The Discalced Carmelite Fathers are a Religious Order of Friars endowed with its own special charism. Known also as Teresian Carmelites, together with the Nuns and Seculars, they form the Order of Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.). The Order, in different ways, is called to embrace a life of prayer and thus fulfil its specific role in the Church. As a renewed form of an ancient Order beginning on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, it entails both fidelity to the spirit and traditions of Carmel and a continual striving after renewal. The Order was founded by St. Teresa of Jesus, from Avila, and St. John of the Cross, both Spanish mystics and doctors of the Church, in 1562.

The aim of Carmel is to provide the Church with a manifold service of prayer and apostolic ministry. The Discalced Carmelites are committed to a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ and aspire to union with God. In this they are sustained by the companionship, the example and protection of our Lady, Mother and Patroness of the Order. Their dedication to her is expressed in a particular way through the Brown Scapular. The Prophet Elijah is the source of inspiration for all, as he contemplates the living God and burns with zeal for his glory.  Carmel is reknown to have provided many a master in the ways of the spirit, such as Therese of  Lisieux, Elizabeth of the Trinity, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Teresa of the Andes, Raphael Kalinowski, and the saintly Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection and Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen.

The Discalced Carmelite Order is totally committed to prayer, understood as a life of prayer and a prayer of life. Thus, prayer is nourished by the Word of God and the liturgy, in particular the Eucharist and the daily Prayer of the Psalms. Time for silent prayer and keeping ourselves in the presence of God throughout the day, enrich our relationship with the One whom we know loves us, and gives us a better insight in the vicissitudes of life and others.

As Carmelites, prayer nourishes and enriches all apostolic efforts, and apostolic activity leads to and is imbued with a spirit of prayer. Apostolic zeal penetrates our prayer and our entire life, and it impels us to work with fervent activity in different ways in the service of the Church and humankind.

As Pope John Paul II rightly remarked to our former Superior General, Fr Camilo Maccise: “You have not only your glorious history to remember and to recount, but also a great history still to be accomplished.” Inspired and compelled by the Gospel and the Teresian impulse, all Carmelites are called to live, deepen and expand the horizons of Carmel.

At present time there are about 4,000 Discalced Carmelite friars around the world. About one third of them are in third world countries. Thus they run churches, Retreat Centres, parishes, Houses of Prayer, missions, and other centres according to the needs of the Church. Contemplative prayer for us is apostolic in itself and makes us more aware of the needs of others. Such is the witness of the 30,000 cloistered nuns, the over 60 Relgious Institutes aggregated to the Order, the Secular Institutes and the thousands of lay people who have joined the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.