The Third Order of Carmelites are an integral part of the Carmelite Order made up of mostly lay people (diocesan priests can become members) who seek to live the Carmelite way through living a life of prayer, community and service. Lay Carmelites, like all Carmelites look to the Carmelite Rule for guidance and inspiration, the Rule is said to be the spring from which the river of the Charism flows.
Life as a Lay Carmelite is way of living in a spirit of true communion with the entire family of Carmel into which we are fully accepted and incorporated. The purpose of such commitment is the cultivation of a deeper and constant conversion that seeks God in openness of heart and mind
- in contemplative and prayerful reflection on Christ as he is revealed to us, especially in the Scriptures
- by a sincere sense of community that extends to all and implies an active concern for issues of justice and peace in the world God has entrusted to our stewardship
- by faithful fulfilment of the will of God as it is manifested through the commitments arising from each member’s individual state in life.
Today the Third Order is flourishing in Britain and across the world as the largest expression of the Carmelite Family. To build up bonds of fraternity, Lay Carmelites attend local monthly community meetings where they share their spirituality, prayer and fellowship.
There are also other ways one can be a lay Carmelite without having to join the Third Order such as joining Carmelite Spirituality Groups, The Leaven or enrolling in the Brown Scapular Confraternity, you can find more information about these other expressions of lay Carmel on the Carmelite website (British Province) at www.carmelite.org where you will find links to the Lay Carmelite website and the local Birmingham Third Order website at www.carmelite.org/birmingham.
The Birmingham Lay Carmelites have strong links with other Carmelite communities in the area, including Carmelite Third Order chapters in Coventry and Leicester, and Redditch Carmelite Spirituality Group.
Together with these communities, the Birmingham Third Order chapter takes part in an annual retreat, which includes venues such as Aylesford Priory, and the Discalced Carmelite Priory at Boars Hill.
Meeting Venue and Time: on the first Saturday at 1.00 pm. Our February meeting is at St Chad’s Sanctuary, at the back of the cathedral. Our meetings for May, June and July will be at St Chad’s Cathedral (Please check with Mrs Renee Namih for the remaining months for 2019, which will be held at St Chad’s Sanctuary tbc).
For further information please contact:
Mrs Renee Namih (Leader of Birmingham Third Order)
7 Belgrove Close
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 3RQ
Tel: 0121 456 5646
E-mail: reneenamih@gmail.com