Community Profile

Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Monastery of St. Therese of Lisieux Mother John of the Cross, O.C.D. Prioress PO Box 57 Loretto, PA 15940-0057 814-472-8620

Community Information

No. in community (professed members) 10 Year founded 1927 Generalate/ motherhouse Autonomous Province/federation Autonomous Represented in US (Arch)dioceses Altoona-Johnstown, PA

About Us

Mission statement/description The intention of St. Teresa of Avila, the Carmelite's foundress, was that the sisters' lives should be entirely directed toward prayer and contemplation, that all observe the evangelical counsels, in a small sisterly community founded on solitude, prayer and strict poverty. The call to Carmel is a call to serve the Church through prayer and sacrifice. The sisters' charism is guided by St. Teresa and by St. John of the Cross. The essence of the Carmelite contemplative life is: living in the presence of God, in imitation of their most pure Mother Mary and the prophet Elijah. Carmel's motto is "With zeal, I have been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts." Qualifications for entry Strong desire to live for God and to pray and sacrifice oneself for His Body the Church; good physical and mental health. Formation program There is a live-in period to help the candidate become better acquainted with cloistered life; postulancy of one year; novitiate formation for two years; and temporary profession lasting about three years or more. Age range/limit 18-36 Consider belated vocations? Yes Belated/late vocations explanation Possible for extern vocation, age 21 - 40.