TRIENNIAL
REPORT
2023–2026
Dear Brothers and Friends of CACS,
It is with deep gratitude that I present this triennial report, reflecting on three remarkable years of growth, connection, and spiritual accompaniment across our global Carmelite family.
These three years have reminded me of Teresa of Avila’s words: “God alone suffices.” In a world marked by fragmentation and uncertainty, we have witnessed a profound hunger for the contemplative tradition of Carmel — spaces where people can encounter the God who befriends us, where silence speaks, and where the interior castle becomes a place of transformation.
Under the grace of God and with the dedication of our team — Fr. Luke Dominic, our friars from India and Nigeria, and our growing team of lay collaborators — CACS has evolved from a promising initiative into an internationally recognised centre. Our programmes, pilgrimages, and Sacred Encounter Ministry are engaging more people with Carmelite spirituality in ways that are both faithful to our 800-year tradition and responsive to contemporary needs.
Over this triennium, more than 3,700 participants engaged directly with CACS through our programmes, retreats, and spiritual accompaniment. From the Spiritual Direction Formation Programme — now serving students across three continents and accredited by St Mary’s University — to our growing Sacred Encounter Ministry, to our pilgrimages that brought Carmel alive in Spain, France, Greece, and Portugal — we are witnessing the ripple effects of contemplative presence in a hurried world.
What gives me the most hope is witnessing the courage of our CACS community as we continue to choose interiority — people like you — who continue to choose interiority, prayer, and authentic friendship with God. Your generosity, participation, and belief in this work make everything possible.
Thanks to all who walk with us.
The Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality
The Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality (CACS) exists to provide quality formative programmes that foster an awareness of God’s presence, nurture the spiritual life, and equip those in soul care ministries for a discerning and supportive accompaniment in diverse ministerial contexts.
Why Our Work Matters Today
We live in a time of accelerating change, persistent noise, and deepening disconnection. Where distraction dominates and burnout rises, the need for contemplative spaces grows urgent. Across communities, we see people practising the kind of prayer that builds trust rather than erodes it. We see people closing the gap between their actions and their deepest values. Our work moves us towards that possibility — helping people ground themselves in prayer, sustain connection with God, and act with integrity as spiritual directors, companions, and contemplative presences in the world.
Triennium 2023–2026
Four Dimensions of Our Work
We bring people to the places where Carmel was born and renewed — Holy Land, Spain, France, and beyond — creating encounters with the lived experience of our saints that transform how people pray and live. Over this triennium, 100+ pilgrims journeyed with us.
Formation
We offer structured programmes where people deepen their understanding of Carmelite prayer and develop the capacities needed for authentic spiritual direction and accompaniment. The SDFP, now in its sixth year, has formed over 150 graduates who serve as spiritual directors across the UK, USA, Nigeria, and beyond.
Accompaniment
Through Sacred Encounter Ministry, retreats, and individual guidance, we create trustworthy spaces where people can practise deep listening, encounter their true selves before God, and receive the accompaniment needed to sustain their spiritual journey.
Wisdom
We share the wisdom of our Carmelite saints — Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, Elizabeth of the Trinity, and others — through courses, lectures, and resources that make their teachings accessible and applicable to contemporary life.
Encounter
We bring people to the places where Carmel was born and renewed — Holy Land, Spain, France, and beyond — creating encounters with the lived experience of our saints that transform how people pray and live. Over this triennium, 100+ pilgrims journeyed with us.
A Global Community of Practice
CACS’s formation programmes offer guided spaces where people deepen their understanding of the Carmelite tradition and strengthen the practices they carry into their lives, ministries, and work.
Spiritual Direction Formation Programme (SDFP)
Our flagship two-year programme forming spiritual directors rooted in the Carmelite lived tradition. Combines residential intensives in Oxford, Chicago, and Lagos with online learning. Accredited by St Mary’s University, Twickenham since 2024, awarding a Postgraduate Diploma.
