Lay Carmelites from four local communities of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province recently attended an annual retreat at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers.

Carmelite Father John Horan, from the St. Elias Province, served as the retreat leader.

In exciting news for the spiritual community, Atlanta will be the host city for the Lay Carmelite Convocation in 2015. The title of the convocation is “Carmelite Transformation—A Lifelong Journey.”

Lay Carmelites from all of the United States are invited to attend. The keynote speaker will be Father Fernando Millan Romeral, who is the prior general of the Carmelite Order. A focus will be on St. Teresa of Avila as the community celebrates 500 years since her birth.