HISTORY OF SIOUX CITY SECULAR ORDER OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

DEDICATED TO ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS AND ST. RAPHAEL KALINOWSKY OF ST. JOSEPH.

Formed: 1986

Canonically Established: October 15, 1992

Canonical Establishment Third Order of the Carmelite Community of Secular Discalced Carmelites in the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa took place on October 15, 1992 at the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady of the Incarnation with the consent of Bishop Lawrence Soen, bishop of Sioux City, and the Vatican. 

The first effort to start a lay Carmelite group in Sioux City under the guidance of Fr. Harold Cooper at St. Joseph’s Church began in 1981. 

The decision to transfer from the 0. Carmelite group to the O.C.D.S. Carmelites and to hold meetings at our own Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City was made; with the direction of Fr. John Michael Payne, O.C.D., Provincial Delegate to the Secular Order, Dallas, Texas, this was accomplished. 

The first official meeting of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites was held at the Carmelite Monastery on December 13th, 1986. The first President and Formation Director was Brendan Burchard. The Spiritual Director was the late Msgr. John Doherty of Blessed Sacrament Church, Seventeen members and two prospective members were present at the meeting, which followed the Mass of St. John of the Cross. 

Msgr. Doherty stepped down as Spiritual Assistant in October, 1988, and was followed by Fr. Ed Girres of Cathedral Church. On Dec. 14, 1991, eight members made their final promise and three members made their temporary promise to the order. Officiating at the concelebrated Mass and receiving the members was Carmelite Father Palmer Maxwell, Provincial Delegate to the Secular Order from Dallas, TX. Concelebrants were Fathers Ed Girres, Patrick O’Kane and Gene Walding. 

The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, or Third Order of Theresian Carmel, includes those of the faithful who, by special vocation, undertake to live in the world an evangelical life of fraternal communion imbued with the spirit of contemplative prayer, in imitation of the Virgin Mary, and animated with apostolic zeal according to the example and teaching of Carmelite saints. 

It is the mission of the Secular Carmelites, called as they are to a life both contemplative and apostolic to carry into the world the distinctive witness of Carmel. 

The members are to join in the celebration of daily Mass, pray the morning and evening prayer and the night prayer (if possible) from the Liturgy of the Hours, to practice mental prayer for one half hour each day to awaken them to the fullness of God’. life and love for them. The Community meets the third Saturday of the month at the Carmelite Monastery beginning at 8:00 a.m. joining the Sisters with the celebration of Mass. A yearly Retreat is held at the Monastery.