What We Do

      The Apostolate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown spreads the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular through various activities:

1. Retreats and Talks on the devotion to Our Lady of Mount: Conducting retreats,

conferences, seminars and talks on Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Brown Scapular, and Marian devotions which facilitate a closer relationship with Jesus through Mary.

2. Establishing the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Parishes:

This involves organizing the Brown Scapular Investiture and Consecration Formation, which prepares the faithful to wear the Scapular before, and investing Christ’s faithful with the Brown Scapular and Consecrating them to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This entails setting the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel across the country and giving spiritual and pastoral assistance and support to the Confraternity and its members. Thus, the laypeople are officially invested with the Brown Scapular and linked to the Carmelite family.

3. Establishment of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Seminaries:

The Carmelite Order in Nigeria has done a lot to train their young men in formation especially in the Postulancy and the Novitiate in the Carmelite devotions especially the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular. Establishing the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Novitiate Community and also teaching them different things about the devotion have helped their growth in the Carmelite spirituality and in the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular. We noted earlier, the Carmelite Friars are already teaching and spreading the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular.

    There is a great need for the Apostolate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Brown Scapular devotion and the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Nigeria, to urgently help in establishing the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular in our Minor and Senior Seminaries where our young men for the priesthood are formed. This is to make our Seminaries Local Centres of devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A practical way of doing this is to establish the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, of course, with the necessary permissions obtained by the Apostolate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Brown Scapular devotion through the National Promoter.

    As members of the Confraternity, the Seminarians will practice and promote the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular among themselves in the course of their formation, and among the lay faithful during their apostolic work. When they are ordained priests, they will continue to help to spread and propagate the devotion. Some of them may even serve as chaplains of the Confraternity, as it is the case in many Marian societies in Nigeria where the priests who are appointed as Chaplains were devotees in the same Marian societies when they were seminarians. 

   After the establishment of the Confraternity in the Seminary, the officers of the Confraternity   will be in charge of handling the Brown Scapular Investiture and Consecration new Seminarians may be invested with the Brown Scapular and enrolled into the Confraternity. In the absence of the National Promoter, the Priest-Chaplain of the Confraternity in the Seminary can preside at the ceremony of Brown Scapular Investiture, Consecration and Enrolment.

    It is the duty of the Confraternity to provide the Seminaries with the materials used for the devotions like the Prayer Manual, the Rosary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Books on the devotion etc. here, we call on all the members of the Confraternity to help in the sponsorship of the material.

4. Establishment of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Schools and Universities and other institutions of learning

        It is the duty of the Apostolate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Brown Scapular devotion as the devotion apostolate of the Discalced Carmelite Order in Nigeria to preach the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and establish the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Schools, Universities and other institutions of learning. The Apostolate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Brown Scapular devotion would always collaborate with the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, to achieve this.

     Like in parishes and Seminaries, the Apostolate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Brown Scapular devotion will ensure that the necessary permissions are obtained before the Brown Scapular Investiture and Consecration Formation is carried out and then Ceremony of Brown Scapular Investiture, Consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Establishment of the Confraternity in the School as well as the Consecration of the School to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

      After the Confraternity has been established, the responsibility of conducting the Brown Scapular Investiture and Consecration Formation so that new students may be invested with the Brown Scapular and enrolled into the Confraternity rests on the Officers of the Confraternity.   

    Investing students with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel benefits the students in the following ways:

i. Brown Scapular Investiture: it affords the students the opportunity of being invested with the Brown Scapular, which is a physical symbol of Mary’s presence in their lives and a symbol of her maternal help in attaining salvation as well as academic success.

ii. Consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Through the Brown Scapular Investiture, the students consecrate themselves and their studies to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This consecration guarantees them the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

iii. Marian Devotion: Consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel promotes a strong Marian devotion, encouraging students to follow Mary’s example of faith and love.

iv. Sharing in the spiritual works of the Carmelites: By virtue of the Brown Scapular investiture which links them to the Carmelite Order, students share in the merit of all the Masses, Prayers and spiritual works of the Carmelite Order.

v. Spiritual Protection: The Brown Scapular is a symbol of Mary’s protection and guidance. 

vi. Community and Identity: It creates a sense of community and shared values, reminding students of their call to holiness and service.

vii. Growth in Faith: It deepens students’ understanding and love for God, guided by Mary’s intercession

Consecrating a school to Our Lady of Mount Carmel can bring numerous benefits and outcomes:

i. Consecrating a school to Our Lady of Mount Carmel brings about spiritual nourishment and guidance, and blessings to students, teachers, and staff. It also brings about guidance for students in their vocations and life choices

ii. It is a powerful way of seeking the maternal protection Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the school. Hence, as Patroness and Protectress of the school, she guides and protects the school from harm and evil. She also protects students and staff.

iii. Consecrating a school to Our Lady of Mount Carmel makes her the intercessor of the school. Hence, the school both enjoys and invokes the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In this way, it fosters a strong Marian devotion, encouraging students to follow Mary’s example of faith, humility, and love.

iv. As the patroness of students, Our Lady of Mount Carmel inspires academic excellence, spiritual growth, and character development.

v. It unites the school community under Mary’s patronage, promoting unity, respect, and cooperation.

