Do you love to pray? Do you find yourself longing for deeper silence in prayer and a closer intimacy with Our Lord? If 'yes', the St Therese of Lisieux Lay Carmelite Community may be the right  prayer home and vocation for you!

Our Lay Carmelite Community takes its name from St. Therese of Lisieux who, along with Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is patroness of St. Martin's Adoration Chapel. Community meetings focus on the study and practice of contemplative prayer in the Church with a special emphasis on Carmelite spirituality and the writings of Carmelite saints--such as St. Therese, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross (all Doctors of the Church). We also explore other saints and practices in the Church related to contemplative prayer, for example: Lectio Divina, and Morning and Evening Prayer. We love sharing with one another how contemplation and action are working together in our own lives, and we joyfully support each other as we grow in friendship with Our Lord through a life of deepening prayer. This community is open to all Catholic men and women over 18 years of age.

AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2023 WE ARE NOW AN OFFICIAL THIRD ORDER LAY CARMELITE COMMUNITY. This is a formal Lay Order, this is a vocation. The discernment process and formation takes a minimum of one year for someone to be received into the Lay Carmelite Order.  We are presently required by the Provincial Director of the Carmelite Order to close our group to new interested people during our initial year-long Carmelite Formation. After this time, we will be able to accept anyone who wishes to discern their vocation.

All who are drawn to learning more or growing deeper in the practice of contemplative prayer rooted in the Church and the study of Carmelite spirituality are warmly welcomed to call, text or email our Director, Connie at 925-895-4131.
  

For more information about the Third Order Carmelites, please contact Connie Kersten at [email protected].