Sudden, so far unexplained departure of Philadelphia Carmelites – UPDATED

I have been asked to comment about the sudden departure of a community of traditional Philadelphia Carmelite sisters from their Carmel in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  They withdrew from their Carmel, established in 1902, and went to another Carmel in Valparaiso, Nebraska.

The Philadelphia Carmel had been struggling, with a reduced number of sisters.   They were down to three sisters.  In 2017 6 sisters in their 20s-30s came from the famous Valparaiso Carmel, which has been blessed with vocations and 4 came from Elysburg, PA.  Traditional Carmelites.   The place came to life again.

On their website (maintained by someone outside their Carmel) we see:

All Masses are celebrated by a chaplain of the Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) and are said in the Extraordinary Form. The Carmel is Latin Mass only with all of its sacraments.

I was sent a link to a site that claims some information about the sisters, however vague, which seems to have sparked the request for my comment.

According to sources close to the monastery, the sudden move took place over this past weekend. On Friday, after the daily Mass, a van was noticed by the entrance to the monastery used by the cloistered sisters. Later that day, word began to spread that the sisters had suddenly departed. The sisters were reportedly driven to another Carmelite monastery in Valparaiso, Nebraska. One elderly sister is said to have remained behind in Philadelphia but all of the others, believed to be 15 young Carmelites who arrived in 2017, have all departed.

[…]

With the departure of these 15 Carmelites over the weekend, and the recent deaths of most of the original sisters in Philadelphia, the beloved monastery is left with just one elderly sister and an uncertain future. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has not yet addressed what happened. Catholics in the Philadelphia Archdiocese learning about the departure are devastated.

Thus, my spidey-sense is tingling.

I don’t know enough about this evolving situation yet.  It is very strange that there would be no public statement.

However, I will make the observation that a document came out from the Holy See’s Congregation for Religious that massively restricted religious communities.  For example, convents and monasteries of nuns and sisters who are united in the same rule, region, apostolate, etc., are required to “confederate” together, which seems to undermine their autonomy.  The length of formation before profession was doubled.

We’ve also seen that, time and again, “visitors” have been sent to traditional communities and, thereafter, those communities were snuffed out.

I don’t know about the Philly Carmelites, but it is troubling.  I hope for good news, soon.  Perhaps some thing like, “The Sisters just took a road trip to see their friends in Valparaiso.”  Though that doesn’t sound like a very Carmelite thing to do.

I should add this.

The presence of a sound Carmel in a place is a great blessing.  I’m convinced that the prayers and work of the sisters brings untold benefits to, for example, a diocese.

If there has been some pressure on the Sisters to give up their traditional ways, thus sparking their departure,….

Let’s wait for some explanation.   In the meantime, you might ask the great Carmelite saints for intercession for the good of all, the sisters and the people of Philadelphia.

There come to mind immediately…

St. Teresa of Avila
St. Therese of Lisieux
St. Edith Stein
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi
St. Simon Stock
St. John of the Cross
St. Titus Brandsma

UPDATE:

A priest friend from the area gave me some additional information.

It seems that because of that document from the Congregation for Religious the Carmelites were losing control over their lives.   They were being pressured to give up the Traditional Latin Mass and have the Novus Ordo.

They left.

 

UPDATE 21 April:

From a reader…

The Carmel had a visit from the Valparaiso Carmelites that just ended yesterday (4/19) — they were here since at least April 10. The visiting Carmelites were staying at Philadelphia’s cathedral. The Carmelite who did not leave is the Mother Prioress.

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21 Comments

  1. JonPatrick says:

    I see that Valparaiso is not far from Lincoln, the location of the FSSP Seminary in North America. Perhaps this is seen as a location more favorable to tradition? Especially since there has recently been a change in leadership in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with the departure of Archbishop Chaput who I suspect was OK with a traditional order? Admittedly I know nothing about Archbishop Perez so it would not be fair to speculate.

  2. Texdon says:

    There is a new Carmelite monastery being built in Fairfield, PA and recently sisters from the Elysburg, PA monastery have relocated to the new monastery. The website is fairfieldcarmelites.org . The sisters have limited online presence but donations can be made through this website. A Pontifical High Mass – St. Joseph’s Feast Day, March 19, 2021 celebrated by Bishop Waltersheid, Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburg, dedicated and blessed the new temporary chapel.

  3. Kate says:

    I had to wonder whether they may have moved to Fairfield. The Elysburg just issued a public statement saying they have moved there.

