Three Carmelite Monasteries shutting down

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Cloisters

Cloisters

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Two are in the US. The first house of the order in Ireland is being shuttered, as well. This is due to Cor Orans.

Erie, PA: https://www.yourerie.com/news/local...sure-of-the-erie-based-holy-family-monastery/

Concord, NH: https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/18/carmelite-monastery-in-new-hampshire-closing-after-74-years/

Loughrea, Ireland: Two Cork nuns contemplate new home as monastery closes after 340 years

Blessings,
Cloisters
My new congregation:
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
My particular ministry promoting the cloisters and contemplative life:
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
 
Sorry to hear of these closings. Hopefully they will land someplace nice and it bears great fruit for them all.
 
When they get down to five members or inability to manage, shutdown must be prudently considered.
 
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How awful. I’ve read some truly heart breaking and enraging stories of small communities of nuns in Italy in particular having to close, and of course all these old nuns know is religious life, and have nowhere to go. Really gets to me. 😦
 
I haven’t read that document, could someone enlighten me as to what is in it that is resulting in all this?
 
Yes, they still remain in vows but will be forced to look for a monastery that will accept them.
That is not always easy…
 
Yeah, or go live in a nursing home or back into the world. :confused: Like little holy refugees.
 
Jesus has the situation well in hand.

Look at our reactions. I think He’s attaining that particular goal.
 
Correct!

My Discalced Carmelite Secular Order OCDS group met in Manchester NH for over 50 years. When we dropped below 5 members, the friars would no longer come to our group for assistance, but advised that we merge into two other groups, one being in Concord NH.

Anyway, for my wife and myself, the two other groups were beyond our commute so we became Isolated Members, but now we’re referred to as Inactive. However, we still follow the Rule of Life(Constitution) of the OCDS.

I’m concerned as I know of two members from my old OCDS group who joined the group in Concord NH. I hope they find a new home.
 
His “little faithful brides” are both too few in number and too elderly to maintain a large (and probably not in the best repair) monastery. It is a matter of decency, respect, and love to make sure they are well cared for in a community that can give them what they need, both materially and spiritually, in their last years on earth.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
so we became Isolated Members, but now we’re referred to as Inactive
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Why would they designate you as “Inactive” when the meetings were beyond your control to attend?

Also, in this day and age when everybody meets by video, why can’t the OCDS have that at least for members who are unable to do a long commute to the in-person meetings?
 
I think it’s because the physically community is essential. My mom just became an inactive member because she can’t make the drive to her OCDS meetings too. Incidentally I tried to join the lay Missionaries of Charity once and was told God wasn’t calling me there BECAUSE I couldn’t get to their in person meetings. At first I was irritated. I promised to do all the same prayers and works of mercy from home! But the Sister explained that it’s not just about that - it’s truly about being a community. I have to be present consistently. It felt so old fashioned to me, but I think that’s a problem with me and not the religious community’s expectations.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Correct!

My Discalced Carmelite Secular Order OCDS group met in Manchester NH for over 50 years. When we dropped below 5 members, the friars would no longer come to our group for assistance, but advised that we merge into two other groups, one being in Concord NH.

Anyway, for my wife and myself, the two other groups were beyond our commute so we became Isolated Members, but now we’re referred to as Inactive. However, we still follow the Rule of Life(Constitution) of the OCDS.

I’m concerned as I know of two members from my old OCDS group who joined the group in Concord NH. I hope they find a new home.
Click to expand...
I also. I pray for the Carmelites daily as part of my usual prayers (Brown Scapular Confraternity).
 
Please God in the future these unnecessary rules from Cor Orans will be rethought. We need incentives for religious vocations, not the opposite.
 
Well, we disbanded over 20 years ago, so we didn’t have the technology we have today.

However, “Isolated Member” was a term used by the Discalced Carmelites which was dropped for various reasons. Generally, it was a member who could not join a community because there was none available in their area or they couldn’t attend one in the area. There were problems with formation and spiritual development.

Today, all members not part of a community like my wife and myself, are referred to as “Inactive Members” as we are not part of an OCDS community. This is for members who made “definitive promises” or “vows.” Those who had not made such are not considered members of the OCDS.
 
I’m sure God still considers anyone a “member” who is living by the rule.

I can see where you would be irritated. A physical community requirement does not make much sense for seculars living in the world in this day and age, and everything else is going virtual so I am not really understanding the need to be physically present unless one is required to engage in some hands-on service work like ministering to the poor in the neighborhood right outside the meeting house.

There’s probably all kinds of spiritual aspects I don’t totally understand though. I’m just a dumb bear.

I wonder if the world will ever see religious orders or secular religious orders that are totally online? It’s an idea whose time has come.
 
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