Previous Events
The celebrations for the 5th centenary of Teresa's birth began in 2014 in some communities. Celebrations for the whole Carmelite Family in both Britain and Ireland began with Opening Liturgies in October 2014. Celebrations also commemorated the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Albert of Jerusalem, whose Carmelite Rule was a source of inspiration for Teresa and her renewal of Carmelite life. Below we have listed events we are aware of; if you know of others please send us details.
1 February 2014: Study Day on Teresa, Oxford
On Saturday 1st February 2014 a study day on Saint Teresa was held at the University of Oxford's Department for Continuing Education. Dr Peter Tyler spoke about "Teresa of Avila: Doctor of the Soul". For video footage click here.
29 May - 11 June 2014: Opera, London
Poulenc's Dialogue of the Carmelites was performed at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
1 June 2014: Teresa talk, London
A session on Teresa led by Dr. Peter Tyler at St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
11 June 2014: Evening Forum, Oxford
Evening Forum on Teresa, Love and Suffering at the Carmelite Priory, Boars Hill, Oxford.
14 June 2014: Day on Teresa, St. Albans
A day on Teresa of Avila and Carmelite Spirituality led by Bishop Norman Banks, St. Albans Cathedral.
20-22 June 2014: Retreat in County Durham
A retreat on "St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross" directed by Fr. Michael Manning, O.Carm. Held at Minsteracres Retreat Centre near Consett, County Durham. Organised by Lay Carmelite Communities in Northern England.
27 - 29 June 2014: Youth Festival, Aylesford
Workshop on Teresa at the Brightlights Youth Festival, Aylesford Priory.
5 July 2014: Carmel in the City meeting
The Carmel in the City Carmelite Spirituality Group in London met at St. Joseph's Church, Bunhill Row, to hear a presentation from Sheila Grimwood on "St. Teresa and The World in Flames".
9 July 2014: Teresa Forum, Oxford
Evening Forum on Teresa and Freedom at the Discalced Carmelite Priory, Boars Hill, Oxford, 6.30-8.30pm.
13 July 2014: Carmelite Celebration, Aylesford
A reflection on "Teresa of Avila: Pilgrimage to the Centre" featured during the 11.30am Gathering Service of the Celebration in Honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Aylesford Priory in Kent.
27 July 2014: Knock Pilgrimage
Teresa was a particular focus during the annual Irish National Joint Carmelite Pilgrimage to Knock, Ireland.
10 September 2014: Teresa Forum, Oxford
Evening Forum on Teresa and Difficult People at the Discalced Carmelite Priory, Boars Hill, Oxford, 6.30-8.30pm.
September 2014: Formation course in Spain
A two-week formation course was held in Avila, Spain, for O.Carm. friars.
21 September 2014: Gracian Mass, Brussels
To mark the 4th centenary of the death of Jerome Gracian, Teresa's great supporter, a special Mass involving the Ancient and Discalced Observances of Carmel was held at the Discalced Carmelite Priory in Brussels.
2 October 2014: Evening Talk in Dublin
For the month of October 2014 a series of talks - "God Alone Suffices" - was held every Thursday evening at 7.30pm at Avila Carmelite Centre in Dublin (Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4). Fr. Matt Blake, O.C.D., will speak on "Teresa: Her Life and Her Times". For the full programme click here. For further details contact: Fionnuala Kane, Ballinalacken, Attanagh, Co. Laois, Ireland. Tel: +353 86 6085575. To email Fionnuala click here.
4 October 2014: Day Retreat in Dublin
"The Teresian Gospel" is the title for a day retreat held at Avila Carmelite Centre in Dublin (Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4). Fr. Matt Blake, O.C.D., provided an introduction to St. Teresa of Avila’s masterpiece The Way of Perfection. Day retreats start at 10am and end at 4pm. Tea and coffee are provided but please bring a packed meal. Suggested offering: €15.00. For further details contact: Fionnuala Kane, Ballinalacken, Attanagh, Co. Laois, Ireland. Tel: +353 86 6085575. To email Fionnuala click here.
7 - 15 October: Novena of Prayer
Wherever you are in the world, join the Carmelite Family in nine days of prayer as the feast of St. Teresa approaches.
8 October 2014: Teresa Forum, Oxford
Evening Forum on Teresa and Anger at the Discalced Carmelite Priory, Boars Hill, Oxford, 6.30-8.30pm.
9 October 2014: Evening Talk in Dublin
For the month of October 2014 a series of talks - "God Alone Suffices" - will be held every Thursday evening at 7.30pm at Avila Carmelite Centre in Dublin (Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4). Dr. Mary Forrest of the "Carmelite Explorers" group at Terenure College will speak on "Teresa: Among the Pots and Pans". For the full programme click here. For further details contact: Fionnuala Kane, Ballinalacken, Attanagh, Co. Laois, Ireland. Tel: +353 86 6085575. To email Fionnuala click here.
12 October 2014: Teresa talk in Manchester
Anastacia Selby will speak about Teresa of Avila at the monthly meeting of Manchester Carmelite Spirituality Group meeting at Manchester Universities Catholic Chaplaincy on Oxford Road, 10.am-1pm.
12 - 17 October 2014: A Week with St. Teresa of Avila, Essex
The Community of Our Lady of Walsingham invites you to join them on a residential retreat led by Fr. Matthew Blake, O.C.D., to discover more about St. Teresa of Avila. Residential guests are welcome to arrive on Sunday 12th October from 5pm and non-residential guests are welcome at 10am on Monday morning. Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Suggested donations: £250 per person for residential guests, £175 per person for non-residential attendance with all meals and refreshments provided. Fore more information please call Abbotswick on 01277 373959. Venue: Abbotswick House of Prayer, Navestock Side, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5SH.
