Facts for Men
THE DISCALCED FRIARS
WASHINGTON PROVINCE
of the
IMMACULATE HEART of MARY
WHO
The friars of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD) were founded in sixteenth-century Spain by St. Teresa of Avila with the help of St. John of the Cross. Though the Discalced Carmelite nuns are purely contemplative, St. Teresa intended from the beginning that her friars combine ministry with an intense commitment to personal and common prayer. The Discalced Carmelites are traditionally known for their strong emphasis on prayer and spirituality and have produced many saints and blesseds, including three Doctors of the Church: Sts. Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Therese of Lisieux.
We are present in more than 75 nations and have about 4050 members distributed in some 500 houses. There are over 2500 priests and 300 religious brothers, with a few permanent deacons and the rest still in various stages of initial formation. Of the 250 Religious Institutes of Pontifical Right, we are among the 15 largest. There are 20 Discalced Carmelite bishops worldwide
WHEN
The Washington Province was founded in 1947 and is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It grew out of communities in the United states on the early part of the 20th century by friars of the Bavarian Province of Germany and the Catalonian Province of Spain.
WHERE
At present, the Washington Province includes about 75 friars distributed among seven communities, located in the Midwest and eastern United States and in Kenya
Holy Hill is our oldest community, founded in 1906 at the site of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, outside Milwaukee. The Shrine attracts over half a million visitors a year. The monastery also serves as the novitiate. There is a small rural parish attached, as well as a retreat house.
St. Florian Parish (1914) is in West Milwaukee. The Provincial Offices are located adjacent to the parish and school.
The monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1916) in Washington, DC, is a center for the province's publication ministries, including the books and tapes of ICS Publications and our quarterly journal, Spiritual Life. The Washington monastery hosts the provincial office for ministry to the Secular Carmelites. Friars in Washington also assist in the Carmelite Studies program at the Washington Theological Union.
The Monastery of Mary and Joseph (1942) in Brighton (Boston), MA, serves as the postulancy house where candidates receive their first formation in the Order.
The Monastery of Christ on the Mountain (1968) is our 'desert' or hermit community in Hinton, WV. Friars assigned there live a life of prayer and simplicity like the earliest Carmelites.
The Edith Stein House of Studies (1995) is the Chicago residence for our theology students preparing for ministry at the Catholic Theological Union.
Friars of the Washington Province also staff the Carmelite Community in Nairobi, Kenya, which serves as a house of studies and formation for our African Carmelite seminarians and includes retreat facilities for the public. Other friars of our province work in the Philippines and the Vatican.
HOW
The Discalced Carmelite friar's entire life is at the service of the Church. He spends two hours each day in personal prayer, in addition to the community's daily celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Though focusing on the promotion of spirituality, his ministries may range widely, from community services (such as cooking and maintenance) to parish work, chaplaincies, teaching, writing, retreats, and spiritual direction, depending on his interests and aptitudes and the needs of the people of God. Many work with other members of the Carmelite family, especially with the Discalced Carmelite nuns and the rapidly growing Secular order, laity who incorporate into their daily lives the essential elements of Carmelite spirituality and prayer.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
· Usually 22 to 40 years of age
· College degree preferred
· Debt-free, without dependents
· Certificate of Baptism and Confirmation
· Visit to monastery
· Live-in Retreat
· Letters of Recommendation
· Physical Examinations
· Other background information as requested
Except for the requirements of Canon Law and the legislation of the Order, the vocation directors have discretion to consider exceptions in matters of age and education. Men who are seriously interested should inquire and discuss any special circumstances or needs.
For further information
visit our website
www.ocdfriarsvocation.com
or contact
Fr. Steven Payne, OCD
Vocation Office
2131 Lincoln Road, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 832-6622
payneocd@erols.com
or
Br. Michael Berry, OCD
Edith Stein House of Studies
5345 South University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 752-6943
mberryocd@hotmail.com
