Carmelite Stories

Our parish has been served by a variety of Carmelite friars since 1926. Each of them experienced a sense of vocation in their lives. On this page you will find links to the stories of some of the Carmelites of the British Province today. Perhaps you know some; others you might meet in the future.

Simply click on their photographs to read their testimony.

Carmelite Novitiate at Aylesford

Carmelites from around the country gathered at Aylesford on Wednesday, 22nd August 2007 to welcome formally three men into the novitiate. Before beginning the novitiate Michael worked as a psychiatric nurse and managed a G.P. practice; Neil worked as a carer for the local authority with people with learning difficulties; James worked in a bank and founded the Icthus Gospel choir. Fr. Antony Lester, O.Carm. (Prior Provincial), speaking after the Scripture reading, emphasised that rather than merely leaving something behind, they were embracing something new which would lead to a deepening transformation of their lives as they respond daily to God's call. Please keep them and the whole Carmelite Order in your prayers.

As we build a serving community centred on Christ in our parish, perhaps we can be proactive in encouraging young people to consider the possibility that God may be calling them to offer their lives as religious and priests.

To find out more about the life of a Carmelite Friar, go to British Province of Carmelites