We have been good stewards (of the monastery). But it's getting old, like the rest of us.”

Sister Sue, of the Carmelite Monastery

It is a quiet place, a holy place, a retreat and a home for the eight women who live there.

But its future is uncertain.

The monastery on Watson Avenue overlooking Narragansett Bay has served the Carmelite Sisters for more than 60 years, but a recent letter written by the group announced that the monastery will be closing by the end of the year or beginning of next year.

Sister Sue, the prioress at the Carmelite Monastery, said the upcoming closure is due to various factors, including a decrease in the number of new vocations for the Carmelites and an increasing age of the Sisters living there. Four of the Sisters — the youngest at the Carmelite monastery — are in their 70s; two are in their 80s; one is in her 90s; and Sister Patricia is 100.

Some of the Sisters have a difficult time navigating the monastery's three floors, as they are confined to walkers or wheelchairs.

"Some of the Sisters feel it's a lot of walking," Sister Sue said.

The letter written by the Sisters further explains the dilemma: "As the impact of the aging process continued to multiply health concerns, along with a building that is in need of a new round of repairs, we had to face facts and decided to explore options/possibilities where individual health needs can be better attended to."

Sister Sue said the Carmelite Sisters in Barrington have been struggling with the decision for a while.

"We've done a lot of talking about this," she said, during an interview last week.

She said the Sisters hired a consultant group to help them with some of the logistics surrounding the situation.

It will be a difficult transition for the women who have grown to love the quiet peacefulness that fills the monastery and its picturesque grounds.

The building and the Sisters have, for years, shared an unassuming role in this town and the surrounding beachfront neighborhood. There are few visitors to the monastery on most days and life inside is very quiet. Sister Sue said that the Carmelites' new homes are not likely to offer the same opportunity for silent reflection.

"We're used to living a monastic lifestyle," she said. "It's a life of prayer."

In their letter, the Sisters offered a glimpse of what they hope they can find in their new homes.

"It would be ideal to find a place that allows for our contemplative life to have the space and support for prayer and Mass," they wrote, "but wherever we go, there is no doubt that fidelity to prayer will be upheld."

Sister Sue said the decision to close the monastery was made entirely by the Sisters. She said that while the building and property are owned by the Diocese of Providence, they played no role in deciding the monastery's future.

There are some people in town who are hoping against odds to find a way to keep the Sisters in their Barrington home for years to come. Jean Lepore has been a friend to the Sisters for most of her life. Her mother was very involved with the Carmelites and would bring Jean and her siblings to Mass at the monastery regularly. The connection has grown over the years, and when Ms. Lepore heard that the Sisters were planning to close the monastery, she hoped that something could be done.

Ms. Lepore said she would love to think that there may be someone out there who could support financially a renovation of the monastery that would allow for the Sisters to remain there while still having their health needs met.

"I hope that opportunity still exists," she said.

Ms. Lepore, a lifelong Barrington resident, said the Sisters have never asked for that type of assistance. They have taken a vow of poverty, shifting their focus away from worldly possessions.

"If people knew how the Sisters live they would be astounded," Ms. Lepore said.

"Where are they going to go?"

Over the years, the Carmelites have worked hard to maintain the monastery. They have renovated rooms and replaced roofs and boilers. They have repainted the building inside and out.

"We have been good stewards" of the monastery, Sister Sue said. "But it's getting old, like the rest of us."

Life in Barrington

Sister Sue said she had just arrived at the Carmelite Monastery in the early 1990s when she reached out to the Bishop with a request: She wanted permission to walk along the beach.

Normally, the Sisters remain inside the games of the monastery, but Sister Sue had seen the wide sweeping expanse of Barrington Beach and was hopeful to take walks along it. Permission was granted, she said.

Sister Sue said the people of Barrington have been wonderful neighbors over the years. When the Carmelites planned jubilees or other celebrations, people from town would always volunteer to help.

She said the monastery's parish, St. Luke's Church, has been gracious. And priests from the diocese visit the monastery regularly to celebrate Mass for the Sisters. In fact, throughout the recent pandemic, priests stopped by the monastery almost every day to share Mass with the Sisters.

The Sisters thanked the Bishop and other clergy in their event letter — this year marks the 90th anniversary of the Carmelites "being a presence in the Diocese of Providence."

"And we can't thank you, our families and friends, enough for the many times you have helped with jubilees, major liturgical celebrations, financial contributions, maintenance projects, rides to doctors and other appointments, sharing your life experiences and spiritual journey.

"We have been blessed with such good friends."

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