The Discalced Carmelite Nuns belong to a world wide religious family. The Order of Carmel has its spiritual roots sunk deep in the Old Testament. It follows the examples of the holy prophet who withdrew from the world in order to pray and intercede for God's people on Mount Carmel. Over the centuries some hermits in Palestine turned aside from turbulent world to live in solitude and silence on Mount Carmel in the spirit of great prophet, under the protection of Our Blessed Mother whom the affectionately called their "sister" and whose life they professed to imitate. The gift of the holy scapular, given by Our lady to her Order, was a sign of her special love and protection.

In the sixteenth century the great Spanish mystic, St. Teresa of Avila brought a new epoch to this holy Order with her "reform". She renewed its spirit, and set up the principles of the life-style that is still lived in the order today. Prayer the focus of the Carmelite Nun's life was for the Carmelite Nun's life - was for St. Teresa simply a loving conversation 'with Him whom we know loves us'

The word "Carmel" means a beautiful garden, symbol of the mystical and serene solitude of the heart, where God and man commune in intimate friendship. The nuns are enclosed within this "garden", and leave behind the goods of this world for the sake of the kingdom that it's to come. They give their entire lives to God in prayer, penance, silence and manual labour. Their day is permeated with the praise of God and the prayer of intercession for the intentions that have been recommended to their prayer.

Prayer is the Carmelite Nun's form of apostolate, and through it she reaches out to the world, the Church, the young, the sick and elderly, but most especially to Priest.

"In solitude, where they are devoted to prayer, contemplatives are never forgetful of their brothers. If they have withdrawn from frequent contact with their fellow men, it is not because they were seeking  themselves and their own comfort, or peace and quiet for their own sake, but because on the contrary, they were in intent on sharing to a more universal degree, the fatigue, the misery and the hope of all mankind".  (Venite Seorsum)

The Carmelite monastery is an open witness to the reality of the presence and the existence of God, which in today's broken world is often denied. It is a reminder to the world of the validity of Gospel values. In this hidden "garden" the need, joy, wounds and sorrows of the world are carried before the throne of God daily and hourly especially in the Sacred Liturgy.

It is also a vivid reminder that here below we are pilgrims in a foreign land; that "here we have no lasting city", but seek one that is to come. our true homeland is eternal, in that heaven where " the eye has not seen nor the ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who live Him"

The Eucharistic Sacrifice is the centre of the Nun's monastic day. Through the gift of themselves- symbolized by the gift of bread and wine presented at the alter- the community's offering becomes transformed in Christ, and shares in the infinite value of his paschal Mystery.

The divine prayer is carried throughout the day in the Liturgy of the Hours in which their hymns of praise and petition ascend like incense to the throne of God, using the very words of God, which the Church places upon their lips, The Intervals between prayers are filled with the various normal household tasks of cooking, cleaning, gardening and sewing. These activities sanctified by the intercession for the Church and for the whole world.

St. Therese of Lisieux described the Carmelite vocation beautifully she wrote: "In the heart of my Mother the Church I will be Love."