The Paraclete Vocation, Spirituality, Consecration, Prayer, and Acknowledgement of Our Own Brokenness

Spirituality
The prayer, life-style and ministry of the congregation are aimed at helping the individual Servant to grow towards the ideal of contemplation in loving service. At the very beginning of its founding, Father Gerald asked for and received affiliation with the Discalced Carmelites. The Superior General accepted Father Gerald's request by officially aggregating us to the Teresian Carmelite Family in 1956. 

The Servants are strengthened in their vocation by the Carmelite tradition of praying for priests, and by the Carmelite Spirituality of the three stages of the interior life. These stages can be summed up as: 1) ascending to God through purification of the senses, 2) illumination of the mind and heart by prayer and faith, and 3) seeking union with God above all things. Holy religious like St. Theresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John of the Cross, and Elizabeth of the Trinity provides us with realistic and effective models on our own vocational journey, as well as assists us by their prayers.

Vows

The threefold ascent to God by detachment, lamination by the Grace of God, and transcendent union with Him is most powerfully assisted by the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. As a Congregation of "Pontifical Right," we profess these three traditional vows. 

Prayer

In practice, Servant communities express their prayer life through daily celebrations of the Eucharist along with the residents, a daily hour of private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament to which our program participants are invited, and by a common celebration of the principal parts of the Liturgy of the Hours.

“Brokenness”

Many of the priests and brothers who have come to us over the years, even though highly gifted and spiritual men, have also been dealing with humiliating and painful problems. An important part of a Servant's life, therefore, is to be able to accept people unconditionally. Moreover, the environment provided by the Servants enables each priest and religious who comes to us for care to begin to face his difficulties, and thus to be open to healing and renewal. We see ourselves as wounded healers and we learn much from the men to whom we minister.

Paraclete Vocation

• Spirituality—Utilize the Carmelite tradition of praying for priests

• Vows—Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are taken by each member of the Congregation

• Prayer—Daily life is centered on prayer: Holy Hour, Divine Office, Daily Mass, Community prayer

• Wounded Healers—Our Founder wanted us to reach out to the male clergy who were experiencing difficulties in their lives. We offer therapeutic treatment, prayer, healing and hope.

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