The Visit of the Major Relics of St. Therese the Little Flower
El Carmelo Retreat House, October 17, 2025 – 10 AM – 7PM
The Relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Are Coming!
After 25 years, the magnificent reliquary of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face will once again grace the United States. Wherever she goes, hearts are moved, crowds gather, and countless graces flow. As she promised on her deathbed: “I want to spend my heaven doing good on earth…” and “I will let fall a shower of roses.”
The relics of this beloved Carmelite saint will be venerated at El Carmelo Retreat House in Redlands on October 17. For the full national and local schedule, StThereseUSA2025.com .
Don’t miss this rare and grace-filled opportunity to welcome the Little Flower into your heart!
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Holy Week – 2025
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Easter Octave Mass schedule – 2025
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Men’s Silent Retreats – May 2025
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Raise the Roof in Prayer June 28-29 2025
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The El Carmelo Auxiliary
The El Carmelo Auxiliary is meeting officially for the first time since 2007 and would like to invite you to be a part of this ministry dedicated to supporting El Carmelo Retreat House. The invitation is opened to all. Please come join us on every Thursday at 6:00 PM in the Assembly Hall at El Carmelo Retreat House. You may call or email us for more information.
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Fr. Philip and Fr. Thomas Reeves Visit to Uganda
Fr. Philip and Fr. Thomas Reeves have just returned from a three-week visit to the Province’s mission in Uganda, East Africa. Besides being superior of the Carmelite community at Redlands and retreat director at El Carmelo, Fr. Philip serves as the Province’s Zelator (Promoter) for the Missions. Fr. Thomas Reeves is superior of the Carmelite community at San Jose, California, and also a Provincial Councilor. This was his first visit to Uganda. One of the high points (and perhaps even the high point of the visit of Frs. Philip and Thomas) was the ordination to the priesthood of two Ugandan Carmelites, Fr. Edward and Fr. Peter Mary.
The Oblatas Return from Mexico
Our Sisters, Oblatas de Santa Marta, have returned from Mexico and visits with their families and spending extended time at their motherhouse in Saltillo for retreat and ongoing formation. There are now five Sisters at El Carmelo: continuing from last year—Sr. Aurea (superior), and Sr. Espiritu Santo and Sr. Gabriela—plus two new Sisters, Sr. Dulce and Sr. Tere. We recall with gratitude and appreciation that this year they are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of their religious congregation.
Beginning of New Retreat Year
The retreat year now begins in August and runs through the following June. The theme for the new retreat year is: “Lord, teach us how to pray” (Luke 11:1-4). Rediscovering the power of prayer! Members of the Redlands OCDS community joined us for the first retreat of this new retreat year.
End of Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine
The California Department of Food & Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture have just announced that the Oriental fruit fly quarantine is ended as of August 11, 2024. This quarantine has been in effect for nearly a year in parts of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Now we at El Carmelo may return to the “good old days” of harvesting, bagging, and selling our oranges, lemons, and avocados, in addition to using these fruits on the property, which we were permitted to do during the quarantine.
August 14, 2024
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The Oblatas Go to Mexico
Our Sisters, the Oblatas de Santa Marta, will leave El Carmelo on June 10th and 11th and travel to Mexico to visit their families and spend several weeks at their motherhouse in Saltillo for retreat and ongoing formation. We expect them to return to El Carmelo on August 1. Just a reminder: this year their Congregation is celebrating its 75th anniversary of founding.
Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine
We continue to be under the oriental fruit fly quarantine and cannot take fruit off the retreat house property, with the exception of the Hass avocados. We can use our fruit on the property—for example, to serve in the dining room as orange juice or guacamole. Maybe the quarantine will be lifted in September, but we have to wait and see. The Oriental fruit fly has not been found in any fruit on El Carmelo property.
The Relics of St. Therese
The relics of St. Therese will visit California in October 2025, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of her canonization. Tentatively the relics will stop for a day at El Carmelo Retreat House.
June 7, 2024
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Fruit Fly Quarantine Update
The California Department of Food and Agriculture in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture has advised that the Hass avocado is exempt from the Oriental fruit fly quarantine because it is not a host for that fruit fly. Consequently we at El Carmelo are harvesting Hass avocados and putting them out in bags for sale at our fruit stand.