15 October 2014: Dolgellau Mass
Mass at Dolgellau Carmel in Wales for the Solemnity of St. Teresa (Celebrant: Fr. John Bosco Buscomba, Preacher: Fr. Frank Gerrard).
15 October 2014: OPENING OF THE TERESIAN YEAR in Ireland and Britain
Opening of the Teresian Year in Ireland: 12 noon Mass at St. Teresa's Church, Clarendon Street, Dublin 2. Also on this day a Flower Festival will open in the Church, running until the following Sunday, and there will be a recital of music from St. Teresa's lifetime in the Sixteenth Century. For more details of celebrations in Dublin please click here.
Opening of the Teresian Year in Britain: Mass at the Discalced Carmelite Priory, Kensington, London, 7pm. Admission to the Mass is open to all. You do not need to request a ticket in advance, but by doing so it helps the organisers get an idea of number of numbers and plan accordingly. To request tickets please click here.
16 October 2014: Evening Talk in Dublin
For the month of October 2014 a series of talks - "God Alone Suffices" - will be held every Thursday evening at 7.30pm at Avila Carmelite Centre in Dublin (Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4). Fr. Eugene McCaffrey, O.C.D., will speak on "Teresa: Let Nothing Trouble You". For the full programme click here. For further details contact: Fionnuala Kane, Ballinalacken, Attanagh, Co. Laois, Ireland. Tel: +353 86 6085575. To email Fionnuala click here.
18 October 2014: The Life and Times of St. Teresa, Quidenham Carmel
This afternoon (3 - 5.15pm) hosted by the sisters at Quidenham Carmel in Norfolk will include a semi-dramatized presentation of the life and times of St. Teresa incorporating pictures and live music, followed by refreshments and festal Vespers. Admission is free, but as space is limited please let the community know by emailing Sr. Shelagh.
18 October 2014: Teresa Day at Aylesford
A day on Teresa’s Book of Her Life at Aylesford Priory, England, 10am-4pm.
18 October 2014: Day Retreat in Dublin
A day retreat held at Avila Carmelite Centre in Dublin (Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4). Fr. Tony Parsons, O.C.D., led a day focussing on St. Teresa of Avila as a teacher and guide in the ways of prayer. Day retreats start at 10am and end at 4pm. Tea and coffee are provided but please bring a packed meal. Suggested offering: €15.00. For further details contact: Fionnuala Kane, Ballinalacken, Attanagh, Co. Laois, Ireland. Tel: +353 86 6085575. To email Fionnuala click here. To register interest online click here.
23 October 2014: Evening Talk in Dublin
For the month of October 2014 a series of talks - "God Alone Suffices" - will be held every Thursday evening at 7.30pm at Avila Carmelite Centre in Dublin (Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4). Sr. Noeleen Slattery, O.C.D., will speak on "Teresa: My Guide and Inspiration". For the full programme click here. For further details contact: Fionnuala Kane, Ballinalacken, Attanagh, Co. Laois, Ireland. Tel: +353 86 6085575. To email Fionnuala click here.
25 October 2014: Teresa Day at Aylesford
A day on Teresa’s Way of Perfection at Aylesford Priory, England, 10am-4pm.
30 October 2014: Evening Talk in Dublin
For the month of October 2014 a series of talks - "God Alone Suffices" - will be held every Thursday evening at 7.30pm at Avila Carmelite Centre in Dublin (Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4). Fr. Vincent O'Hara, O.C.D., will speak on "Teresa: The Prayer Adventure". For the full programme click here. For further details contact: Fionnuala Kane, Ballinalacken, Attanagh, Co. Laois, Ireland. Tel: +353 86 6085575. To email Fionnuala click here.
1 November 2014: Teresa Day at Aylesford
A day on Teresa’s Interior Castle at Aylesford Priory, England, 10am-4pm.
4 November 2014: Dolgellau Mass
Mass at Dolgellau Carmel, Wales, to open the Year for Religious and St. Teresa Year (Preacher: Bishop Edwin Regan), 9.30am.
8 November 2014: Day of reflection at Tabor Retreat Centre, Preston
'Advance with Courage - Listening to Teresa, the great woman of prayer'. This retreat day begins with a solemn Mass of St Teresa celebrated with the community of Carmelite sisters at Preston Carmelite Monastery. The day then continues at the nearby Carmelite Retreat Centre, Tabor, with talks and reflections given by Fr Matt Blake OCD, and Gillian Coxhead. Cost £12 (suggested offering), please bring a packed lunch. Places for the day of reflection must be booked in advance. For more details and travel directions, click here. To book phone: 01772 717122 or email: tabor@carmelte.net
8 November 2014: Teresa Day at Aylesford
A day on Teresa’s Book of Foundations at Aylesford Priory, England, 10am-4pm.
21 November 2014: Year of Consecrated Life
International Opening of the Year of Consecrated Life.
22 November 2014: Teresa Seminar in Dublin
A day Seminar on Teresa led by Professor Donna Orsuto (Gregorian University, Rome), at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, Dublin.
Tuesday 20 January 2015: Teresa Talk in Dublin
As part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Fr. Robert Opala, O.C.D., will speak at Evening Prayer at the Carmelite Monastery, Kilmacud, Dublin on Tuesday 20th January at 4.30pm on the topic: "With Saint Teresa on the journey to Church Unity". All are welcome to attend this day, or any day during the Unity Octave (18-25 Jan) to hear our different speakers. More details on our website: www.kilmacudcarmel.ie