Carmel Heights Seniors Residence

Our congregation is known as the Carmelite Sisters D.C.J. We are a contemplative/apostolic Congregation. We are of pontifical rite aggregated to the first Order of Discalced Carmelites. We are contemplatives, and we continue to pray for reparation to the Heart of Jesus as well as intercession for the world. Our apostolic endeavors relieve the world’s sorrows by showing forth God’s love through caring for the aged, children and those in need. We have a long history that started when Blessed Mother Maria Teresa of Saint Joseph, a Carmel of the Divine Heart of Jesus founded the Congregation on March 19, 1891. She wanted to marry the contemplative spirit she had experienced in the cloisters and the active service she gave to the poor of the city. Her vision was to make the congregation a "living prayer," and only prayer bears the spirit of Carmel, which is contemplation. Contemplative prayer is the heart and soul of Carmelite Spirituality; it is the direct and intimate relationship that is found in the silence and loving gaze of the person with Christ Jesus. The intimacy that is found in contemplation with God and the human person leads to what traditionally are called prayer for intercession or what is more generally called prayer for all people. Blessed Mother Maria Teresa of St. Joseph had a special love for the litany of the most Holy Name of Jesus. It symbolized the life of the Sisters in which Blessed Mother Maria Teresa saw the heart of the Congregation drawn toward true contemplative Union with God. She encouraged the sisters to pray the litany every day and to meditate on the Names of the Lord as a way to prepare for the mystic life. This also lead her to encourage that the Sisters of the Congregation would participate in a special ministry of prayer. She desired that all Sisters that were able to join in the daily community celebration of the Hour of the Divine Office(referred as the Liturgy of the Hours). Blessed Maria Teresa of Saint Joseph was not content with common intercession and she added her special charism of prayer. She called this reparation for any sins she has committed, help of the suffering Church and intercession for the world. Blessed Maria Teresa saw this The vision she felt for the apostolic endeavor (Descend like Angels from Mount Carmel, coming to grieve laden humanity)