From the nuns’ website: www.carmeljax.org
J. M. † J. T.
Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Jacksonville
July 26, 2025
Pax Christi! To all our dear friends in Christ, Praised be Jesus Christ! Many of you have been asking for an update regarding our search for a permanent location, and after months of prayer and discernment, we are now able to share some exciting news.
As we were about to begin fundraising to purchase property and commence building a new monastery in northeast Florida, we were made aware of several Church properties in other dioceses that were available and being offered to us, which would promptly enable us to resume our strictly cloistered life. Our living quarters for the past eighteen months have proven inadequate for daily monastic observance, and unfortunately there are no vacant Church properties available in this area. Moving to a larger and more suitable home had become imperative for a variety of reasons, so we took the matter to fervent prayer. The thought of being able to live our structured contemplative life again sooner rather than later was very appealing, and moving to a larger house would enable us to welcome new vocations.
Therefore, with the sympathetic blessing of our dear Bishop, the Most Rev. Erik Pohlmeier, we investigated these possibilities, and several Bishops who were very eager to have a cloistered Community in their diocese extended warm invitations. After prayerful discernment, we decided to accept Bishop Frank Caggiano’s generous offer and petition the Holy See for permission to relocate to the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut; that request has now been granted. We will reside at a diocesan retreat center in Danbury, Connecticut while a new monastery is built in a lovely rural area about half an hour away. May Our Lord and His sweet Mother reward Bishop Caggiano abundantly for his extremely gracious welcome! We are deeply grateful to all the wonderful friends we have made in Florida and will always keep them in our hearts and prayers! And we will now be much closer geographically to our dear friends in Buffalo, who have never ceased to have a fond remembrance in our prayerful intercession. Updates on our move and building project will be forthcoming! Be assured of our prayers, as we humbly ask your prayers for us. May God reward you!
Gratefully yours in Jesus, Mary and Joseph The Carmelite Nuns of the Monastery of the Little Flower of Jesus
Following the announcement of relocation to Connecticut, the Sisters will be officially moving on September 9th, 2025. Their new address for the time being will be:
71 Southern Blvd
Danbury, CT 06810