FAQ

We go out to practice our franchise, I mean for voting. We go out for our Medical needs. We go out when a new Carmel is established and the Superiors go out for some important work of the community which cannot be done by others such as banking. We also go out to attend meetings and Formation programs arranged exclusively for the Cloistered Nuns by the Carmelite Order. These things do not occur frequently.

Only if the parents are very sick and ask to see their daughter.

No. we have fixed time for prayer, work and relaxation. We do all our work in silence and solitude so that we can be with God. We do exchange words when needed in a low voice.

Yes of course. People visit us at parlor or visit room during the visiting hours. They speak to us through the "turn" when they come to the Monastery for various needs. People contact us over the phone to make their prayer request and give us some information.

We are sustained marvelously by the Providence of God. Besides we make and sell altar bread or host for the Mass and do other hand works such as making rosaries, scapulars and stitching Sacred linen.

There are arrangements made with the diocese or other institutions to sell our products. Sometimes people come directly to our turn where one of us is set aside to deal with these transactions.

Yes. Duration of time and frequency is regulated by the community Chapter.

Please refer to the Daily time table or Horarioum.

Yes. There are good artists musicians in the community. We have a day of exhibition associated with the Prioresses feast where we exhibit our paintings, "wealth out of waste" products, cards etc some of the items may be total surprise for the community.

Every day there is time fixed for recreation where sisters rejoice, relax and have fun. This was the mind of St. Teresa who said "save me from a gloomy Nun"

We come to know what is happening in the world mainly through the news paper, circulars sent by authorities etc. We get the popes news letter Called La Osservatore Romano every week.

We have a good library. Our Carmelite Publications inform us when new books and other Church Documents are published. We get good Spiritual books through Amazon.com and trough OCD Fathers both India and Abroad. Some donate us with good. books. St. Paul's Publications gifted us with a good collection of books recently

We have Sisters who are good writers.

After the community prayers with permission we can sit up till 10 pm. in the Chapel for Personal prayer. We have no common prayer during the night. Occasionally as a community we prolong the hours of prayer for a particular need of the Church or the world.

This is the doubt many people have since Cloistered Monasteries are known in Kerala as “Mindamadam.” Cloistered Carmels should have been better known as “Avruthi Madam” which would be the better translation.

Although our life is centered on prayer, silence and solitude, this does not mean we do not speak. We speak to people when they contact us for various needs. We speak among ourselves when needed. Apart from this, we have two hours of recreation daily.

We do not have a television. According to our constitution, we can occasionally watch programs that are of a religious nature. We have the possibility of watching something spiritual and enriching in our computer if needed. It is the responsibility of the Prioress to regulate the use of media.

All the formation is done within the same house. There is a formation directress or Novice Mistress to accompany those in formation

In exceptional cases that can happen. But the person should be free of all marriage bonds