Carmelite Ministry for Women with I.D.D.

A NEW MINISTRY OF THE CARMELITE SISTERS OF THE DIVINE HEART OF JESUS CARMELITE MNISTRY OF ST. TERESA   The Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus is a religious congregation with headquarters in Europe and Regional Provinces in the United States. The sisters have opened their doors to provide a home for the poor, originally with orphanages that served thousands of individuals in a family-like atmosphere. In more current times they have served other needy populations, such as the sick and elderly, and mothers and children who need services and care. The Sisters have served the poor in Wauwatosa Wisconsin for more than 100 years. After many years of service to young delinquent boys at the Carmelite Home for Boys in Wauwatosa Wisconsin, the Sisters have closed that Treatment Center. As a response to the changing landscape for affordable living spaces and programs for this needy population, the Sisters are creating a new Ministry to adult women with Developmental Disabilities who are independent and ambulatory. The Mission of the Carmelite Ministry of St. Teresa is to provide a Carmelite inspired formation/enrichment program for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities where they can live and mature in their physical, emotional, and spiritual lives. The formation and enrichment program will serve not only the 15 women who will live in the newly constructed individual apartments, but hundreds of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the community who will participate and join them for their holistic growth. An adjacent building & gym will be redesigned to accommodate the development of the formation and enrichment program.  The Need The Carmelite Sisters DCJ thru the new Apostolate – The Carmelite Ministry of St. Teresa – chose God’s calling to answer the following concerns of the parents with special needs children: “We are getting up in age and we must find a home where our special needs daughter will be safe & happy.” “We have found that there are many good state-funded group homes offering care and services for the developmentally disabled, yet many lack a caring, family environment.” “Our daughter has the capacity to grow in every way, but so often she is placed in front of a TV all day.” “Our daughter is a very spiritual person who could benefit tremendously by living with a faith community.”      Apartments are being constructed to accommodate 15 adult women with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are independent and ambulatory. Each apartment is equipped with a seating area, a bed, a closet, a kitchenette, a private bath and storage space. A library, chapel/prayer room, laundry facilities are integrated into the space. The lower level has a larger dining room where the women will be provided with nutritious meals, and a recreation/guest visiting room. An adjacent facility has classrooms and a gym/fitness area. area  http://carmeliteministryofstteresa.org/  The Carmelite Sisters will pray for your intentions. By day and by night someone prays for you! "Consider this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ​Each much do as already determined without sadness or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver."