmelite nuns of Terre Haute, IN (the Heartsawake.com nuns)
Iron Mountain, MI Carmelites
Rochester, NY Carmelites

Or any of these active communities:

Sister Servants of the Eternal Word
Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ
Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
Nashville Dominicans

I just want to know more about any of them. I am still discerning whether or not I am called to the Savannah Carmelites. I would rather join a Carmelite order with the 1990 Constitutions instead of the 1991 Constitutions. Also, the full habit really attracts me. I’m drawn to it like it might be what God wants me to do. Everytime I see a nun in a full traditional habit (the long veil, more complex habit), it just feels right.

Your help would be appreciated! And Happy Solemnity Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila, everyone!

Off topic I know, but I just wanted to share. I live here in Savannah, and a few weeks ago I was leaving the parking lot of a grocery store with a friend. Looking out the window, I saw two sisters loading groceries into a car and exclaimed “Are those Carmelite Nuns?!” I got home and looked it up, and sure enough there are Carmelite Nuns right here in Savannah! I haven’t been able to attend mass with them yet, but look forward to doing so when I get a chance. God bless you and your call to discernment.

 

[Lilllabettt]

May I ask what the reason was for your dismissal? The reason I ask is because I have a history of depression and ADD, so I want to make sure that the order would accept me before getting involved with them.

I was dismissed because as a postulant, I developed ulcerative colitis. It’s a chronic illness; the only cure is radical colectomy. They waited about a year,hoping, I guess that I’d get better.

I will not discourage you from contacting them … other Sisters have been admitted with fibromyalgia, asthma, etc … I did not know (so of course they didn’t know) that I was sick when I entered, so I wouldn’t use my case as a rule… I don’t know about depression or ADD, but asking can’t hurt.

I have lots of favorite things about them. Community life was my favorite part, I guess. Its not all sweetness and light, of course. But these Sisters are really sisterly to each other. There’s a family spirit there. Many times I would go to bed with actual tears of joy running down my face (and I’m not a “happy-cry” person!)

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Off topic I know, but I just wanted to share. I live here in Savannah, and a few weeks ago I was leaving the parking lot of a grocery store with a friend. Looking out the window, I saw two sisters loading groceries into a car and exclaimed “Are those Carmelite Nuns?!” I got home and looked it up, and sure enough there are Carmelite Nuns right here in Savannah! I haven’t been able to attend mass with them yet, but look forward to doing so when I get a chance. God bless you and your call to discernment.

You’re kidding? LOL, what a small world! Sr. Joann, the prioress, is the one I have been in contact with. She is going on retreat later this month for about 4 weeks, so I won’t hear from them for a while. Are you discerning a vocation, too? I’m kind of picky about them because the nuns there are all older than me, so if I had someone that would enter with me, it would be much better. I will go wherever Jesus asks me, but it would be so nice to have someone there my age Hopefully, Jesus will find it in His beautiful heart to give me a companion if He calls me to Savannah

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

I was dismissed because as a postulant, I developed ulcerative colitis. It’s a chronic illness; the only cure is radical colectomy. They waited about a year,hoping, I guess that I’d get better.

I will not discourage you from contacting them … other Sisters have been admitted with fibromyalgia, asthma, etc … I did not know (so of course they didn’t know) that I was sick when I entered, so I wouldn’t use my case as a rule… I don’t know about depression or ADD, but asking can’t hurt.

I have lots of favorite things about them. Community life was my favorite part, I guess. Its not all sweetness and light, of course. But these Sisters are really sisterly to each other. There’s a family spirit there. Many times I would go to bed with actual tears of joy running down my face (and I’m not a “happy-cry” person!)

Oh, goodness! Ulcerative colitis? Yikes! I pray you are all better now. I know how it is to feel really sick. I was physically sick for over a year at the start of my depression. I was overloaded emotionally after I learned of a friend’s death, so it just manifested on the outside too. I developed medical anorexia nervosa. I wanted to eat so bad, but I could not keep anything down. I lost so much weight because I couldn’t eat. I was basically starving. Sometimes I wonder if I was somehow possessed. I took medicine for depression and anxiety for the longest time, and I am still on an anti-depressant, but I feel well enough to come off of it. I do have lifelong asthma though, but I rarely use my Albuterol anymore.

Anyway, I’m not quite sure that I will contact them because I feel called to the cloistered, contemplative life. I’m trying to focus my attentions on the Carmelites and Poor Clares. I am glad to hear that you felt so good while you were there, emotionally. I pray that you will somehow be able to go back, if it is God’s will. God bless you!

