New community outgrowth of one in Cincinnati

By David Eck

DAYTON DEANERY — After two years of prayerful planning and process, the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites has formed a new community in Dayton.

The community held its first monthly meeting at St. Peter Church in Huber Heights Jan. 13 and will typically meet the second Sunday of the month. The new community is an outgrowth of one based in Cincinnati, which meets at St. Teresa of Avila Church on Cincinnati’s west side.

"We are so excited about this new community," said Frances Harry, a Secular Carmelite since 1990 who helped form the new community. "We needed a new community, and we decided we would base it in the Dayton area."

For the last year, a discussion group met at the University of Dayton to gauge interest in creating a new community. Several members live north of Dayton and had long drives to Cincinnati.

Father Reynaldo Taylor, associate pastor at St. Peter, has agreed to serve as the community’s spiritual assistant, and Deacon Russell Baldwin will also assist the community. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk and Carmelite Provincial Delegate Father John Grennon have given permission to begin a new community.

"As their spiritual (assistant) there’s a variety of things that I have to do," said Father Taylor. "They have to have a priest whose basic role is there as a spiritual director."

Father Taylor will do such things as leading the group in prayer, celebrating Carmelite feast days with them and assisting the director of formation in formation of candidates.

"I’ve let them know very clearly that I’m open to do whatever I can to help them in their ongoing formation as a community and as individuals in the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites," Father Taylor said. "It is a unique challenge, and I’m looking forward to this with great joy."

The community is beginning with 12 founding members, mostly from the Cincinnati community. It will also serve visitors and aspirants.

In addition to belonging to local parishes, Secular Carmelites meet as a community monthly for formation, prayer, information and fellowship. They are over age 18 and come from all walks of life, Harry said.

The Seculars Carmelites’ obligations, summarized by six "Ms" are: 30 minutes of daily meditation; morning prayer, evening prayer and, if possible, night prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours; daily Mass, if possible; a primary devotion to imitate Mary; meetings; and sharing the Carmelite mission of knowing God so God can be known.

Secular Carmelites’ practices are much more stringent than that of a typical parish community.

"There is such a hunger for this mystical life," Harry said. "We provide a wonderful opportunity to learn it."

Some of the most famous Carmelite saints are doctors of the church, including St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux (Little Flower).

Some of the principals that guide Carmelite life include living in allegiance to Jesus Christ; being diligent in meditating on the law of the Lord; spiritual reading; participating in both the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours; arming oneself with the practice of virtues; and using prudent discretion in all you do.

Becoming a Secular Carmelite is a calling, Harry said. The entire formation takes about six years, including aspirancy and two periods of formation.

"It’s a two-way discernment," she said. "You have to discern what is driving this . . . are they being called? Is God calling them to this lifestyle? We want to let them know what this lifestyle is."

A lifelong Catholic who grew up in the southern Illinois Baptist Bible belt, she was out of college when she learned of the Carmelites through a mutual acquaintance

For more information on the new community, contact Harry at 937-236-9313 or email fjiharry@sbcglobal.net.