Unlike other religious orders such as the Dominicans and the Franciscans who had individual founders in St. Dominic and St. Francis, the Carmelite Order had its origin in a group of hermits on Mount Carmel in Palestine or modern-day Israel.

The hermits built a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady. About the year 1210 they approached Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, to ask him for a “formula of life” to guide them. Albert gave them a Rule of Life which received the approval of Pope Honorius in 1226. The hermits were known as the Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, or Carmelites.

An outstanding characteristic of the Order down through the centuries has been its readiness to accommodate itself to the needs of the People of God. Glancing at a map of the world one finds the Order engaged in preaching the Good News in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. We have missions in Zimbabwe, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, Kenya, Mozambique, Congo, Mexico, Peru, Columbia, India and the Philippines.

Today the Order numbers 2,500 (not including cloistered sisters and members of the extended Carmelite family). You can meet a Carmelite giving a retreat or conference; teaching in a school, university or seminary; or engaging in general pastoral work and involved with young and old people. In recent years due to the creation of new parishes, the Order has taken over parish work.

We currently have four Carmelites at Saint John the Martyr:

Fr. Sean Harlow, O.Carm., Pastor

Fr. Paul Feeley, O.Carm., in residence

Fr. Sunny Matthew, O.Carm., in residence

(See Staff)

For more information on the Carmelites, visit the Order’s official website.