The Carmelite Order
in the Czech Republic
The best way to find out more about the Carmelite Order is to look in the web pages of our English-speaking
brothers. Here we would like to offer you some basic information about Carmel in the Czech Republic.
The
Carmelites first came to the Bohemia more than six centuries ago. Now, after
a long and difficult history, they are working in three convents:
|
The Convent at Kostelní Vydří
Kostelní Vydří is a place of pilgrimage with the church of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The convent serves also as a place of rest and
meditation for priests and friars. The Carmelites are also in charge of a few
parishes in the vicinity. Within the convent there is a bookshop selling
books published by the Carmelite Publishing House.
|
|
Kontakt:
Klášter karmelitánů
Kostelní Vydří 58
Dačice
CZ 380 01
Tel/fax +420 384 420 119
e-mail: kostelni.vydri@karmel.cz
|
|
Praha – Liboc
Since 1996, the Carmelites have lived and worked in the
former parish building and now look after the parish and are active in
pastoral work. The Major Superior of the Carmelite Order in the C.R. and the
General Delegate of the Order, Father Vojtech Kodet, O.Carm., has his Head
Quarters in this urban area, which is near the Prague airport.
|
|
Kontakt
Konvent karmelitánů
Libocká 41
Praha 6 - Liboc
CZ-162 00
Tel/fax +420 220 611 336
e-mail: praha@karmel.cz
|
|
Olomouc – Hejčín
The convent at Hejčín was founded in 1990 as the second
regular convent of the Carmelite Order in the Czech republic It is primarily a home for
those brothers who are studying theology at Olomouc University. Besides that,
the community looks after three small parishes.
|
|
Kontakt
Konvent karmelitánů
Cyrilometodějské nám. 1
Olomouc - Hejčín
CZ-779 06
Tel/fax +420 585 425 025
e-mail: olomouc@karmel.cz
|
The Third Order Secular
of the Carmelite Order
in the Czech Republic
The 40 years of Communism in the Czech republic considerably influenced the life of the
church here. Out of the former existing Third Order Secular (the community of
Christian lay people who are inspired by Carmelite spirituality) only a few
isolated persons, who experienced their connection with the Carmel only in
spirit, are left. Following the political change in the Republic in 1989, the
friar community can now live in freedom and the community of lay people
involved can also live and develop freely. Under the guidance of the
Carmelites, the new Third Order Secular of our Lady of Mount Carmel has sprung
from the wide circle of friends and benefactors. The tertiaries and others
involved from different regions of the country meet with Carmelite priests and
friars at intervals of one or two months. The programme of these meetings is usually:
a lecture, the Eucharist and an exchange of ideas and experiences.
Each year, the Carmelites conduct retreats for the tertiaries. So far, more
than two hundred people have taken the vow to live faithfully and truly
according to Carmelite spirituality in the community of the Third Order
Secular.
Further Communities
of the Carmelite Family
in the Czech Republic
- Cloistered sisters
(called the Second Order), of the older or original branch of the Order
(O.Carm.) have never had a convent in the C.R. After 1989, Carmelite nuns
from Vetralla in Italy tried to found a new convent in Moravia. Since only
one Czech girl joined them in the course of a few years, they returned to
Italy. However, there are two Czech sisters now and they hope to come back
to the C.R. and found a convent here, and that is what they pray for.
- Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites and Carmelite nuns have a few communities in the
C.R. Via the Discalced Carmelites and Carmelite nuns you can make contact
with the Secular Community of the O.C.D. in Prague.
- The Institute of the
Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (founded in Italy in 1854). The
Sisters teach religion, visit the sick and work with young people, in
Štípa. They speak Italian and Polish.
- The Congregation of the
Carmelite Sisters of the Child Jesus (founded in Poland in 1921).
- The Missionary Family
Donum Dei (founded in 1950 in France)
The sisters have opened a restaurant called L´eau vive - Living Water in
Brno. This is an international community. Members
from different continents live in this community and wish to be witnesses
of the Christian faith to those people who are not in contact with the
church. The profit from this enterprise is intended for charity. They
speak French, Spanish and Italian.
web: http://leauvive.info/
<-- Back
© Českomoravská generální delegatura Řádu karmelitánů
