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The Servants of Mary and Joseph Lay Carmelite Community was founded in 1996 to serve the Greenville, SC surrounding area. Our first members were professed October 23, 1999 and the Community received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope St. John Paul II. We are under the authority of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary located in Darien, Illinois.
“This call to community is deeply reflected in the original Carmelite Way of Life, also known as the Carmelite Rule or the Rule of Saint Albert. This Way of Life has mandated from the first days of the Order that Carmelites are to live as a community, celebrating the Eucharist, praying the psalms (later the Liturgy of the Hours) together in common, meeting frequently to encourage one another and manifesting a spirit of poverty, detachment and contemplative prayer in their personal lives. All Carmelites, Religious and Lay, are to pattern themselves on the early Christians, being of one heart and one mind, devoting themselves to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42-47, 4:32).” Source: Carmel's Call, Chapter4
To the right is a picture of the Ceremonial Brown Scapular that Lay Carmelites are presented at temporary profession and wear as their “habit” during “official” Carmelite community meetings, Carmelite Feast Days, retreats, and activities including when attending Church-sponsored activities in which our Bishop is a participant. At ALL times, they are to wear the regular size Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel or a Scapular Medal.