Nestled in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains of South-central Pennsylvania, our monastery was founded in the Catholic territory sanctified by the Prince-Priest, the Servant of God Father Demetrius Gallitzin.  Since the days of our founding in 1927, we have striven to be faithful to our calling as Discalced Carmelites by living lives of ceaseless prayer centered on love for the Lord and ruled by sisterly charity, humility, generous evangelical self-denial and strict poverty, all at the service of the Church. Supported by the exercise of the theological virtues and nourished by recollection and mortification, our sisterly lifestyle of friendship and joyful recreations balance with the eremitical way of life of the ancient hermits of the desert.

Characterized by our special devotion of our patroness St. Thérèse, our community aims to be true daughters of the Church and of Our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Jesus by living “the evangelical counsels as perfectly as possible.” Since its founding, the Loretto Carmel has been blessed to make four foundations.

We have been a member of the St. Joseph’s Association since 2010 and under the jurisdiction of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Washington Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary since 2021.