This conference will help one immediately start the central practice of Carmelite spirituality:  the practice of meditation or contemplation.  I will give some practical ways on how to set up the Carmelite framework of contemplation.  These ways can transform lives and if one can follow these simple concrete practice one is well on the way to becoming an Amici Carmeli.

The conference falls on May 20 this month.   See here.

While we are still working on posting the talks given at the first two meetings,  we need to move forward with  the formation work.  If you have computer skills, graphic artist skills or organization skills and would be willing to help, please email us at friendsofcarmeljmj@gmail.com or call and leave a message on our answering machine (see the column to the right for the phone number).

At the last meeting, the handbook for 3rd Order Secular Carmelites (under the traditional rite) was handed out, but alas, there are no more copies available.  Please let us know if you would like a copy so we can order the appropriate number of books.  We are also considering praying some or all of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  That book is available from Baronius Press ( http://www.baroniuspress.com/book.php?wid=56&bid=47 ) for $30 or if you prefer to avoid the web, let us know if you would like a copy and Berger’s Religious Store in Elysburg has offered to obtain sufficient copies for the group to purchase.  We can pick them up and have them available at the meeting.

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever.

If you or a group would like to volunteer your labor, please email us at friendsofcarmeljmj@gmail.com.  We will be glad to put you in touch with the Caretaker.

Following breakfast was a day of work.  A friend from Harrisburg was there to start the difficult job of bricking the chimney on the Caretaker Family Home.  Next week some Friends from Mater Dei Community, the Latin Mass Community in Harrisburg, are coming up to do other jobs such as tree trimming and possibly some tile floor laying.  But there is always  more work than volunteers so please consider taking a Saturday out of your life and come spend it at the Monastery lending a hand, or two.

Kindly remember, tithing involves time as well as treasure.   But speaking of treasure, please also remember that these Religious women offer their lives of prayer for the well-being of today’s world, a world which we know from our Lady of Fatima greatly offends the Lord.  But the Church doesn’t  provide direct financial support  to the Sisters in their cloistered lives.  They depend upon the generosity of the faithful for much of the food they eat, the habits they wear, the sandals on their feet and the care of the building in which they live.  These items are big expenses so please help support them financially.

Remember, supporting monastic life has been likened to propping up the arms of Moses holding the staff so that the battle will go in our favor. “[11] And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel overcame: but if he let them down a little, Amalec overcame. [12] And Moses’ hands were heavy: so they took a stone, and put under him, and he sat on it: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on both sides.. [Exodus 17:11-12]“

Mother has given us permission to recite the Rosary or meditate for 15 minutes after breakfast on future Friends Appreciation days as such will not interfere with the Nuns duties.

Fun Fact:  We had a Friend come all the way from Lancaster, PA to join us this past Saturday and we would like to thank her for doing so.

Please join us for the next Appreciation Day on June  2, 2012 and if you have any skills or desire to pitch in and help, please email us at friendsofcarmeljmj@gmail.com.

Praised Be Jesus Christ,  both Now and Forever.

friendsofcarmeljmj@gmail.com .

Our old email address (info@friendsofcarmeljmj.org) has stopped working for some reason that nobody can seem to figure out.

The pious associations in the formation stage at Carmel now has an email address: amicicarmeli@gmail.com.

We have also added a “Contact Us” page with all of our contact information easily available in one location.

As always, thank you for your support of Carmel and of our organization dedicated to providing assistance to this stronghold of the Catholic faith.

The name, “Amici Carmeli” was selected for the pious association being formed as an  unofficial adjunct to the Monastery.  While we are separate from the Nuns, we do come under their full prayerful support.

Father Orlowski, the groups spiritual adviser, gave a 30 minute talk on the value of belonging to a pious society in the nature of a 3rd Order.  The purpose, simply stated is so we can all help each other ascend Mount Carmel.  We hope to have the full talk available on-line in the near future (as well as the first talk given by  Fr. Mary, a visiting Carmelite priest).

If you would like more information on joining “Amici Carmeli” just send an email to us at amicicarmeli@gmail.com.

Information requests concerning Friends of Carmel JMJ should be sent to friendsofcarmeljmj@gmail.com.

Spera in Deo

Low Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of the month, so we will hold another Conference on Carmelite spirituality at 3:30pm.   We will go more in depth into the path of Carmelite spirituality particularly as an amicus carmeli.

Following that we will have a meeting for all attendants to discuss interest in the group.  The Confraternity of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Procession will be at 4:20pm during which at least two children will be enrolled in the scapular before the procession. After the procession we will be able to join the nuns for solemn vespers.  Usually adoration will follow until 6pm.

