On Saturday September 13, the Servants of Mary and Joseph Lay Carmelite community of Greenville hosted a conference in celebration of the 800'th anniversary of the Rule of St. Albert. Approximately 55 Lay Carmelites from the Carolinas and Georgia met at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville for prayer, Mass, a catered lunch and lectures on the history of the Carmelite Order. The day concluded withe a procession in honor of La Bruna, the ancient depiction of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, supplied by Holy Family Lay Carmelite Community in Marietta Ga.

Father Leo Glueckert, O. Carm., assistant professor of  ecclesiastical  history at Washington Theological Union , presented the talks. Fr. Leo explained the history of the Rule, focusing on the basics of prayer,  penance, fasting, psalms and meditation. The Theme for the General Chapter this year has been In Obsequio Jesu Christi, Praying and Prophetic Community in a Changing World. In light of this, Fr. Leo explained how we can remain faithful to the Carmelite charism give to us by God in a rapidly changing world by the faithful living of the Rule. With his enthusiasm for sharing the pearls of Carmel, Fr. Leo was a valued guide in enriching the Carmelite way of life.
,