Visit the Carmelite Campus
Over 40 beautiful acres of grounds, statuary, and holy spaces await your visit. Spend a day, a weekend, or even a week-long retreat with us and reconnect with God.
The Campus features several spiritual destinations and is the home of the National Shrine and Museum of St. Therese as well as the Society of the Little Flower.
National Shrine and Museum of St. Therese
The National Shrine and Museum of St. Therese is the jewel of the Carmelite Campus. Highlights of the Museum include several first-class relics of St. Therese, photographs of her, paintings of scenes from her life, a special Prayer Gazebo, and a full-sized exact replica of her convent cell which includes several second-class relics.
Mass is celebrated on weekdays at the Shrine building just across from the Museum and Carmelite Gift Shop. The Shrine features special prayer areas for the Infant of Prague and St. Therese.
Carmelite Gift Shop
The Carmelite Gift Shop is one of the largest religious gift shops in the southwest Chicagoland area. The Gift Shop serves the needs of the visitors to the National Shrine and Museum of St. Therese as well as retreatants at the Carmelite Spiritual Center.
The Gift Shop carries a rich variety of religious books, gifts, and aids including first communion and confirmation gifts. You can visit the Carmelite Gift Shop website or call the Gift Shop at 630-969-0001 for more information.
Carmelite Spiritual Center
The Carmelite Spiritual Center is a lively and vital part of the Carmelite Campus in Darien, Illinois. The Center has meeting spaces that accommodate groups from 15 to 150 people and overnight accommodations for up to 116 persons in 58 double rooms with private baths. Groups can also arrange for delicious home-cooked meals during their stay.
The Center is popular with organizations like high schools conducting Kairos retreats, church-sponsored groups, and other nonprofit institutions.
The Center also sponsors days of reflection, seminars, spiritual retreats, and other programs led by Fr. Robert Colaresi, O. Carm.
Please visit our site at carmelitespiritualcenter.org or call us at 630-968-4141 to learn more about how we can assist your group.
Carmelite Meditation Garden
The Carmelite Meditation Garden is located immediately adjacent to the Carmelite Spiritual Center at 8419 Bailey Road in Darien, Illinois. The multi-acre garden features a gazebo surrounded by a beautiful flowing pond.
The Stations of the Cross encircle the garden area and are accessible year around. Parking is available in the Carmelite Spiritual Center parking lot.
The garden is open to the public at all times. We ask that you call the Campus at 800-647-1430 if you wish to visit or use the garden area for a group. Please be respectful of the privacy of those who visit the garden for reflection and prayer.
Beautiful Prayer Spaces, Grottos, and Statue Gardens
The grounds abound with statuary and prayer areas connected by walking paths, surrounded by nature. Spend an hour or a day exploring these sacred spaces and feel refreshed and restored.
Visit Us Soon!
We are at Bailey Road and North Frontage Road in Darien, Illinois. We are conveniently located just off the 273B exit of I-55, 20 miles southwest of Chicago.
The Campus is also the location of a number of Carmelite offices including:
- Society of the Little Flower spreads devotion to Carmelite saint Therese of Lisieux and raises funds to support the mission of the Carmelites.
- Provincial Headquarters of the Order of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, a province of the Order of Carmelites (www.ocarm.org).
- Lay Carmelites, lay members living the charism of the Carmelite Order.
- Carmelite Media, the media office for the Order of Carmelites.