Janice Eala, left, and Elaine Gibson, center, made their definitive promises with the Discalced Carmelite Secular Group of Hawaii June 7. Victoria Croce, right, made her first promise with the group. Father Royd Mweemba was the celebrant. (Courtesy Darlene Tvrdy)
By Darlene Tvrdy
Special to the Herald
The Discalced Carmelite Secular Group of Hawaii held a double ceremony June 7 at the Carmelite monastery chapel on the grounds of St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe.
Victoria Croce made her first promise, and Janice Eala and Elaine Gibson made their definitive promise.
The first promise is a three-year commitment and the definitive promise is a lifelong commitment to pursue personal holiness through Carmelite spirituality and to care for others with prayer and good works.
Father Royd Mweemba was the celebrant for the two ceremonies.
The monastery at St. Stephen, Carmel of the Holy Trinity, is where Discalced Carmelite nuns live in a cloistered community. (“Discalced” means “without shoes.”)
The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS), commonly known as Secular Carmelites, is a branch and an integral part of the Carmelite order. The seculars are lay Catholics, men and women, married and single, from all walks of life, who integrate the Carmelite spirituality into their daily lives in order to seek God and share him with others through prayer and apostolate.
Discalced Carmelite seculars are spread throughout the world in various communities, with each community canonically established under the direction of the superior general of the Discalced Carmelite order.
The name of Hawaii’s community is the Flos Carmeli and St. Joseph Group. The group meets monthly at the Carmelite monastery chapel at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
For more information about the Discalced Carmelite Seculars, contact Darlene Tvrdy, Hawaii Discalced Carmelite Secular Group leader, at ocdshawaii@gmail.com or (808) 254-6677.