The Carmelite nuns came to Savannah in June 1958 at the request of Bishop Thomas J. McDonough for the express purpose of praying for the priests and the needs of this mission diocese.

For over 60 years, these cloistered nuns have devoted themselves to prayer and contemplation, supporting themselves by distributing altar breads and making Mass vestments. In recent years, sisters from Kenya have responded to the Savannah Carmel’s call for new members. They have brought with them their musical traditions, adding drums and other percussion to some of the songs sung at Mass. “First and foremost,” said Ann Mucunu, “This life is all about prayer–contemplative prayer.” Mucunu has been in the United States about six months and has been a postulant for two months. She grew up in a Catholic home in Kenya. “My mother is very religious and my developing desire to be a religious came through her prayer and mine. We attended Catholic School,” continued Mucunu. “There was a growing awareness back home that vocations were low [in America.] “We received the Good News from the American and Irish [sisters] and are called to be missionaries here.”

Their daily routine is still marked by the call to prayer for the same intentions that brought the original nuns to Savannah.

• 5:00 a.m. - The day begins with an hour spent in personal prayer
• 7:00 a.m. - The sisters gather for Morning Prayer from the Divine Office.
• 8:00 a.m. - Daily Mass. Breakfast follows Mass
• 9:00 a.m. - Work begins. Dishes, meal preparation, laundry, tailoring, gardening, order processing and office work
• 12:00 p.m. - Gather for prayer and the Angelus. Lunch followed by cleaning, meal prep and free time
• 3:00 p.m. - Gather for prayer, followed by work
• 4:30 p.m. - Evening Prayer. Quite time for personal prayer
• 5:30 p.m. - Supper
• 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Recreation (stories, reading, light hand work —no labor)
• 7:30 p.m. - Night Prayer. Free time

Go to the audioslide show and view listen to the Carmelites.