Secular Carmelite Community Frederick Maryland.

OUR COMMUNITY

Carmelite spirituality includes the practice of contemplative prayer and good works.

We are Secular Carmelites of the Sacred Heart Community. Most of us live in Maryland’s Frederick and Montgomery Counties, but we also have a few members who live in Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia.

We welcome those who want to explore the contemplative spirit of Carmel and develop an evangelical life of prayer and zeal in the world.

We are secular members of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, known as Discalced Carmelites. "Secular" means "living in the world," not in monastic life. Jesus Christ is the center of our lives and of Christian experience. We also look to the Virgin Mary as a model of faithfulness and service, and to the holy prophet Elijah as an inspiration to live in the presence of God.

Discalced Carmelites follow the teachings of Jesus, and revere the writings of Saints Thérèse, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila (all Doctors of the Catholic Church) and other Carmelite saints. These Carmelite teachings highlight contemplative prayer as an integral part of daily life.

Our religious order originated on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land with a group of hermits. The hermits asked Saint Albert of Jerusalem for a rule of life that would guide them in living in allegiance to Jesus, and he gave them a rule in the early 13th century. The rule is composed largely of scriptural precepts. Saint Teresa of Jesus, also known as Teresa of Avila, founded the discalced branch of the Carmelite order. Today, both laity and vowed religious live the same Spirit of Carmel.

We usually meet on the third Sunday of every month.

Saint Therese - the Little Flower

Our activities

Monthly meetings

Held at a local church, our gatherings include prayer and fellowship. We delve into the practice of Carmelite spirituality through a formation program that emphasizes learning from the Carmelite saints.

Days of recollection

Our community organizes special days of recollection that include Mass, talks about the spiritual life, silent prayer and fellowship.

Annual retreat

We come together for a community retreat to ask the Holy Spirit to refresh and inspire us. Retreats may be for a weekend or one day.

Our History

The Sacred Heart OCDS Community in Frederick keeps a close association with the OCD Friars in Washington D.C.

Our community was co-founded by Peggy Wilkinson and Maureen Jennings, who with Lynn Aminzadeh and several other members from OCDS communities in the Washington D.C. area, set up a study group in Frederick. The group had monthly conferences from the Friars beginning with the first meeting on September 15, 1991. With guidance from Fr. Ted Centala and Br. Bryan Paquette during these early years, the community grew steadily.

The Sacred Heart Community was canonically approved by the Vatican in March 1999.

The Community had 52 members on the 10-year anniversary of its founding in 2001. In 2004, 10 members left to launch a new OCDS Community in Hagerstown, MD.

The Sacred Heart Community grew to 83 members in 2009 and 115 members in 2011. In 2012, 20 members left to start yet another new OCDS Community in Westminster, MD. The three communities continue to work together by participating in the same annual retreats and days of recollection.

We invite you to visit us during our community meetings, which usually take place on third Sundays from 1-5pm. For more information, contact us at frederickcarmelites@outlook.com.