December 21, 2023
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Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine
Representatives of the California Department of Food & Agriculture have visited El Carmelo Retreat House. They spoke to us about the Oriental (or Exotic) fruit fly quarantine. El Carmelo is part of the “core area” of the infestation by this pest, the core area including a small part of our county (San Bernardino) and the adjoining county (Riverside).
As a result of this quarantine, El Carmelo is being asked to take certain measures to help mitigate the potential damage this pest can cause to various fruits. In particular, no fruit grown here is to be taken off the property, but it can be eaten on the property. So, at least for the immediate future we will not sell bags of oranges, lemons, and avocados. We will be able, however, to make and serve juice from our oranges and guacamole from our avocados.
October 14, 2023
Addendum: Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine
In case anybody is wondering, the Oriental or Exotic fruit fly has not been found in any fruit on or from the El Carmelo Retreat House property. We are observing the quarantine at the instruction of the California Department of Food & Agriculture. We do not know how long this quarantine will be in effect—whether for a few weeks or for a much longer period of time.
November 12, 2023
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Another Friar at El Carmelo
Fr. David Costello joined the community of friars at El Carmelo at the end of July. He is no newcomer to the retreat house, having lived and served here for many years in the not-so-distant past. Welcome, Fr. David!
The Oblatas de Santa Marta
Late in June our Sisters departed to visit their families and spend time at their motherhouse in Saltillo, Mexico. Sr. Carolina did not return, but remained in Saltillo. Sr. Monica came south from Portland, Oregon, to join the community at El Carmelo. So, we still have five Sisters here: Sr. Aurea (superior), Sr. Espiritu Santo, Sr. Gabriela, Sr. Michaela, and Sr. Monica.
The Oblatas de Santa Marta will be celebrating their 75th anniversary of foundation in 2024. They have already begun a year-long remembrance and thanksgiving for this important landmark in the history of their congregation.
A New Retreat Coordinator
Bernadette Valdivia-Salcido is the new retreat coordinator at El Carmelo. Lolita Azhocar is co-retreat coordinator. Nellie Lara continues as administrative assistant for El Carmelo and also for the provincial, Fr. Matthew Williams.
Gift Shop Hours
At present and for at least the near future, the gift shop and office have new, expanded hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Check-in for Retreats
Check-in and check-out for retreats and workshops and other events is now in the assembly hall. It is no longer in the office/gift shop.
September 29, 2023
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New Community of Friars at El Carmelo
After the provincial chapter is the usual time for appointments and assignments. The new community of OCD friars at El Carmelo Retreat House will be: Fr. Philip Sullivan, superior; Fr. Gerald Werner, first councilor; Fr. Bernard Perkins; Fr. Thomas Koller; and Fr. José Luis Ferroni.
Fr. Robert Barcelos will be joining the Carmelite community at St. Therese Church in Alhambra.
Provincial Chapter 2023—More News
The provincial chapter elected four provincial councilors: Frs. Mark Kissner, Matthias Lambrecht, Thomas Reeves, and Stephen Watson. With the provincial superior these four constitute the provincial council. Except when the provincial chapter is in session, the provincial council is the supreme authority in the province, responsible for overseeing and promoting the life and ministry, welfare and discipline of the individual members and communities of the province.
June 3, 2023
Provincial Chapter 2023
The triennial provincial chapter of the California-Arizona Province of the Order of Discalced Carmelites is taking place at El Carmelo Retreat House in Redlands, California, May 16-26.
The provincial chapter is a gathering of priests and brothers, both superiors and elected delegates, of the province. Together we worship, pray, share meals and recreation, discuss and discern and decide important matters facing the province, engage in casual conversation.
We elect a provincial and four provincial councilors.
The provincial chapter has elected a new provincial to succeed Fr. Adam Gregory Gonzales. He is Fr. Matthew Williams. Fr. Matthew was born in Sacramento, California, and grew up in San Diego. He made his first profession of religious vows in 1983 and was ordained a priest in 1990.
He has served previously as provincial 2008-2014. He has held several other important offices—vicar provincial, provincial councilor, provincial delegate to the Discalced Carmelite seculars, local superior, and pastor. Please pray that God will inspire him with gifts of divine wisdom and courage. And please pray for God’s blessing on the provincial chapter.
May 19, 2023