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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About the Society
How long has the Society been in existence?
The Society of the Little Flower was founded in 1923 by Fr. Albert Dolan, O. Carm. Fr. Albert was a gifted preacher and prolific writer, and has been credited with introducing St. Thérèse to millions of people. From its humble beginning, the Society has grown considerably, and in 1998 received donations from over 230,000 households in the United States alone.
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How are my donations to Society of the Little Flower used?
Donations to the Society go directly to support the Carmelites of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. Through you donations, the work of the Carmelites can continue in many areas, these include:
The formation and education of future Priests and Brothers through our seminaries. This is both an expensive and essential requirement for those that are called to serve the Catholic Church of the future. The Carmelites currently have seminaries in Washington, D.C.; Houseton, Texas; Terreon, Mexico; and Lima, Peru. Special emphasis is being placed in attracting quality candidates with minority backgrounds, so that the diversity of the Catholic Church population may be better served.
Visit the photo links below to see the ways in which your donation enables the Carmelites to continue the mission of St. Therese and spread the Gospel of God throughout the world.
Carmelites serving God's people
Meet some of our seminarians and their work
Serving the poor in parishes and ministries that are not self-supporting. Many times in our economy, money only flows into those areas where the "Return On Investment" can be measured on a short-term basis. As a result, those people that need to know of God's Love the most are often ignored. Through ministries of the Carmelites, these often neglected Children of God receive important life-lines, and become self-initiating and self-sustaining.
Providing retreat houses for spiritual ministry to people hungering for God and meaning in their life. Spiritual retreat houses are not self-sustaining. However, without this important ministry, many lives could not be changed, and the spiritual lives of the participants would not be sustained either. The Carmelites believe that everyone should be able to develop their spiritual growth to their fullest potential, and they continually strive to do this in the most economical way possible.
Caring for the elderly within the Carmelite Community. When a man becomes a Carmelite Priest or a Brother, he takes the evangelical vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. There are no Pension Plans, company stock options, 401K's or inheritances for a rich uncle. They live their life serving the people of God. They don't complain, and they don't regret it. But, when they can no longer minister to God's people, they also do not have a bank account to rely upon, for paying life's continuing expenses. These senior Carmelites are treated with dignity and respect, and their continued care is made possible through your donations.
The needs are endless, but so is the wonderful generosity of the friends of St. Therese and the Society of the Little Flower. St. Therese wanted to go to the ends of the world to make God's love known. Through your generous offerings and sacrificial donations, the Carmelites are able to fulfill her missionary dream and preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
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Is the Society a tax-exempt organization?
Yes. The Society of the Little Flower is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, and serves as the major fundraising organization for the Carmelite province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. The Carmelites are one of the religious orders within the Catholic Church. All tax-exempt Catholic organizations listed in "The Official Catholic Directory" (published by P.J. Kenedy & Sons) have met the rigorous listing requirements of the Catholic Church. The Society's listing appears on page 581 of the 2005 edition. Our Federal Employer Identification Number is: 36-2174834.
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Where is the Society located?
The Society of the Little Flower has offices in the United States, Canada, and England.
In the United States, our address is:
Society of the Little Flower
1313 Frontage Road
Darien, Illinois 60561-5340
If you would like to visit the Society's office, we are located adjacent to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55), in the western suburbs of Chicago. From the Stevenson Expressway exit at Cass Avenue -North (exit #274) then turn left at the 1st stoplight (Frontage Road). The Society's office will be the 2nd building on the left, with the visitors parking area located right next to the building.
In Canada, our address is:
Society of the Little Flower
7021 Stanley Avenue
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 7B7
If you would like to visit us, we are located in Avila Hall on the Mt. Carmel Monastery campus. From the QEW, follow the signs for 420 to Stanley Ave, and turn left. Once on Stanley, drive through several sets of lights, past the Sheraton, Loretto Christian life center, and Our Lady of Peace Shrine (which is located next to the Mt. Carmel Monastery). The Mt. Carmel Monastery is situated at the edge of the Promontory, overlooking the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, and is a 5 minute walk from the Falls.
In England, our address is:
Society of the Little Flower
P.O. Box 830
ME20 7WB
England
If you would like to visit us in England, we are located in the town of Aylesford which is one and half hours southest of London and 12 miles from Canterbury. It is an old house that has been converted to an office and the building is called Grandville.
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How can I reach the Society?
There are several easy ways to reach the Society.
- If you are calling from the United States, you can reach us toll-free at (800) 621-2806.
- If you prefer to send us a fax, in the U.S. our fax number is (630) 968-9542.
- If you are calling from Canada, you can reach us toll-free at (800) 922-7622.
- To send us a fax in Canada, our fax number is (905) 356-6733.
- If you would like to send us an e-mail, it can be sent to webmaster@littleflower.org
- As always, if you choose to write to us, we would love to hear from you. Our addresses can be found in the previously asked question.
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Is the Society eligible for the Matching Gifts program of my employer?
Society of the Little Flower on many occasions has received Matching Gifts from various employer incentive programs. Through these programs, employers are encouraging their employees to help make a difference through their charitable contributions. Because Matching Gifts programs are administered differently, please check with your program to see if religious organizations are eligible.
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Has the Society received any awards?
Yes. The Society of the Little Flower was recently notified that our Web site www.littleflower.org has earned the "Fidelity Green Light Award: for Excellence in Catholic Fidelity". You can read our review on the Catholic Culture Web site by clicking on the image here.
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