Kensington Congregation (Women)

 

Kensington Congregation is an old established group meeting in the basement of the Carmelite Church in Kensington.

It has tended on the large side as its catchment area is greater London and even beyond and as all roads tend to lead to central London.... However, our average attendance is about half that of our total membership, as many are elderly and sick and can no longer come and this trend is increasing. Our aim is to establish new groups in the four corners of London, which means having the right people at the right time. Thus far one new group has been born in the south and now we are anticipating another in the West.

In the meantime the central core continues to meet at Kensington Church street on the second Sunday of the month for a full days Recollection starting at 11.o'clock and finishing about 4.15 pm. We warmly welcome potential new members, as we need them to grow into missionaries for Carmel. Jesus needs Carmelites everywhere.

Upon arrival the novices attend their group instruction and the professed meet in their own group to explore some aspect of Carmelite Spirituality, followed by the Angelus at noon. We then attend mass in church after which we have lunch. Following lunch we have a grand silence until after Evening Prayer. This is preceded by meditation in the Hermann Cohen chapel until 3.o'clock when we hear father's talk.

However, with the grace of God, we are changing, growing and it makes this a very exciting time.