Communities
Members of the Carmelite Third Order normally belong to a Lay Carmelite community that meets on a regular (usually monthly) basis. Most Lay Carmelite communities meet for a few hours every month to share time together in prayer, formation (usually discussion on a particular topic), social time, and sometimes a form of social outreach or charitable work. Some communities meet on church premises or at a community of Carmelite religious; others meet in members' homes.
Lay Carmelite communities offer spiritual and social nourishment.Those who cannot attend a regular community meeting because of perhaps geographic distance or illness are known as 'distance members', but they are still linked to a particular community who will seek to provide them with a source of support.
In the British Province there are two types of Lay Carmelite community: 'Chapters' of the Third Order, and Carmelite Spirituality Groups. Essentially both types of community have a lot of features in common. Both provide formation in the Carmelite tradition, time for prayer, and sharing socially. Traditionally Third Order Chapters have been open only to those who want to commit to the Carmelite way of life as members of the Third Order, whereas Carmelite Spirituality Groups are broader in their membership, welcoming both tertiaries and enquirers together, as well as people from different Christian denominations and varied walks of life.
In the British Province communities vary in size from perhaps just 3 or 4 members up to groups exceeding 30 or 40. As of 2012 there were approximately 30 groups across Britain, as listed on the map of communities.
Members of Leeds Carmelite Spirituality Group sharing time together.Unlike the friars, nuns and apostolic sisters, Lay Carmelites do not usually live together in a physical community but meet at least once a month for prayer and formation in Carmelite spirituality. Such meetings are a time to grow together in friendship and a deeper commitment to the values of Carmelite life.
Gathering for the Eucharist is sometimes a feature
of Carmelite Third Order Communities where a priest is available.In addition to monthly meetings, most Lay Carmelite communities in Britain arrange special events such as socials, pilgrimages, retreats, or quiet weekends.
York Carmelite Spirituality Group
Lay Carmelite communities offer spiritual and social nourishment.Those who cannot attend a regular community meeting because of perhaps geographic distance or illness are known as 'distance members', but they are still linked to a particular community who will seek to provide them with a source of support.
In the British Province there are two types of Lay Carmelite community: 'Chapters' of the Third Order, and Carmelite Spirituality Groups. Essentially both types of community have a lot of features in common. Both provide formation in the Carmelite tradition, time for prayer, and sharing socially. Traditionally Third Order Chapters have been open only to those who want to commit to the Carmelite way of life as members of the Third Order, whereas Carmelite Spirituality Groups are broader in their membership, welcoming both tertiaries and enquirers together, as well as people from different Christian denominations and varied walks of life.
In the British Province communities vary in size from perhaps just 3 or 4 members up to groups exceeding 30 or 40. As of 2012 there were approximately 30 groups across Britain, as listed on the map of communities.
Members of Leeds Carmelite Spirituality Group sharing time together.Unlike the friars, nuns and apostolic sisters, Lay Carmelites do not usually live together in a physical community but meet at least once a month for prayer and formation in Carmelite spirituality. Such meetings are a time to grow together in friendship and a deeper commitment to the values of Carmelite life.
Gathering for the Eucharist is sometimes a feature
of Carmelite Third Order Communities where a priest is available.In addition to monthly meetings, most Lay Carmelite communities in Britain arrange special events such as socials, pilgrimages, retreats, or quiet weekends.
York Carmelite Spirituality Group
Carmelite Spirituality Groups (CSGs)
Carmelite Spirituality Groups have developed in the British Province since the late 1990s. Originally they were communities of Lay Carmelites in new locations who did not have enough members to constitute a formal 'Chapter' of the Third Order. However, from 2006 a new form of Spirituality Group has developed that seeks to offer an experience of 'Carmel' in a contemporary and inclusive way.
The 'Carmel in the City' CSG in London
CSGs in York, London, Leeds, Mawdesley, Manchester and elsewhere are convened by professed members of the Third Order and follow the Third Order's formation programme, but they are open to anyone interested in the Carmelite way of life, not simply those seeking to make formal profession of promises.
The inaugural meeting of Canterbury (now East Kent) CSG in February 2011
CSGs are open to all enquirers, including different expressions of the Carmelite charism, and Christians of churches other than the Roman Catholic Church who respect the Catholic ethos of the community.
York CSG with Bishop Terence Drainey of Middlesbrough Diocese
Many Carmelite Chapters of the Third Order are also open to enquirers from a wide variety of backgrounds, and are adopting the CSG meeting format, which puts a lot of emphasis upon formation, silent prayer and Lectio Divina, social time, and a varied and 'holistic' programme of events that address a wide range of life issues from a spiritual perspective.
York CSG on a visit to the city's mosque
To download (in PDF format) a leaflet for enquirers about the Third Order that explains its relationship to Carmelite Spirituality Groups, please click here. Carmelite Spirituality Groups are very much part of the vision for the development of Lay Carmel in Britain, as stated in the 2007 Vision Statement for the Third Order.
The inaugural meeting of Leeds CSG in May 2009
Groups similar in outlook and format to Carmelite Spirituality Groups also exist in other provinces of the Order, such as the Carmelite Explorers group in Dublin, and the Karmelbeweging (Carmelite Movement) in The Netherlands, where Lay Carmel has been developing for decades.
The inaugural meeting of Manchester CSG in February 2011
Carmelite Spirituality Groups have developed in the British Province since the late 1990s. Originally they were communities of Lay Carmelites in new locations who did not have enough members to constitute a formal 'Chapter' of the Third Order. However, from 2006 a new form of Spirituality Group has developed that seeks to offer an experience of 'Carmel' in a contemporary and inclusive way.
The 'Carmel in the City' CSG in London
CSGs in York, London, Leeds, Mawdesley, Manchester and elsewhere are convened by professed members of the Third Order and follow the Third Order's formation programme, but they are open to anyone interested in the Carmelite way of life, not simply those seeking to make formal profession of promises.
The inaugural meeting of Canterbury (now East Kent) CSG in February 2011
CSGs are open to all enquirers, including different expressions of the Carmelite charism, and Christians of churches other than the Roman Catholic Church who respect the Catholic ethos of the community.
York CSG with Bishop Terence Drainey of Middlesbrough Diocese
Many Carmelite Chapters of the Third Order are also open to enquirers from a wide variety of backgrounds, and are adopting the CSG meeting format, which puts a lot of emphasis upon formation, silent prayer and Lectio Divina, social time, and a varied and 'holistic' programme of events that address a wide range of life issues from a spiritual perspective.
York CSG on a visit to the city's mosque
To download (in PDF format) a leaflet for enquirers about the Third Order that explains its relationship to Carmelite Spirituality Groups, please click here. Carmelite Spirituality Groups are very much part of the vision for the development of Lay Carmel in Britain, as stated in the 2007 Vision Statement for the Third Order.
The inaugural meeting of Leeds CSG in May 2009
Groups similar in outlook and format to Carmelite Spirituality Groups also exist in other provinces of the Order, such as the Carmelite Explorers group in Dublin, and the Karmelbeweging (Carmelite Movement) in The Netherlands, where Lay Carmel has been developing for decades.
The inaugural meeting of Manchester CSG in February 2011
