Becoming a Carmelite

Vocation to religious life is a gift from God that emerges gradually in the context of the journey of faith. We are always happy to hear from those who are exploring this possibility in their lives and who wish to discuss it further. Initial contact should be with the Prioress. This may lead to an invitation to visit the monastery and, if it seems appropriate, to spend a short time inside the enclosure with the community. This does not imply any kind of commitment on either side. We are happy to give anyone who is seriously interested in the Carmelite calling an opportunity to experience at first hand what our life in Carmel involves.

The Prioress may be contacted for this purpose by letter or by emailing:

We recognize that a sense of vocation to our life is something that may evolve over many years and take time to assimilate. Typically, at Quidenham, we offer five years in formation during which great care is taken to assist the candidate in her discernment and to provide her with the spiritual, theological and scriptural input that she needs.

We look for a mature adjustment to our way of life during this formational period so that the moment of final commitment may be one of real choice on the candidate's part. The great reformer of our Order, St. Teresa of Avila, described our life as 'a very happy one' and looked especially for this growing happiness in those who joined her enterprise.

Formation begins from the moment of entry into our novitiate when the candidate is formally welcomed into the community as someone who sincerely desires to try our way of life for herself. Some time will already have been spent with us on an informal basis and this preliminary experience will naturally have guided the newcomer's decision.

Novices participate fully in our community life while retaining a certain independence in its regard. Priority is given at this stage to providing each individual with the kind of formation she needs in the light of her previous life-experience.

The first stage of formation lasts two years. Its immediate goal is a formal commitment of self to God in the Carmelite way of life of our community for an initial, three-year period.

Its ultimate goal is the making of a total life-commitment, recognized and solemnly consecrated by the Church. All the formation that precedes this final commitment will have been structured with this goal in view and will have sought to elucidate it in the light of the candidate's everyday experience.