School of Prophets
Deep formation in prophetic discipleship and discernment, nurturing the prophetic charism of baptism and enabling participants to discern and communicate God’s truth in contemporary contexts. Participant numbers grew steadily each year of the triennium.
Deepening Prayer Series
A comprehensive introduction to Carmelite prayer practices, supporting individuals seeking a deeper relationship with God through knowledge and experience of prayer disciplines that promote the growth and flourishing of the spiritual life.
Supervision Course
Training for those offering reflective supervision to spiritual directors. Equipping graduates with the skills to sustain and nurture fellow practitioners in the ministry of spiritual accompaniment.
Voices from the Field
Sacred Encounter Ministry:
Offering Sacred Space
Launched in 2024, Sacred Encounter Ministry has quickly become a vital part of CACS’s mission, offering individual spiritual direction and reflective supervision rooted in the Carmelite tradition.
People can now easily find directors on our website and choose who they want for spiritual direction or supervision, with the option of onsite or online meetings providing flexibility. All SEM members are trained in the Carmelite tradition and maintain high professional and ethical standards.
Demand for accompaniment continues to exceed current capacity, reflecting the deep hunger for contemplative spaces in our time. We are actively exploring ways to expand our pool of trained spiritual directors and supervisors.
Retreats: Spaces for Deeper Prayer
Throughout the triennium, CACS offered seasonal retreats that created contemplative space during the liturgical year — from Lenten and Easter retreats to Pentecost and Advent offerings. Our free retreats, including “Pierced by Love” (290 participants) and the annual Pentecost Retreat (187 registrations), demonstrate our commitment to ensuring accessibility whilst relying on the generosity of our community.
across the triennium
“Pierced by Love” retreat
registrations (2024)
Bringing Carmelite Wisdom to Contemporary Seekers
CACS offers a rich variety of courses and lecture series that make the wisdom of our Carmelite saints accessible and applicable to modern life. Over this triennium, more than 1,000 participants engaged with our one-off lectures and series alone — many going on to enrol in longer formation courses.
Spiritual Enrichment Lecture Series (SELS)
A monthly exploration of lesser-known Carmelite saints and their particular gifts, from St Nuno of St Mary to Brother Lawrence. The lecture on Brother Lawrence attracted 62 individual participants (100 including series purchasers).
Spirituality Summit & Summer School
Two flagship annual events bringing together scholars, spiritual directors, and seekers for immersive encounters with Carmelite spirituality. The 2026 Summit will mark 300 years since the canonisation of St John of the Cross.
School of Scripture
A guided journey through the grand narrative of Scripture, from Old Testament foundations to Biblical Interpretations. This school attracted 42 students across the triennium.
Creative & Seasonal Offerings
From Lenten Poetry & Art to Advent retreats for women, Twelve Little Ways year-long programme, and Seder Meal experiences — these offerings bring Carmelite spirituality alive through diverse forms of prayer and creative expression.
Pilgrimage: Walking Where Carmel Was Born
Pilgrimage is embodied prayer. Over this triennium, CACS led transformative journeys to the places where our Carmelite saints lived, prayed, and encountered God — bringing more than 100 pilgrims to the heart of Carmel.
Young Adults Pilgrimage · Portugal · July 2023
St Teresa of Avila Pilgrimage · Avila, Spain · October 2023
St Teresa of Avila Pilgrimage · Avila, Spain · October 2024
St John of the Cross Pilgrimage · Segovia, Spain · April 2024
St Teresa of Avila Pilgrimage · Avila, Spain · October 2025
St Paul’s Pilgrimage · Greece · May 2025
St Therese Pilgrimage · Lisieux, France
St John of the Cross Pilgrimage · Segovia, Spain · April 2026
Who We Serve
Our community is diverse in geography and rich in life experience. The data below reflects the demographic profile of our mailing list and active participants as of December 2025.
Gender
Geography
Age Range
Celebrating Our Triennium
Financial Overview
CACS demonstrates strong financial health with diversified revenue streams. Programme income has grown consistently over the triennium, driven by increasing SDFP enrolment, expanding pilgrimage participation, and growing retreat offerings. Revenue has been reinvested in administration, digital infrastructure, accreditation, and programme development.
