Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

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Project Saint Elijah and Second Foundation

Land purchase makes the dream of a second Carmelite foundation in El Salvador possible

By Very Rev. William J. Harry, O. Carm., Prior Provincial 

I want to share a exciting new project beginning in El Salvador!

Because of an increasing number of students and the desire to serve a larger portion of the Church in El Salvador, the Carmelites have purchased land (1 manzana/1.72 acres) for the purpose of a second foundation in El Salvador in the very near future.

The land enables us to construct a small sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel as well as a formation house for the professed students. It will also allow us to form a community which is appropriate to the professed students stage in formation. It would also allow us easier access to parishes and religious centers where the Carmelites have not ministered.

Nearby is an additional property of 18 mazanas (30.96 acres) divided into two parcels. It is currently a coffee finca (farm) which has suffered from lack of cultivation in recent years. With the purchase of additional of cocoa plants and fruit trees through the generosity of the members of the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the physical labor of our students, this property will be enhanced to provide a steady income for the Carmelite community’s ministry in El Salvador.

We deeply appreciate any prayerful and financial assistance you can give to this project and the other mission projects currently underway.

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Foundation and Sanctuary Location

Second Foundation in El Salvador
The land which will be developed to host the sanctuary and formation house of the Carmelites.
New Foundation Property
Although overgrown now, with some clearing, this very accessible piece of property will be developed into the site for a sanctuary to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a second formation house for the Carmelites.
New Foundation Location
This location provides easy access to several communities yet is still remote enough that the Carmelites can provide a quiet place for people to pray and learn more about Carmelite spirituality. It is also closer to the University of Central America which the Carmelite students attend.

Farm Location

Farm Location
Project St. Elijah is a major step forward for our province’s ministry in El Salvador.
Finca
Carmelite students arriving with tools and lots of water to begin a days work of clearing the finca (farm) of unnecessary growth.
Clearing
The current finca being clear after years of overgrowth. The cultivation of this area will provide the Carmelite students with the opportunity for physical labor. It will also make the community more self-reliant financially, allowing us to focus more on ministry in the years to come.
Fr. Alfredo Guillen
A well was discovered on the property which was immediately dedicated by the Carmelites to Elijah— as the first Carmelite foundation in the 1200’s on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land was “near the fountain of Elijah.” So it was natural that this well on our new foundation in El Salvador becomes Elijah’s well. But first it requires some cleaning up! Fr. Alfredo Guillen, the Carmelite formator in El Salvador, is seen here assisting in the clearing of the area around the well. You can see water from the well near the bottom of the photo.
Finca planting
Many of our students come to us with expertise in farming and the experience of hard manual labor having grown up in the rural areas of El Salvador.
Because of the generosity of the members of the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we will be able to purchase additional plants for the finca. This expansion will enable us to increase the productivity of the finca to provide a steady income for the Carmelite ministries in El Salvador.

Solemn Vows of Benjamin Constante

On Saturday, August 24, Benjamin Constante professed solemn vows before a large gathering of Carmelites from Centro Xiberta, his family, friends, members of the Lay Carmelite Third Order, and members of the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.