Any School, University or any other institution where the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is established becomes a Local Centre of devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a Branch of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It will be recorded in the National Secretariate and linked to the Sanctuary Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the National Centre of devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Thus, there is no need for the monthly visitation done by another Branch of the Confraternity. In case of a serious need, the Deanery President of the Confraternity where the Correctional Centre or orphanage is situated sends some Ambassadors of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to help them.

5. Establishment of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Correctional Centres (Prisons) and Orphanages

        The Apostolate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Brown Scapular devotion takes charge of preaching the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the establishment of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Correctional Centres (prisons) and orphanages. When a Branch of the Confraternity carrying out the monthly visitation to the prisons, hospitals, orphanages, feels that the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel should be established there, they should inform the National Promoter immediately. He is the person to obtain the necessary permissions to facilitate the establishment of the devotion there. Here, the Ambassadors of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Confraternity close to the prison or orphanage should play an important role. The Confraternity is responsible for procuring the Prison inmates with the materials like the Brown Scapular, Prayer Manual, the Rosary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Books on the devotion etc. used for the devotion.

     There are reasons for establishing the devotion in the correctional centres:

i. To consecrate and entrust the Correctional Centres (prisons) to the maternal care of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is because the correctional centres need the maternal protection, comfort, care and intervention. This is what Our Lady of Mount Carmel gives to all her sons and daughters.

ii. To give the inmates the opportunity of being invested with the Brown Scapular. The Brown Scapular, then, becomes a physical symbol of the maternal comfort and mercy, of hope in darkness and of protection from harms and of salvation. 

iii. By virtue of the Brown Scapular investiture and the consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, both the inmates and the correctional centres share in the merit of all the Masses, Prayers and spiritual works of the Carmelite Order.

iv. To afford the inmates the opportunity of cultivating the devotion the Mother and Queen of Carmel. This devotion opens the doors of the inmates to a deep sense of true conversion of heart. This turns their lives around especially in rehabilitation.

v. Most importantly, this devotion guarantees them maternal intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The following are the reasons for establishing the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in orphanages:

i. To consecrate and entrust the orphanages to the maternal care of Our Lady of Mount Carmel 

ii. To afford the orphans the opportunity of being invested with the Brown Scapular. The Brown Scapular, then, becomes a physical symbol of the maternal comfort and mercy, of hope in darkness and of protection from harms and of salvation. 

iii. The orphans gain the following from wearing the Brown scapular and practicing the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel:

a. Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Motherly love: orphans need the mother’s care and love so much. 

b. Maternal Protection: the orphans also need the maternal protection. Our Lady of Mount Carmel protects them daily and shields them from harm.

c. Sense of family: Mary’s “maternal warmth” and a sense of family.

d. Strength in hardship: Our Lady of Carmel guides them and watches over them in hard times.

e. Salvation focus: the Brown Scapular that the orphans wear helps them to focus their attention on salvation and heaven.

       Any prison or orphanage where the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is established, becomes a Local Centre of devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a Branch of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It will be recorded in the National Secretariate and linked to the Sanctuary Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the National Centre of devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Thus, there is no need for the monthly visitation done by another Branch of the Confraternity. In case of a serious need, the Deanery President of the Confraternity where the Correctional Centre or orphanage is situated sends some Ambassadors of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to help them.

i. The Annual Carmelite Pilgrimage: Organizing and hosting the Annual Carmelite Pilgrimage at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Nsukka. This Pilgrimage usually ends with the celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16. Thousands of Scapular wearers and Marian devotees gather at the Sanctuary for various spiritual exercises: Masses, talks, Reconciliation Service and Sacramental Confession, Rosary Processions, Presentation of Flowers to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, testimonies, and even book launches about Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular.

ii. Resources and Reflections: Sharing prayers, reflections, and materials to deepen understanding and practice of the Brown Scapular devotion. 

iii. Family Enthronement: Conducting Family Enthronements of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for those consecrated to her and entrusting the entire family to her maternal protection and care.

iv. Writing and Publishing Books: Writing and publishing books on the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular. This helps in spreading the devotion far and wide. 

v. Spiritual support to some Marian Societies: Offering spiritual support to the Marian Societies that use the Brown Scapular. This shows that the Apostolate, on behalf of the Carmelites in Nigeria as custodians of the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular, carries out the promotion of the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular devotion not only for individual members of the Church, but also among the Catholic Marian Societies that officially use and promote the Brown Scapular. These include:

a. The Confraternity of the Brown Scapular, that is, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

b. The Association of Mary Queen of All Hearts,

c. The World Apostolate of Fatima,

d. The Block Rosary Crusade.