In a renovated farmhouse near an orange orchard in a rural part of Sacramento, our Carmel was founded at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, 1935.  At the invitation of the bishop of Sacramento, Bishop Armstrong, the Carmel of Alhambra (southern California) sent a small party of five nuns to strengthen and support the Catholic presence in the diocese, to pray for his ministry and for the priests, to be intercessors for the people.  Against many odds, the foundation flourished and in 1954 the nuns built a more permanent monastery and new chapel.  Officially titled the Carmel of the Holy Family and Saint Therese, it was known as a place of tranquility and prayer by the people of Sacramento. 

By 1978, it had become dangerous to live there, and the nuns received permission from the bishop to sell the property and relocate “within a radius of 50 miles of Sacramento.”  Settling in Loomis, they searched for a new location, finally finding what they wanted outside of Georgetown.  Georgetown is an old gold mining town where people still park in the middle of Main Street.  With the acquisition of a parcel of land, the construction of the new monastery began.  The nuns were able to move in on July 30, 1982. 

We have belonged to the Saint Joseph Association since the early 1990’s.  It was our joy to come under the jurisdiction of our Discalced Carmelite Friars in 2005.  We strive to live our family ties with our brothers through visits, celebrations of the Mass, special ceremonies such as Professions, and canonical Visitations.  We experience that “together we form one family in the Order” and we offer each other mutual support in our cherished vocation as Discalced Carmelites.