Programme Income by Type
Guided by the Carmelite values of simplicity and service, the CACS has purposefully subsidized its programs over the last three years to ensure our spiritual heritage reaches a global audience. While this has resulted in expenditures exceeding our income—most notably in the Spiritual Direction Formation Programme, where costs are 50% higher than the fees charged—we view this as an investment in our mission. For the coming triennium, we are committed to a path of stewardship and sustainability. By streamlining our expenses and adjusting fees to reflect current economic realities, we aim to achieve financial equilibrium. Supported by our new fundraising initiatives, we remain dedicated to sharing our contemplative charism across all generations and walks of life.
Growing Our Community Online
Our digital presence has expanded significantly over the triennium, with email marketing and e-commerce platforms becoming vital channels for engagement and programme delivery.
(up 106% year-on-year)
(industry standard: ~20%)
in 2024
placed in 2024
The People Who Steward This Mission
The depth and reach of CACS’s work depends on the dedication of our friars and collaborators who steward this mission with care, skill, and integrity. As the need for our work grows, we continue to strengthen our team by expanding capacity and expertise.
CACS Advisory Board
- Fr John Grennan, OCD
- Alacoque O’Reilly, OCDS
- Ann Donald, OCDS
- Fr Iain Matthew, OCD
- Prof. Peter Tyler
- John Quigley, OCDS
Executive Leadership
Staff & Collaborators
Judy Bartlett — Lead Administrator & Executive Assistant
Christie Moreton — SDFP & Safeguarding Administrator
Kate Keefe — Project Manager, Safeguarding
Dharmisha Patel — Marketing Assistant
Susanna Page — Community and Development Officer
Elantratech Ltd — Web Management
CACS is blessed by the presence of friars from the Nigerian Vicariate, Karnataka-Goa, South Kerala and Tamil Nadu Provinces serving at Boars Hill, bringing their gifts of prayer, scholarship, and service to our shared mission.
Collaborators & Faculty
CACS’s mission is made possible by an amazing group of collaborators and adjunct faculty members — we’re very grateful to them.
Outlook for the Next Triennium: 2026–2028
In the coming triennium, we look forward to continued growth, reaching people of all ages and cultures, and forming more people in Carmelite spirituality. In this way, we seek to share the transforming friendship of Jesus Christ through the contemplative wisdom of the Carmelite tradition.
Expand Sacred Encounter Ministry
With demand exceeding capacity, we are expanding our pool of trained spiritual directors and supervisors and investing in administrative support to serve more people seeking accompaniment.
Launch UniSEM (Sacred Encounter Ministry for Universities)
Carmelite spiritual accompaniment for university students — creating the systematic contact with young people. Forming them in Carmelite spirituality and making Carmel a home for Gen Z.
Launch the Carmelite Spirituality Network
CSN will provide accreditation, continuing professional development, and a community of practice for spiritual directors and practitioners formed in the Carmelite tradition.
Develop New Formation Pathways
Building on the success of SDFP, we are exploring shorter formation offerings for those seeking Carmelite spirituality for personal enrichment alongside new collaborative opportunities with other Carmelite provinces.
Strengthen Digital Presence
Our online courses and virtual retreats have proven that geographic distance need not be a barrier. We are investing in improved digital platforms, AI automation, and content delivery to extend our reach.
Deepen Global Partnerships
Collaboration with St Mary’s University, the Pontifical Institute of Spirituality (Teresianum, Rome), and inter provincial partnerships enriches our mission and extends Carmel’s reach.
Thank You
This work is only possible because of you — our friars, participants, donors, partners, and friends who believe in the power of contemplative living. Your generosity makes it possible for us to offer sliding-scale access, sponsor students from Nigeria, create free retreats for those who cannot afford to pay, and continue developing new offerings that serve the global Church.
Together, we are nurturing the contemplative depth that the world desperately needs.
“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.”