We are overjoyed to announce our Centenary Jubilee Year.  We have received a Decree from the Dicastery of the Apostolic Penitentiary for the Holy Year to celebrate one hundred years from the beginning of our monastery, founded in October 1925. Bishop MacGinley, the first bishop of our diocese, went to the canonization of St. Therese of Lisieux in May 1925 and requested a Carmelite Monastery in the new diocese under the patronage of the new Carmelite Saint. Pope Pius Xi promptly granted permission and Bishop MacGinley appealed to the Carmelite Monastery of Santa Clara, California for the foundation. Five months later, Mother Augustine, then prioress, sent five valiant nuns from her community to establish the new monastery in a temporary little square wooden house on Carmel Point, near the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Six years later, in 1931, the Francis Sullivan Family, whose daughter, Mother Agnes, was a member of Santa Clara, purchased land and made arrangements for the construction of our beautiful monastery on this present site.  It was accomplished in six months.  The building is a memorial to Francis J Sullivan, who died in 1930, and is buried at St. Joseph’s side altar.  At his request, Bishop MacGinely is buried in the alcove in the back of our chapel.

This is also the centenary of the canonization of St. Therese and we will have the privilege to host her relics here.

It is noteworthy that the Carmelite presence in Carmel, California goes back to 1602 when the three Carmelite priests: Fr. Andrew of the Assumption, Fr. Anthony of the Ascension and Fr. Thomas Aquinas, were chaplains on the Spanish expedition, led by the explorer, Vizcaino, to the new world.  Sailing up the central coast of California they discovered the Monterey Bay.  The friars recognized that the landscape of the bay, the hills and the river were similar to Mount Carmel in Palestine.  They named the river and area Carmel, in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Jubilee is called Holy Year, not only because it begins, is marked, and ends with solemn holy acts, but also because its purpose is to encourage holiness of life. It was actually convoked to strengthen faith, encourage works of charity and brotherly communion within the Church and society and to call Christians to be more sincere and coherent in their faith in Christ, our only Savior.  A Jubilee Year is, above all, the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity.  This year our Chapel will be a place of pilgrimage to obtain plenary indulgences.

We extend our heartfelt love and prayers to all who have visited this holy place and prayed here over the past one hundred years.  We remember, with love and thanksgiving, our Sisters and many friends who have passed on and who are still praying for us in the Heavenly Jerusalem.

1925-2025