
LAY CARMELITES
CANADA EAST AND NEW YORK

THE LAY CARMELITES
BLESSED TRINITY LCC (#5815 - Thornhill, ON)

MEETINGS
1st Saturday, 9:30 AM
(Parish Mass 8:30 AM)
St Luke’s Catholic Church
39 Green Lane
Thornhill, ON L3T 6K5
CONTACT US
"Welcome! We are a community of Roman Catholic women and men who belong to the Lay Carmelites, the Third Order Secular branch of the Carmelite Order. Our mission is to follow Christ in love, to seek the kingdom of God, to sanctify and to transform the secular world through the participation in the Carmelite charisms of contemplative prayer, community and ministry. It is an ancient path followed by laity since 1210, and embraced by religious such as St Teresa of Avila, St Therese of Lisieux, St John of the Cross, St Titus Brandsma, and others.
Blessed Trinity Lay Carmelite Community (#5815) started as a spirituality group in March 2009, and became a community on November 30, 2010. We continued to operate online during the COVID pandemic, and are glad to be back to face-to-face meetings and accepting new candidates.
We meet on the first Saturday of the month at St. Luke's Parish in Thornhill.
If you feel you may have a vocation in Carmel, please browse this site, read our information pamphlet, and contact us to discuss your vocation.
Blessings,
Blessed Trinity LCC

The Annunciation (cropped), by Leonardo da Vinci. License.
CALL TO CARMEL
"Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.' "
- Luke 1.38, NRSV
"I wanted Carmel as soon as I knew about it. I find all the aspirations of my soul are fulfilled in this Order."
- St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, Manuscript A, 54v
Many and varied are the ways (Rule, 2) in which God calls people to follow Jesus Christ. Read about the Carmelite journey of some of our members.
Read about the Carmelite journey
St Albert Presents Rule, (cropped) by Pietro Lorenzetti. License.
THE CARMELITES
"Now therefore have all Israel assemble for me at Mount Carmel."
- 1 Kings 18.19, NRSV
"All must be friends, all must loved, all must be held dear, all must be helped."
- St Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection (ICS) 4.7
The Carmelites are an 800-year old religious family whose members include revered doctors and saints of the Church, such as St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, St Titus Brandsma, and others. In North America, the Third Order Secular branch of the Order is commonly known as the Lay Carmelites.
Learn more about the Lay Carmelites
Our Lady of Mount Carmel (2020), by Ria. Used with permission.
For Members...
MEETING SCHEDULE
We're meeting face-to-face again, and accepting new candidates!
Monthly: 1st Sat, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Inquiry: varies
Phase I: 2nd Mon, 7 PM (may vary)
Phase II: 2nd Thu, 7 PM (may vary)
[Optional] Saturday prayer: 3rd Sat, 10:00 - 11:00 AM, via Zoom
UPCOMING EVENTS
In-person events may be canceled due to local COVID restrictions. Please watch your email closer to the date for any changes.
SAT
MAR 18
2023
Lenten Day of Recollection
Online
Join Lay Carmelites from across the region for our annual regional Lenten Day of Recollection. This year, we are blessed to be led by Dan Burke, President of the Avila Foundation Institute. More details closer to the date.
Cost: stipend collection
JANUARY 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Anniversaries
Happy birthday to: Teresa and Eva!
Jan: Helen's 56th Profession anniversary (1967), and Pam's 35th Profession anniversary (1988).
2. Lenten Day of Recollection (Online)
Save the date: Mar 18, 2023. Led by Dan Burke of the Avila Foundation Institute.
3. Craft Night
Tue, Jan 24, 7-9 PM, Daniel's house. Let's finish stitching the leather liturgy covers, and make leather prayer bracelets. If you haven't started a cover, you can still come along for camaraderie and to make bracelets.
4. Provincial Visitation
The Provincial Visitator, Lisa, will be visiting our Monthly Meeting on Sat Feb 4. Please bring an extra $15 for a stipend.
MINISTRY CONTACTS
Council
Director: Stephen
Councilor 1: Daniel
Formation Director: Bernardine
Secretary: Eva
Treasurer: Pina
Ministry Contacts
Zoom meetings: Bernardine
Equipment donations: Lourdes
Web group: Daniel
QUICK LINKS
Christian Prayer and Lectio Divina:
Rubric for Morning Prayer (PDF)
Rubric for Evening Prayer (PDF)
Rubric for Lectio Divina (PDF)
Saturday Prayer:
Structure for Online Community Meetings (PDF)
10th Anniversary: