Carmelites in formation created this brief video, "Carmel is…" for Carmelites Study Week at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC. (August 2015)

During Carmelite Studies Week (August 10-16) at Whitefriars Hall in Washington DC, 36 Carmelite men in formation participated in a media challenge. They were tasked with breaking into small groups that would produce a compelling piece of content around the prophetic and contemplative aspects of the Carmelite charism. The video above was produced by Carmelites Matt Gummess, Nigel Ali, Manu Franco and Matt Bonin.

Carmelite men in formation gathered August 10-16 at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC for the third annual Carmelite Studies Week. The 36 participants were members of the two North American provinces and came from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, Trinidad and Vietnam.

June 8th and 9th were occasions of great joy for the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (Chicago) as we received four new novices into the order...

Thoughts of Thanksgiving take me back to one special year when I was a seminarian in formation. My parents visited me at Whitefriars Hall, the residence for Carmelites and international student house in Washington DC. My mom, of course, found her way to the kitchen to help with dinner preparation, while my dad told war stories to anyone around who was willing to listen.

With great joy, the Carmelites of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province welcomes four pre-novices into their formation program at Carith House in Chicago.

So much of my work as provincial involves traveling so I can walk with my brother Carmelites at various stages of their own journeys. It is a grace-filled opportunity to see Carmel at work through so many different people and places.

Many years ago, I visited our Carmelite community in Tuscon, Arizona, at the same time as another visitor – a young Carmelite named Enrique Varela. It became apparent very quickly that Erinque was talented in the kitchen.

During the second week of Lent, I had the opportunity to visit two Carmelites who are living out the Carmelite call to service and contemplation in ministries that are very distinct and profound.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our online Carmelite community! Between the holidays and my overbooked travel schedule in the last weeks of 2012, updating my blog has been challenging to say the least.