{"id":26101,"date":"2026-07-17T07:42:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carmelites.net\/?p=26101"},"modified":"2026-07-17T07:49:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:49:24","slug":"a-week-of-prayer-learning-fraternity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carmelites.net\/zh\/carmelite-review\/a-week-of-prayer-learning-fraternity\/","title":{"rendered":"\u7948\u7977\u3001\u5b66\u4e60\u4e0e\u5144\u5f1f\u60c5\u8c0a\u7684\u4e00\u5468"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A Week of Prayer, Learning & Fraternity<\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Into the Land of Carmel: A Week of Prayer, Learning, and Fraternity<\/strong><\/p>

By: Doug Buschman, T.O.Carm.<\/strong><\/p>

Into the Land of Carmel<\/em> is an annual week-long retreat held at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien and centered around the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Open to anyone interested in learning more about the Carmelite way, the retreat combines presentations by Carmelite scholars and spiritual leaders with daily opportunities for prayer, personal reflection, worship, fellowship, and evening gatherings.<\/p>

This past week, approximately 60 people gathered at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, Illinois, for the annual Into the Land of Carmel<\/em> retreat. Among them were about 15 Lay Carmelites attending the retreat for the first time, as well as several participants who came to learn more about Carmel and explore the Carmelite way of life.<\/p>

Fr. Bob Colaresi, O.Carm., welcomed the retreatants on Sunday evening with his presentation, Back to Basics<\/em>, setting the tone for a week of prayer, reflection, shared learning, and fraternity.<\/p>

The week\u2019s presentations explored many dimensions of Carmelite spirituality. On Monday morning, Fr. Leopold Glueckert, O.Carm., introduced Brother Lawrence and his \u201cmethodless method\u201d of prayer\u2014a particularly timely topic following Pope Leo XIV\u2019s recent positive comments about Brother Lawrence. Fr. Mike Joyce, O.Carm., reflected on Elijah in his presentation, Silence: Carmel\u2019s Gift<\/em>, inviting participants to consider God\u2019s question to the prophet: \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d<\/p>

Mother Madonna of the Assumption and Sr. Veronica of the Immaculate Heart of Mary offered presentations on Trinitarian Mysticism in Carmel<\/em> and Patterns of Prayer: Heart to Heart with Mary, Our Sister<\/em>. Fr. Bob\u2019s presentation, Indwelling Presence\u2014Mysticism<\/em>, reminded participants that God is not only present throughout creation but also dwells within each of us.<\/p>

In Go Back! Traveling the Desert Road Toward Purpose<\/u><\/em>,<\/a> Kelley Henderson, TO Carm., used three Gospel accounts to explore the importance of perspective as we travel through the desert experiences of our lives. Fr. Leopold later returned to share the story of the first Carmelite friars in the United States.<\/p>

The retreat also included many opportunities for community and celebration. Despite daytime temperatures reaching 95 degrees, the traditional Wednesday evening bonfire went ahead, complete with s\u2019mores and dancing. A healing service was held on the evening of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, adding special meaning to the celebration of Carmel\u2019s patronal feast.<\/p>

Fr. Tracy O\u2019Sullivan, O.Carm., presented The Seven Mansions<\/em>, making St. Teresa of Avila\u2019s description of the interior journey accessible and relevant to the prayer lives of those attending. His second presentation offered an overview of his new book, Knowing Yourself<\/em>.<\/p>

For longtime Carmelites and first-time participants alike, the week offered an opportunity to enter more deeply into Carmel\u2019s traditions of prayer, community, and service\u2014and to return home renewed for the continuing journey.<\/p>

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The following is a reflection about the event by one of the attendees.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Giving honor to God the Father-and the totality of His creation.<\/p>

We gather activating holy imaginations to share our hermeneutics of the divine-in the practical and productive Little Way.<\/p>

Father Bob hummed the direction: Testify! Testify of how the Mother Mary birth truth into your life. Testify how the\u00a0Prophet\u00a0Elijah set\u00a0ablaze\u00a0your\u00a0doubts. Speak so\u00a0the\u00a0saints\u00a0among you\u00a0may\u00a0hear\u00a0that you see-that you are looking at the\u00a0grace\u00a0that\u00a0dwells\u00a0within\u00a0and\u00a0all<\/p>

’round about you.<\/p>

We are the prayer come to life. The Lord said: Be. We journey into the land of Carmel-God’s paracosm of the ever-becoming and the ever-completing. In the place where Mary breathes YahWeh;\u00a0Elijah\u00a0breathes YahWeh. Where St. Therese of\u00a0Lisieux breathes Yahweh.<\/p>

While:<\/p>