  4. EileenD says:

    This was such devastating news. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my mother were devoted to this monastery. I prayed the OLMC novena for my vocation there, and eventually brought each of my babies to be enrolled in the brown scapular. My son served his first TLM at the Carmel and we faithfully attended the OLMC feast day. This is like a death for me.

  5. Remember, everyone… this isn’t over yet and there is a lot that we don’t know.

    Pray to the Carmelite saints in the meantime for a good outcome to whatever this is.

  6. Bosco says:

    Reminiscent of when the 1984 NFL Baltimore Colts shipped out “Charm City” in the dead of night to move bag and baggage to Indianapolis, Indiana after the Maryland General Assembly threatened to seize all of the team’s property and possessions by invoking eminent domain.

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  8. Matthew78 says:

    This speaks to the larger myth that is often spread of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: that it is one of the bastions of traditional, orthodox Catholicism in the U.S. An exaggeration to say the least: our diocese has long embraced the Breaking Bread missalette, four hymn sandwich of a Novus Ordo Mass, traditional priests (especially young) and seminarians are regularly ostracized by bishops and the higher up priests (council of priests, deans, etc) who are mostly liberal boomers, and the traditional Mass has been all but consolidated to an FSSP parish by Archbishop Chaput precisely so that it does not spread to diocesan parishes. He destroyed the basilica Masses, which under his predecessor were as Roman and solemn high as the Novus Ordo can get, and he pushed out the adept and traditional director of music who promoted traditional sacred music.

    While we have not embraced, in an all-in manner, the 70’s felt banner, lay ecclesial ministry, heretical theology of the time, there are a lot of repairs and prayers needed here. Sadlier coloring page catechism books are all the rage in our CCD and parish school rel. ed programs. Not to mention the abysmal administrative and financial disaster that has afflicted us for 60 years. Please pray for our priests. It’s still ‘wear a cassock and be sent to a mental hospital’ situation over here. Archbishop Perez seems like a priest’s bishop, God willing that is the case.

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  10. Liz says:

    We are praying for the sweet Carmelites. I think that if they weren’t there praying for us all that this country/world would have collapsed long ago. We should say many prayers, and make many sacrifices for them. I think also of Gower sisters and what they were struggling with, needing a fence and how they need prayers and money too (and the Carmelites too.) We owe them all so much. All ye Carmelites saints, pray for us! Thank you, Father. I’m praying for you, too, Fr. Z and all courageous priests, and all of the lay people as well who are out there fighting on. We are blessed with each other. God bless you all.

  11. Liz says:

    p.s. Besides praying to the Carmelites saints, perhaps we should add the Holy Family since the Motherhouse is “Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” especially in this wonderful year of St. Joseph!

  12. NB says:

    Matthew78, I’d like to respond to a few of your comments.

    1. Unless you have direct information to the contrary, it could be going too far to say the TLM has been all but consolidated to the FSSP parish. Keep in mind that those seeking the Traditional Mass also seek a full-service parish, including the Traditional Sacraments, and, to your point, a stronger guarantee of orthodox religious education for their children. This was not realistically going to happen in any of our other diocesan parishes, no matter how many times it was tried, unless the pastor went “full trad” or could strike a Mater Ecclesiae-type-deal. (Not likely if you have an existing populace of mixed non-TLM parishoners.)

    We have maintained regular Traditional Latin Masses at sites other than the FSSP parish, and continue to, even with this loss of the Carmelite Monastery Masses. It’s not totally untrue that the presence of our FSSP parish has probably decreased the attendance at other TLMs in the area. However, at some point decisions have to be made, such as keeping a thinly-attended First Friday/Saturday TLM at one diocesan parish on life support, or just letting those individuals organically migrate over to the FSSP site not that much farther away (which they were already doing).

    The FSSP parish’s numbers are through the roof (which needs to be replaced), and the Confession lines stretch from one end of the church to the other, often even throughout all 3 Sunday Masses. God bless those priests.

    2. It’s a bridge too far to say that Archbishop Chaput “destroyed” the Masses at the basilica, at least from my perspective. I frequently attended his 6:30 PM Sunday night Mass there for 7 years, both before and after the music director change. I honestly didn’t see things go downhill very much. The Archbishop himself and other priests heard Confessions before the Mass. His Mass was a no-nonsense, serious, reverent Novus Ordo (yes, I said it), with an excellent homily. He told us that it was the highlight of his week, actually, to say that Sunday night Mass, and he would greet the faithful as they were headed out the door afterwards.

