About the Carmelite Pre-Novitiate Program

The pre-novices are fully immersed in their studies, learning to balance life in community with their academic work. Our schedule consists of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer. Formation sessions are weekly and follow a four week cycle such as studying one of our Carmelite documents, lectio divina, house meetings and group facilitation. Each month, we deepen this process with workshops and presentations on topics in the areas of Human Development and Growth in the first semester and Carmelite Spirituality in the second.

In time, each pre-novice will commit himself to a ministry whether it be working with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, teaching CCD, parish ministry, Ministry of Care or tutoring in an Adult Learning Center.

An important aspect of our communal prayer life includes longer times of silence for reflection, time for meditation, praying the rosary, Adoration of the Eucharist, Stations of the Cross, novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Therese. These traditions, customs and devotions are often determined by the liturgical season or solemnities and are usually initiated by the students. It’s a rich and varied life that we share in common, forming us to be men of deep intimacy with God, the Church and one another.