Secular Carmelites retreat to pray RAYMOND — According to Father Raphael Kitz, OCD, from Marylake Monastery in Little Rock, Ark., the special charism of Carmelite spirituality is prayer. “St. Teresa of Avila, a doctor of the church and founder of the Discalced branch of Carmelites (OCD), taught her nuns about prayer and the many methods of prayer,” he said at the annual retreat of
the Carmelite Secular (OCDS) Community of Jackson gathered in Raymond at the Thea Bowman Retreat Center Oct. 23-25.
Unlike Carmelite friars and nuns, Carmelite Seculars are lay men and women, married, widowed, or single who are called to a special vocation of prayer in their daily lives.
Those who go through Carmelite formation learn prayer methods of Carmelite saints such as St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese, the Little Flower, Father Kitz said.
Meetings are held monthly at the Carmelite Monastery in Jackson. The Secular Community invites and welcomes those who wish to learn more about prayer and Carmelite spirituality to come to their meetings on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Dec. 19, beginning with Mass at 8:30 a.m.
For information call Dorothy Ashley, 601-259-0885.