    If all Novus Ordo Masses could have been like those Masses then we would be in a lot better shape as a Church militant. I can’t speak to the rest of the Sunday Masses at the basilica, during which the Archbishop was often not present, as he was travelling to parishes etc. during the day.

    Archbishop Chaput, Fr. Gill, and the Cathedral were very gracious to the TLM communities over the years by letting us have so many Masses celebrated there, from the big Assumption Masses, the Bishop Perry Mass at the Throne, to a new FSSP priest’s First Mass, and many other feasts. Those were beautiful liturgies I wouldn’t trade those for anything, and I will always be grateful I got to attend them.

    3. There are some diocesan priests who regularly wear their cassocks. Few, yes, but some. You’ll note that St. Charles Borromeo Seminary’s website actually pictures seminarians in cassocks, and has done so for years, even so far as to highlight “Cassock Day.”

    Despite our challenges, and this change at the Carmel, we do have many blessings in Philadelphia and the greater Delaware Valley.

  13. Benedict Joseph says:

    At this point in time is there any doubt that all forms of religious life with a traditional expression are marked for extermination by those who say they desire vocations? What does that say about the state of our Church? The Mary Tyler Moore Rooming House model for women has collapsed, the “new monasticism” being worked out in the Trappists is a miserable failure.
    Religious life can only flourish when it is based on the perennial Magisterium. It is proved over and over again. Those who wish to alter the faith must, therefore, eliminate authentic religious life wherever it springs up for it gives witness to the Truth.
    God reward the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Philadelphia for their demonstration faithful and sound judgement. Saint Teresa of Jesus said she wanted “virile” nuns. She has them in her daughters who just won’t bend to aberrance.

  14. Gregory says:

    How can we support them?

  15. Matthew78 says:

    Hi NB,

    I appreciate the conversation; unfortunately we do not share the same perspective or level of optimism. To your points:
    1. Archbishop Chaput is simply not a fan of the TLM or for that matter traditional sacred music or style. He openly spoke of his disdain for ‘high church’ at a conference in the last year of his episcopacy, openly arguing with the seminary music director about the need to not look back in liturgy, but to look forward to praise and worship types of Masses. It was indeed his intention to bring the FSSP here (as he did in Denver) to prevent the TLM from organically spreading in large, suburban parishes, where there is interest and where the TLM can have actual, widespread impact. I am speaking as a traditionalist who believes in ‘Save the Liturgy, Save the World’, but not as one who believes this will be accomplished by niche, traditionalist societies of apostolic life. The Church can only be converted to Tradition when Tradition, in liturgy, catechesis, and devotional life, is re-introduced back into average, diocesan parish life. This is precisely what ecclesial liberals and neo-cons (Chaput) what to prevent. Put trads in a bubble and they will stay in the bubble. The bubble is a strategy of the modernist church and unfortunately, at times, an indulgence of traditionalist Catholics.

    2. We simply have different Cathedral experiences. During the reign of Cardinal Rigali, the most important Masses of the year (solemnities, ordinations, Chrism Mass, etc) includes Gregorian Mass settings, Latin propers, and traditional sacred music. Chaput comes, introduces a table altar, English propers, the typical banal Mass settings, English hymns, and maybe 1 or 2 Latin motets. He was friendly to traditionalists to the point of tolerance and keeping them from influencing healthy parishes in the diocese.

    3. Yes, St. Charles has always allowed cassocks, big deal? Want a real test: ask a parochial vicar to wear a cassock regularly at his parish and see what happens. Liberal pastor calls downtown and the diocesan KGB does its dirty work. That’s the reality on the ground. I know numerous priests with traditional leanings who, during their seminary days and now as young priests, desire the TLM and Tradition in the parish in all its forms, but who hesitate to do so due to the threat of the diocesan apparatchik and their cruel ways.

    I agree with you that there are many blessings, but still, much work to be done.

  16. Hb says:

    FYI
    For the present Masses are still being offered at the Carmelites Monastery.

    Mother Pia is still there

    7am Low Mass (TLM) Sunday through Friday

    Unless a priest is unable

    Saturday is novus ordo 8am

    It’s on the website

    https://philadelphiacarmelites.org/

  17. Hb says:

    From a friend.

    It has been with shock and sadness that the Carmelite nuns left Philadelphia and returned to Valparaiso Nebraska, leaving Mother Pia alone. The future of the monastery is in jeopardy and there is a real chance that there will not be a Carmel of nuns in the Archdiocese.

