Boston Carmel | BOSTON CARMEL TODAY

The Carmelites of Boston are a community of contemplative nuns belonging to the worldwide Order of Discalced Carmelites. The Discalced Carmelites, also known as Teresian Carmelites, are nuns, priests, brothers, and Secular Order members who follow the spiritual tradition of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Avila) and Saint John of the Cross. Carmelite nuns have a presence in 88 countries throughout the world. In the US, there are 65 monasteries of Carmelite nuns.

Our community lives in the inner city of Boston, in Roxbury, where we have remained since our foundation in 1890. In spite of the demographic changes in our neighborhood in the 1960s, we have committed ourselves to be a prayerful presence in this neighborhood in Boston. As in the very first days of our foundation, our bells continue to ring daily, calling people to prayer and directing their thoughts to the faithful presence of God in their midst.

Meet Our Sisters

"There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. To each...the Spirit is given for the common good" — (1Cor 12)

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Meet Our Sisters (continued)

We are presently a community of 10 sisters, formed by culture, experience, and family, each bringing to the group a unique mystery that is her person. Through the demands of community life, each one comes to a greater understanding of that personhood.

Originally coming from Canada, the US, and the Philippines, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and having worked and lived in such places as Australia, Bangladesh, Trinidad, Italy, and Jamaica WI, we find that it is here within the 3 acres of our monastery that we can touch the Center and be "where it all happens." But our past is a part of us and each one's story enriches the group. Before coming to Roxbury, we were individually engaged in a variety of professions which included being a high school teacher, a school principal, a marketing manager, a banking officer, a missionary, a secretary in state politics, a student, a farmer and an engineer.
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Meet Our Sisters (continued)

Two of the sisters transferred from other religious groups. As we listen to each other's story, there is always cause to wonder at God's marvelous plan for each in her call to Carmel.

Our life together draws on the gifts of all and often awakens latent talents. Among us there is one carpenter, some gardeners, artists, and musicians, as well as computer 'specialists'.

Interests range from stitchery and poetry to animals and anything beyond. We have our organizers and our 'idea people', our sweepers and our celebrators and we find that it all comes together quite wonderfully...

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Meet Our Sisters (continued)

But the ability that is most brought into play is the giving of love, respect, and forgiveness because, though differences enrich us, they also challenge us to grow. St. Teresa reminds us that in Carmel's communities "all must be friends, all must be loved, all must be held dear, all must be helped." (Way C.4, no.7)

Further on in the Way of Perfection (C35, No. 7) St. Teresa continues: "How the Lord must esteem this love we have for one another!"

Personal eccentricities vary, as well as attractive talents, and each of us is called to respond with compassion, giving free flow to the work of the Spirit among us, the only One who can truly bring community into being.

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Tour Our Monastery

Boston Carmel is a very beautiful and a very special place. Completed in 1898, it is the oldest extant Carmelite monastery building in the United States. Designated as a historical place by the City of Boston, it has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the US Department of the Interior. We hope you find it as beautiful as we do!

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Boston Carmel 2009 Calendar of Events

Some public celebrations highlight our year. These are the tangible ways we share our lives with the greater community while continuing to silently witness to the value of prayer to all. You are all invited to our public events!

July 14th - 16th
Triduum in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Novena Prayer to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

September 27, 2009 - Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
Eucharist and Blessing of Roses in honor of St. Therese
Novena to St. Therese

November 15, 2009 - Sunday, 2 p.m
"LITTLE ESTHER" - our annual Carmelite-theme presentation this year will be a play on St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross). The play will star Roberta Nobleman and Janet Bedhoe. All are welcome! No entrance fees but donations gratefully accepted.

Triduum in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Rev. Raymond Collins, CSsR
Pastor of Mission Church

Supervised Parking

Pray the Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

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"LITTLE ESTHER"

Sunday, November 15, at 2:00 p.m.

Our annual Carmelite-theme presentation this year will be a play on St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross). The play will star Roberta Nobleman and Janet Bedhoe. All are welcome!

No entrance fees but donations gratefully accepted.

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Sharing Our Life

In addition to our public celebrations, there are other ways that we share our prayer and resources with the greater community.

One of these takes place on Good Friday of each year when our monastery becomes one of the 'stations' of our parish's Stations of the Cross. Parishioners, neighbors, and nuns come together as the Body of Christ and converge at the front steps of our monastery to pray, to sing, and to reflect for some moments on the meaning of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

Once a month, we also provide space to a small group of diocesan priests who come to pray in the peaceful quiet of our chapel.

The Tot Lot Program

Although our way of life excludes active ministry, we do support the efforts of the Roxbury neighborhood to build community. This is done in ways that preserve our purely contemplative lifestyle while making our presence and involvement in this community more tangibly felt. An example of this is the neighborhood Tot Lot program.

Every summer, we provide space in a monastery property right outside our enclosure walls for this project. The Tot Lot, begun in 1968 and managed by our next door neighbor Mrs. Mildred Daniels, provides a supervised play area for children of the neighborhood for six weeks each summer.

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The Tot Lot Program (continued)

The Tot Lot is furnished with play equipment obtained from grants and donations. Meals are also provided by the City. The 34-year history of this project attests to its success.

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NOVENA PRAYER TO
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL
July 8 to 16

0 most beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, still remaining a virgin, assist me in this my necessity. 0 Star of the Sea, help me, and show me you are my Mother. 0 holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to help me in this necessity. There are none who can withstand your power! Oh, show me herein you are my Mother.

0 Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us
who have recourse to you.
(3 times)

Sweet Mother,
I place this cause in your hands.
(3 times)

Novena to St. Therese
September 23 to October 1

O St. Therese of the Child Jesus, who during your brief mortal life made the mysteries of the Divine Infancy the school of your soul and its delight, and who permitted no day of your earthly exile to pass without scattering before your Lord the sweetest flowers of love and sacrifices, now that you are so close to His throne, pray for us! Teach us your "Little Way" of confidence and abandonment to the merciful love of God which conducted you so swiftly and so surely to Paradise, that it may be for us also the road of sanctification and salvation. O Little Flower of Jesus, by the ineffable sweetness of the Divine Infancy, obtain for us the favor we confidently implore through your intercession; let fall upon us your promised shower of roses! Let the radiance of your celestial smile embrace all humankind, reminding us of the infinite goodness of our God and the unending joys of heaven, where we hope one day to join you in praising the Divine Mercy forever. Amen.

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on use!
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us!
St. Therese, pray for us!

Professor Dolores Lackey

Dolores R. Leckey is a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center, where she coordinates the Church Leadership Program. She is the former Executive Director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, where she served for twenty years. She has been awarded 12 honorary doctorates and the Washington Theological Union's 1988 Distinguished Service Award for her work in the area of lay spirituality. She is the author of numerous articles and chapters on a variety of topics related to the contemporary church. Her books include:

Practical Spirituality (Sheed & Ward, 1987);
Women and Creativity (Paulist Press)
which was the 1991 Madaleva Lecture;
Winter Music: A Life of Jessica Powers, Poet, Nun, Woman of the Twentieth Century (Sheed & Ward, 1992).

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