By Jen Reed

The Catholic Witness

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns enclosed at the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Elysburg found themselves doubly blessed as they celebrated the July 16 feast of their patroness – Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Present for the Solemn High Mass celebrated in the monastery’s chapel were Harrisburg Bishop Joseph P. McFadden and Pittsburgh Auxiliary Bishop William J. Waltersheid.

“It was a wonderful blessing that we had very much been looking forward to,” Mother Stella Marie, prioress, said of the feast day celebration, for which Bishop Waltersheid served as celebrant and homilist and at which Bishop McFadden was present.

“It was a day of great grace for us,” she told The Catholic Witness.

As former Diocesan Secretary for Clergy and Consecrated Life, Bishop Waltersheid worked with former Harrisburg Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades to establish the community in Elysburg – the second order of Discalced Carmelites in the diocese – in 2009.

The nuns are quick to acknowledge the support they’ve received from Bishop McFadden, Bishop Rhoades and Bishop Waltersheid.

In his homily during the July 16 Mass, Bishop Waltersheid called upon those gathered – the nuns enclosed behind an iron grille enclosing them in the monastery and the faithful seated in the chapel’s pews – to “pray today in a very special way for all in the Diocese of Harrisburg here on the Mount, Mount Carmel.”

“Today, we celebrate her feast. We celebrate her, who reaches out to each one of us in a very special way,” Bishop Waltersheid said.

“What a great gift of grace for us all to be here on this holy ground. It is truly holy ground here on this hill,” he remarked.

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Elysburg, the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Danville and the Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary in Lancaster are the three contemplative communities of nuns in the diocese.

There are currently 14 Discalced Carmelite Nuns at the monastery in Elysburg, and their community members are young. Five are in solemn vows, and the remaining are in formation. The youngest is 18.

The congregation was officially accepted in the Church in 1226, though Carmelites trace their origins from Old Testament times as they consider themselves daughters of the Prophet Elijah. In 1251, St. Simon Stock, the general superior of the Carmelite order, received the Brown Scapular from Our Lady during an apparition. She promised special help to those who wear the Scapular with devotion.

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns encourage the faithful to wear the Brown Scapular as a sign of devotion to Mary, whom they strive to imitate.

“Just as a priest is an alter Christus or ‘other Christ,’ we try to be ‘other Marys’ so that we can support the priesthood by our prayers, just as Our Blessed Mother supported Our Lord throughout his ministry by her silent prayers and her silent presence,” Mother Stella Marie noted.

Their apostolate is to pray for the needs of the Church and for the world. They live a strictly cloistered life in order to set themselves apart from the world and dedicate themselves to God.

The nuns awake at 4:30 a.m., pray parts of the Divine Office eight times a day, attend daily Mass and pray before the Blessed Sacrament twice daily.

Prayer intentions can be submitted to them via mail or at the entrance of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph at 430 Monastery Road, Elysburg, Pa., 17824. Faithful are also welcome to attend Mass at the monastery Monday-Friday at 7 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m.

“Sometimes it’s difficult for people to understand the why and the wherefore of our life because we are very hidden,” Mother Stella Marie said. “We just would like all the faithful of the diocese to know that we are bonded with each and every one of them. We are very much a part of their lives in the sense that we pray daily for each and every person. No one should hesitate to write for intentions or to come by and give their intentions at the turnstile. Even though we are hidden, we haven’t forgotten anyone. We feel very united with them.”

Members of this lay group will follow a primitive secular Carmelite rule, mutatis mutandi.  In addition, all will be invited to the monthly talks, Vespers and Benediction on the third Sunday of each month.  Attendance at the meeting will not be mandatory but will be strongly encouraged as the meetings will offer a spiritual avenue for the members to pursue.  Members will also participate in the feasts, prayers and devotions common to the Carmelites.  As this group is just beginning we ask that for now you consider becoming an aspirant.  Please see the “Aspirant” page to see how to become an aspirant.

We were blessed with a talk on Carmelite  by Father Mary a visiting Carmelite priest who gave a talk on Carmelite spirituality.  We hope to have this talk  on our site in the near future.  If you are discerning your call to join this Pious Association and would like to be added to our email list, just send an email to  info@friendsofcarmeljmj.org and keep an eye on our website for further posts.

May God Reward You

Keep checking back to this site for some exciting announcements to be made in the next several weeks.

Also, please try to help the Sisters financially.  The Monastery is an expensive building to maintain and operate so any donations you can make will be greatly appreciated by the Sisters and the Friends of Carmel JMJ.

May God Reward You.