    I am offering a novena with the intention that “a Carmelite Monastery of nuns would be in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia”. The novena I am offering is the one where the ‘Glory be to the Father’ praising the Holy Trinity is said twenty-four times each of the nine days, in thanksgiving for all the blessings and favors given to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus during the twenty-four years of her life. It is a powerful novena that many have found fruitful.

    I am sending this to you as a suggestion that you also offer this novena and perhaps pass it on to others who want a Carmel in Philadelphia. It is not important if we start or finish on the same day or for people to pray the novena together–it is more important that the novena is offered. Start on the day you read this email. In addition it would be even better to continue the novena prayers after the 9 days.

    Please note the intention should be that “a Carmelite Monastery of nuns would be in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia”. The intention is that the existing monastery could be saved or even if it were to close, another would open in its place. The form of the invention allows for many possibilities. The key is that we pray that there is Carmelite monastery of nuns–whether it is a new foundation or the old one; should not matter.

    Below is a link with more background on this novena:
    https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-of-the-twentyfour-glory-bes-to-st-teresa-the-little-flower-293

  18. Hb says:

    From a friend.

    It has been with shock and sadness that the Carmelite nuns left Philadelphia and returned to Valparaiso Nebraska, leaving Mother Pia alone. The future of the monastery is in jeopardy and there is a real chance that there will not be a Carmel of nuns in the Archdiocese.

    I am offering a novena with the intention that “a Carmelite Monastery of nuns would be in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia”. The novena I am offering is the one where the ‘Glory be to the Father’ praising the Holy Trinity is said twenty-four times each of the nine days, in thanksgiving for all the blessings and favors given to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus during the twenty-four years of her life. It is a powerful novena that many have found fruitful.

    I am sending this to you as a suggestion that you also offer this novena and perhaps pass it on to others who want a Carmel in Philadelphia. It is not important if we start or finish on the same day or for people to pray the novena together–it is more important that the novena is offered. Start on the day you read this email. In addition it would be even better to continue the novena prayers after the 9 days.

    Please note the intention should be that “a Carmelite Monastery of nuns would be in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia”. The intention is that the existing monastery could be saved or even if it were to close, another would open in its place. The form of the invention allows for many possibilities. The key is that we pray that there is Carmelite monastery of nuns–whether it is a new foundation or the old one; should not matter.

    Below is a link with more background on this novena:
    https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-of-the-twentyfour-glory-bes-to-st-teresa-the-little-flower-293

  19. FrODonald says:

    Matthew78,

    While I agree with some of the points you make I feel as a parochial vicar in the Archdiocese, who is currently sitting in my office wearing a cassock, I must correct the record a bit. While the Archdiocese is not a bastion of traditionalism, your assessment patricianly when it pertains to younger priests is incorrect. I wear my cassock everyday. My current pastor wears his cassock every Sunday. In all of my seminary summer assignments I wore my cassock everyday, including assignments with liberal deans. I would say that while many older priests do not understand the desire to wear the cassock, if you are a normal guy and are good to the people, they don’t care what you wear.

    Also I regularly say the Usus Antiquior for our young adult group at the parish. While I would receive pushback if I wanted to add it to the regular schedule, its far from being suppressed.

    I would just encourage you not to think in such stark terms, reality really fits into such clean narratives.

    Also let us pray for Mother Theresa, Mother Pia and all the Carmelites. There departure has left a hole in the Dicoese and spiritually speaking I fear it could be a traumatic blow.

    Oremus pro invicem,
    Father O’Donald

  20. AA Cunningham says:

    It was indeed his intention to bring the FSSP here (as he did in Denver) Matthew78 says:
    16 April 2021 at 11:51 AM

    While Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Littleton was erected during Chaput’s episcopacy, FSSP Priests were first welcomed into the Archdiocese of Denver during Stafford’s episcopacy.

  21. Dominicanes says:

    The life of cloistered nuns has its difficulties and challenges like any other way of life. Having the TLM does not automatically make a monastery of angels or heaven on earth. There could be any number of reasons why this happened. The enclosed life is not easy.

    The purpose of a monastery isn’t to be a substitute parish. This is why it is called the conventual mass.
    If there were 17 nuns there this wouldn’t have anything to do with the directives of Cor Orans.
    It is too bad the departure was done in such a secretive way. I think it is important that we pray for the sisters.

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