Thinking about starting a monastic life abroad - need advice

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tom1

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Hello,

I’m in my early twenties, and I have gradually lost interest, or realized that it is not meant for me to do things that have to do with worldly goals in life. I would like to know what my options are, if I decided to join a monastery, instead of living a simple religious life alone.

The only order I’m interested in currently and resonates with me the most, is the Carmelite Order, for a variety of reasons.

All would be more simple, if I thought about joining at my local place, or in my country. But I’d actually like to do so abroad! (or at least I think so, again - for a variety of reasons 😅). So what would my options be if I wanted to join such an order in an English speaking country?

I thought about visiting different monasteries until I find one that seems meant for me. And if I wouldn’t I would either keep searching or abandon the idea and wait or seek somewhere else.

There is of course a LOT of worry about a multitude of different things and I’m aware of that, but I really trust that I will know whether it is for me despite everything else, once I visit and live a week or two in such a place.

So… is it possible to visit Carmelite monasteries in different countries of the world? Is it possible to apply there? Do I need to live in a country abroad and have citizenship before I apply? Maybe I can apply in my native country and make a deal somehow to migrate if the above are impossible?

Any information appreciated, because atm I literally know almost nothing about the formalities.
Thanks!
 
May the Holy Spirit guide you.
Some worldly things can be escaped, but some go always with us.
 
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There are both OCarm and OCD Carmelite friars in England.

Try here for OCarm


and here for OCD friars
http://www.carmelite.org.uk/index_friars.html

If you don’t know the difference between the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance (OCarm) and the Discalced Carmelites (OCD) then you might want to read up on that first.

If you do not have British citizenship, then you will need a visa. There are many different types of visas and they change as immigration rules change. I would suggest that you go as a visitor the first time and discuss the visa requirements with the community you eventually intend to enter, as some are prepared to sponsor you for a visa, but others might not. If you have English ancestry (parents or grandparents who were British), then you might be eligible for an ancestry visa. I wouldn’t worry about the visa too much though until you are sure you have a place in the community as the paperwork for residence visas is very complex and does cost a fair bit. Some communities might be prepared to pay for this for you.

There is a very good book you might want to read, if you haven’t already, The Impact of God by Fr Iain Matthews OCD and there are several videos of Carmelite spirituality here
http://www.carmeliteprioryoxford.com/carmelitemedia.asp

Best of luck with your search.
 
tom1 said:
I thought about visiting different monasteries until I find one that seems meant for me. And if I wouldn’t I would either keep searching or abandon the idea and wait or seek somewhere else.
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i had a friend go through something similar several decades ago. he sold everything and moved to Portugal. he lasted 6 months. last i heard from him was probably 10 or more years ago and he was heading to the great northwest to find the perfect monastery. i lost touch with him but doubt he ever found peace.

the moral to the story is seek it here, the where doesn’t matter. it is what is in the heart.

see what is offered locally in your dioceses.
 
Keep in mind, too, that discernment is not a one-way street. YOU are not the only one discerning; communities need to discern if you are right for them. And in many cases, the answer will be no; they know more about what their charism and community require than you do. And it’s not all (or even mostly) about what you “want.”
 
I totally agree with the “look locally first” – that is what my organization promotes. We also promote “contiguous” discerning – don’t leave out the dioceses surrounding yours. When praying Morning and Evening Prayer, I usually include an intention for not only my diocese, but those surrounding ours.

As one author once said, “Cloister is God and the soul. The building is irrelevant.”

I will pray for that wandering soul. If they don’t settle in their heart, they’re never going to find where God wants them.

If @Tom1 feels he is to leave the UK, then there may be something to it. I personally wouldn’t do that unless I had gone through the local and national lists, though. The Holy Ghost works on attraction.

Blessings,
Mrs. Cloisters, OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
 
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