History
I. Inspirational Foundation
In September 1976 a Carmelite priest, Fr. Yohanes Indrakusuma O.Carm, together with another Carmelite priest, started a form of life which emphasized the contemplative aspect of the Carmelite vocation. They lived in a small and remote village near Batu, Malang, in the province of East Java, Indonesia. After one year, his companion left and Fr. Yohanes continued this way of life by himself until 1979. In December 1979 he moved to a more suitable place in Ngadireso, Tumpang, also near the region of Malang. There, he built a small hermitage and lived alone in solitude and also he was still involved in teaching at the Major Seminary in Malang. Very soon more people started coming to his place, to make a retreat, to get some spiritual advice and direction or to ask for his prayers.
II. The Birth of Daughters of Carmel
DOC nuns with Fr. Yohanes Indrakusuma, O.Carm
Inspired by the way of life of Fr.Yohanes 2 religious sisters from a religious sisters from a religious congregation, with the permission of their superior, and 3 young ladies, joined Fr. Yohanes way of life in 1982 and formed a new community and took the name of Daughters Of Carmel. They settled themselves in the neighborhood under his guidance and direction. They followed the same way of life of Fr. Yohanes and lived the same spirituality.
In 1984 Fr. Yohanes asked Sister Josepha, a Franciscan sister of St. George Martyr, to help him to form the community. Sister Josepha stayed for two years as the head of the newly founded community. After that, the nuns of Daughters of Carmel continued on their own, always under the guidance and direction of Fr. Yohanes.
They opted for an open contemplative life, that is, a life imbued with the spirit and practice of prayer, but also open to a certain form of apostolate, especially in guiding retreats and giving spiritual direction. Although there were some drop outs, the community grew steadily. Fr. Yohanes ensured that the nuns received solid formation and several of them are sent to further studies, some abroad, to countries like Rome, USA, and India, while others are preparing their theological studies at the local universities. After only 8 years, they were independent and were able to support themselves, although still under the overall direction of Fr. Yohanes as their founder.
Daughters of Carmel, founded in 1982, was recognized as a Private Association in 1992, then as a Public Association and in 2002 was elevated to the status of a Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right by the local bishop. Currently there are 167 nuns who are assigned to the houses in Indonesia, Malaysia, Rome and USA.
III. Daughters of Carmel in the USA:
The Daughters of Carmel (DOC) nuns were first invited to the Bay Area by the Indonesian Catholic Community of Northern California (WKICU) in May 1998. Sr. Justini P.Karm (Superior General) and Agata P.Karm (Vice General) conducted an astonishing spiritual retreat to this community. Afterwards they decided to invite the nuns on a bi-annual basis. The DOC nuns also traveled to different parts of the United States to reach out to other Indonesian communities.
In 2000, Fr. Yohanes Indrakusuma O'Carm (the Father Founder) came with a group of nuns to conduct other various retreats. This time, however, the DOC community was also discerning the Indonesian community’s invitation to build a branch in the United States. Soon, meetings were held with numerous Bishops throughout the regions in California.
San Francisco would eventually become a promising site that the DOC would like to launch its ground breaking. Then, an initial meeting with Bishop John Wester of the Archdiocese of San Francisco was conducted in 2003. Soon after, in March 2005 another meeting in Vatican was held between Cardinal Levada (the Archbishop of San Francisco at that time) and Fr. Yohanes, accompanied with and through the courtesy of Fr. Mark Rubiano’s arrangement. With warm and opened hands the Excellency offered an invitation for DOC to branch out in the diocese. This process was realized through the works of the Emeritus Bishop Ignatius Wang. Bishop Wang visited the mother house of DOC in the village of Tumpang, East Java, as well as the monastery of the brothers of Carmelite Sancti Elijah (CSE) in Cikanyere, West Java, Indonesia in the Summer of 2007.
After a long process of paper trails, the first sister of DOC finally arrived in San Francisco from Indonesia on the feast of St. Joseph, May 1, 2009. Thanks to the hospitality and generosity of Monsignor Michael Harriman, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, the third floor of the St. Cecilia Convent was opened for the sisters as their residence. Today the DOC is based in the compound of the St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park,California. The DOC, originating from San Francisco, continues their ministries to the United States and Canada. They conduct prayer meetings, Eucharistic adorations, retreats, and spiritual direction to anyone who 'knocks" on their door.
In 1984 Fr. Yohanes asked Sister Josepha, a Franciscan sister of St. George Martyr, to help him to form the community. Sister Josepha stayed for two years as the head of the newly founded community. After that, the nuns of Daughters of Carmel continued on their own, always under the guidance and direction of Fr. Yohanes.
They opted for an open contemplative life, that is, a life imbued with the spirit and practice of prayer, but also open to a certain form of apostolate, especially in guiding retreats and giving spiritual direction. Although there were some drop outs, the community grew steadily. Fr. Yohanes ensured that the nuns received solid formation and several of them are sent to further studies, some abroad, to countries like Rome, USA, and India, while others are preparing their theological studies at the local universities. After only 8 years, they were independent and were able to support themselves, although still under the overall direction of Fr. Yohanes as their founder.
Daughters of Carmel, founded in 1982, was recognized as a Private Association in 1992, then as a Public Association and in 2002 was elevated to the status of a Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right by the local bishop. Currently there are 167 nuns who are assigned to the houses in Indonesia, Malaysia, Rome and USA.
III. Daughters of Carmel in the USA:
The Daughters of Carmel (DOC) nuns were first invited to the Bay Area by the Indonesian Catholic Community of Northern California (WKICU) in May 1998. Sr. Justini P.Karm (Superior General) and Agata P.Karm (Vice General) conducted an astonishing spiritual retreat to this community. Afterwards they decided to invite the nuns on a bi-annual basis. The DOC nuns also traveled to different parts of the United States to reach out to other Indonesian communities.
In 2000, Fr. Yohanes Indrakusuma O'Carm (the Father Founder) came with a group of nuns to conduct other various retreats. This time, however, the DOC community was also discerning the Indonesian community’s invitation to build a branch in the United States. Soon, meetings were held with numerous Bishops throughout the regions in California.
San Francisco would eventually become a promising site that the DOC would like to launch its ground breaking. Then, an initial meeting with Bishop John Wester of the Archdiocese of San Francisco was conducted in 2003. Soon after, in March 2005 another meeting in Vatican was held between Cardinal Levada (the Archbishop of San Francisco at that time) and Fr. Yohanes, accompanied with and through the courtesy of Fr. Mark Rubiano’s arrangement. With warm and opened hands the Excellency offered an invitation for DOC to branch out in the diocese. This process was realized through the works of the Emeritus Bishop Ignatius Wang. Bishop Wang visited the mother house of DOC in the village of Tumpang, East Java, as well as the monastery of the brothers of Carmelite Sancti Elijah (CSE) in Cikanyere, West Java, Indonesia in the Summer of 2007.
After a long process of paper trails, the first sister of DOC finally arrived in San Francisco from Indonesia on the feast of St. Joseph, May 1, 2009. Thanks to the hospitality and generosity of Monsignor Michael Harriman, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, the third floor of the St. Cecilia Convent was opened for the sisters as their residence. Today the DOC is based in the compound of the St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park,California. The DOC, originating from San Francisco, continues their ministries to the United States and Canada. They conduct prayer meetings, Eucharistic adorations, retreats, and spiritual direction to anyone who 'knocks" on their door.