About Us

We are a third order (Secular) Discalced Carmelite community located in the Tampa Bay area. Our community was canonically established in 2006.



Discalced Carmelite Seculars are members of the Carmelite family of the 16th century reform of St. Teresa of Jesus (St. Teresa of Avila). Discalced means shoeless. St. Teresa's followers wore sandals rather than shoes, a practice which distinguished them from Carmelites of the Ancient Observance. These followers are present in the modern world as friars, enclosed nuns and seculars.

 

Discalced Carmelite Seculars come from all walks of life, from every level of education and from every type of work. They are Catholic laypersons over the age of 18 (married or unmarried) or ordained diocesan priests or deacons.

 

There are more than 45,000 Discalced Carmelite Seculars worldwide and more than 6,000 in the United States. They gather in canonically erected communities or recognized study groups under the guidance and leadership of the order.