Daily Life and Timetable

A Carmelite day is very full and structured. Like other monastic communities, we follow a timetable, or horarium, which determines how we spend our time and when we move from one activity to another. Each day begins with a bell for rising at 5.30am, and our response to the first call of the bell is to offer ourselves and our day to God. Throughout the day, we renew this offering as we move between work and prayer; solitude and community life; silence and recreation.

Daily fidelity to the demands of our horarium is a very real aspect of the constant gift of ourselves. Our time is not our own, just as we are not our own – our lives belong to God. By choosing this way of life we are given the chance to learn obedience to God, listening for and hearing God’s will in all that is asked of us, moment by moment. With love and gratitude, in our free response we seek to give ourselves back to God and in service of others.

You are welcome to join us for Mass, the Divine Office or simply to spend time in silent prayer in our Chapel. It may be helpful to check our News or contact us in advance as there are sometimes changes to the timetable.