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

When I was first looking into Carmels I wrote the Wahpeton Carmel as well. They are O.Carm (Ancient Observance), which is not the reform of St. Teresa. The thing with the O.Carm is that they do not follow the Constitutions of St. Teresa. They just follow the Rule of St. Albert (I believe).

All Carmels have constitutions. The constitutions tell us how to live the rule.

This group will follow the O.Carm. constitutions rather than the Discalced constitutions. I would hesitate to call the Discalced constitutions the Constitutions of St Teresa as I am sure they differ in some ways from the original constitution that St Teresa wrote but they are based on them.

LOL, that’s exactly what the Wapheton Carmelites did for me. They told me they put my name under the Infant of Prague statue. I didn’t know the difference between O.Carm. and OCD. Thank you for letting me know about that. I wonder why they don’t follow St. Teresa’s Constitutions? Did they ever tell you why?

They do not follow St Teresa’s reform because her reform split from the O.Carm. in 1592 (or so), about a year after the death of St John of the Cross, and became the religioius order known as the Discalced Carmelites.

The biggest difference between O.Carm. and Discalced is that we O.Carm.'s view St Teresa and St John of the Cross as sister and brother while OCD’s view them as founders. We O.Carm.s do know the name of our actual founder as that is what he wanted. We view Elijah and Mary as our founders.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

All Carmels have constitutions. The constitutions tell us how to live the rule.

This group will follow the O.Carm. constitutions rather than the Discalced constitutions. I would hesitate to call the Discalced constitutions the Constitutions of St Teresa as I am sure they differ in some ways from the original constitution that St Teresa wrote but they are based on them.

They do not follow St Teresa’s reform because her reform split from the O.Carm. in 1592 (or so), about a year after the death of St John of the Cross, and became the religioius order known as the Discalced Carmelites.

The biggest difference between O.Carm. and Discalced is that we O.Carm.'s view St Teresa and St John of the Cross as sister and brother while OCD’s view them as founders. We O.Carm.s do know the name of our actual founder as that is what he wanted. We view Elijah and Mary as our founders.

Thank you for expanding on the differences. As such, I am actually leaning more towards the O.Carm. orders now. For some reason, I consider St. Teresa to be rather intimidating. I have for a while now. I just really don’t understand her that well at all, even though I have read about her life several times. I thoroughly understand the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I absolutely love her. I consider her to be my spiritual mother. I love the story of the Prophet Elijah too. If Jesus leads me to a Discalced Carmelite community, I will go, gladly.

This really helped my discernment! Thank you! Now I know what I am looking for in a better way. It’s gotten much clearer. I appreciate the assistance God bless all of you!

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Thank you for expanding on the differences. As such, I am actually leaning more towards the O.Carm. orders now. For some reason, I consider St. Teresa to be rather intimidating. I have for a while now. I just really don’t understand her that well at all, even though I have read about her life several times. I thoroughly understand the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I absolutely love her. I consider her to be my spiritual mother. I love the story of the Prophet Elijah too. If Jesus leads me to a Discalced Carmelite community, I will go, gladly.

This really helped my discernment! Thank you! Now I know what I am looking for in a better way. It’s gotten much clearer. I appreciate the assistance God bless all of you!

I am going to try to read St. Teresa’s “Way of Perfection” to see if I can understand her better. If Jesus is indeed leading me to a Discalced order, I want to know more about the reformers. But I don’t think I will really ever consider St. Teresa and St. John my spiritual Mother and Father. I consider Mary and Joseph my spiritual parents and I always will.

 

[daughterofmary]

All Carmels have constitutions. The constitutions tell us how to live the rule.

This group will follow the O.Carm. constitutions rather than the Discalced constitutions. I would hesitate to call the Discalced constitutions the Constitutions of St Teresa as I am sure they differ in some ways from the original constitution that St Teresa wrote but they are based on them.

They do not follow St Teresa’s reform because her reform split from the O.Carm. in 1592 (or so), about a year after the death of St John of the Cross, and became the religioius order known as the Discalced Carmelites.

The biggest difference between O.Carm. and Discalced is that we O.Carm.'s view St Teresa and St John of the Cross as sister and brother while OCD’s view them as founders. We O.Carm.s do know the name of our actual founder as that is what he wanted. We view Elijah and Mary as our founders.

Thank you Br. David.