The life of the Discalced Carmelites is one of enclosure, contemplation, prayer and community life.
Newsroom (18/06/2022 10:30, Gaudium Press) A new monastery of Discalced Carmelites has been founded in Vietnam. It is the monastery of St. Joseph of Kontum, located in Chu Pah district, in the Vietnamese province of Gia Lai.
The foundation ceremony was presided over by Bishop Aloisius Nguyen Hung Vi, Bishop of Kontum.
On the role of prayer in the life of a Christian, Bishop Vi said that “the ascetic life with constant prayer and silent sacrifice is like a breath and the lungs to bring God’s blessings to the diocese of Kontum. The monastery is a heart of prayer that gives vitality to the local Church.”
“The local Church is happy to have Discalced Carmelites walking and praying for its pastoral needs, especially for the work of evangelization,” he added.
For its foundation, the new monastery – with 11 professed sisters and four novices – had the support of the Discalced Carmelites of Saigon, a fact that was also appreciated by Bishop Vi.
Since the first Discalced Carmelite nuns traveled from France to Vietnam and settled in Saigon in 1862, Vietnam has had 11 monasteries with almost 300 nuns.
The life of the Discalced Carmelites is one of enclosure, contemplation, prayer and community life.
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
