Sisters of Mount Carmel

What Sisters of Mount Carmel does

The Sisters of Mount Carmel (legal name: Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) is a Pontifical Carmelite women's religious congregation founded in 1833 in New Orleans, Louisiana, with historical roots to 1824 in France. The congregation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and sustains its ministries entirely through charitable donations, with gifts of $250 or greater qualifying as tax-deductible. It maintains an active community across three countries — the United States, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste — with apostolic ministries spanning Catholic education (preschool through secondary), healthcare (a diocesan hospital and mobile clinic), spiritual direction and retreats, and the formation of new religious sisters. The congregation is governed by an elected Executive Council led by Sister Maria Sheila Undang (Congregation President since April 22, 2023), with Sister Elma Calajatan as Assistant to the President and three Councilors (Sisters Mary Ellen Wheelahan, Janet LeBlanc, and Gina Yabo); Sister Lawrence Habetz, the prior president (2013–2023), continues as Development Director and editor of the triannual Contemplatives In Action publication.

The congregation's operating "products" are apostolic services rather than commercial offerings. In the United States, it runs Mount Carmel Academy (Catholic high school in New Orleans), Cub Corner Preschool, and the Pilgrim Companions spiritual direction and retreat ministry. In the Philippines — where the mission was established in 1962 — it operates Sisters of Mount Carmel Catholic School (preschool through secondary), Mount Carmel Learning Center, and Bagong-Silangan Learning Center; it has managed Holy Child Hospital in Dumaguete City since 1965 and runs the Mount Carmel Mobile Clinic established in 1978. In Timor-Leste, where the mission was opened in 2013 following a General Chapter decision, it operates Pre Escolar do Monte Carmelo (preschool, opened February 2019 in Zumalai) and a Formation House in Hera (completed 2018, approximately 25 minutes from Dili) for postulants and aspirants.

The organization does not sell products or services. Its entire operating model is sustained by tax-deductible charitable donations, with fundraising coordinated through a Development Office that issues quarterly Appeals Letters and triannual Contemplatives In Action publications. Vocation offices in the USA, Philippines, and Timor-Leste recruit and form new members. Communications are conducted primarily through direct mail, the website, and a Facebook page. No revenue, funding rounds, technology stack, or AI capability is disclosed, and the congregation operates as a private, independent nonprofit religious organization with no parent company.

Name

Sisters of Mount Carmel

Legal name

Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Website

https://sistersofmountcarmel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1833

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sisters of Mount Carmel is a Pontifical Carmelite religious congregation founded in 1833 that operates Catholic education, healthcare (a diocesan hospital and mobile clinic), and spiritual direction ministries across the United States, Philippines, and Timor-Leste, sustained entirely by charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education and Healthcare Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Religious education services
• Catholic education programs
• Spiritual direction retreats
• Charitable healthcare services
• Religious formation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lacombe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The congregation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization relying on charitable donations from benefactors. Donations support ministries, retired sisters' care, and mission work in the US, Philippines, and Timor-Leste. Single gifts of $250 and greater are tax deductible.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Sisters of Mount Carmel is a Pontifical Carmelite congregation of Catholic women religious that operates Catholic schools, preschools, learning centers, a hospital, a mobile health clinic, and spiritual direction/retreat ministries across the United States, Philippines, and Timor-Leste. Its ministries are sustained by charitable donations and supported by structured religious formation and publication programs.

Product overview

The Sisters of Mount Carmel is a religious congregation operating a diverse portfolio of ministries across education, healthcare, and spiritual services. Their educational offerings include Mount Carmel Academy (New Orleans), Cub Corner Preschool (New Orleans), Pre Escolar do Monte Carmelo (Timor-Leste), Sisters of Mount Carmel Catholic School (Philippines), Mount Carmel Learning Center, and Bagong-Silangan Learning Center. Their healthcare ministries include Holy Child Hospital (Philippines) and Mount Carmel Mobile Clinic. Spiritual services include the Pilgrim Companions ministry offering spiritual direction and retreats. The congregation also publishes the triannual Contemplatives In Action magazine and quarterly Appeals Letter. Donations are accepted through their online donation portal supporting various missions including Cub Corner, Timor-Leste Mission, Philippine Mission, and Retired Sisters' Care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mount Carmel Academy Catholic school in New Orleans, LA operated by the Sisters of Mount Carmel as part of their educational ministry.
• Cub Corner Preschool Preschool operated by the Sisters of Mount Carmel in New Orleans, LA.
• Pre Escolar do Monte Carmelo Preschool opened in February 2019 in Zumalai, Timor-Leste by the Sisters of Mount Carmel.
• Sisters of Mount Carmel Catholic School (Philippines) Co-educational preschool, elementary, and secondary school in Quezon City, Philippines owned and operated by the Sisters of Mount Carmel.
• Mount Carmel Learning Center Learning center in the Philippines operated by the Sisters of Mount Carmel.
• Bagong-Silangan Learning Center Learning center in the Philippines operated by the Sisters of Mount Carmel.
• Holy Child Hospital (HCH) Diocesan hospital in Dumaguete City, Philippines managed by the Sisters of Mount Carmel since 1965.
• Mount Carmel Mobile Clinic (MCMC) Mobile health clinic established in 1978, providing community-based health programs including training for health workers and mothers on nutrition, primary health care, and community organizing.
• Spiritual Direction and Retreat Services Pilgrim Companions ministry offering spiritual direction, days of prayer, weekend retreats, and presentations by certified spiritual directors.
• Timor-Leste Formation House Formation house located in Hera, approximately 25 minutes from Dili, Timor-Leste, completed in 2018 to provide space for postulants and aspirants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving communities in 3 countries through education, healthcare, and pastoral ministries

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Australian Carmelite FriarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided support for establishing the Timor-Leste mission, including the gift of a convent in Beilaco, Zumalai. Warm welcome and support from the friars helped facilitate the congregation's expansion into Timor-Leste following the 2009 General Chapter decision.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Medical Mission Sisters: A Catholic women's congregation specifically focused on healthcare missions in underserved regions globally, including Asia. Comparable as a faith-based healthcare ministry running hospital and community health programs in countries like the Philippines.

Direct peers

• Maryknoll Sisters: A Catholic women's religious congregation focused on overseas missions, particularly in Asia, running education, healthcare, and pastoral programs. Directly comparable as a faith-based nonprofit operating multi-country mission ministries including in the Philippines.
• Sisters of Mercy: A large Catholic congregation of women religious operating healthcare systems (e.g., Mercy Health), schools, and social services in multiple countries. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit with diversified ministries in education and healthcare.
• Religious Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary: International congregation of women religious focused on education and healthcare, particularly in underserved regions. Comparable as a Pontifical congregation with multi-country education/healthcare missions.
• Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception: Catholic women's religious congregation operating schools and healthcare facilities across multiple countries. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit with diversified education and healthcare ministries.
• Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne Antide Thouret: An international Catholic congregation of women religious operating schools, hospitals, and social services across multiple countries. Directly comparable as a faith-based nonprofit running education, healthcare, and community outreach ministries sustained by donations.
• Benedictine Sisters (various monasteries): Catholic women's religious orders following the Rule of St. Benedict, operating schools, retreat centers, and healthcare facilities. Comparable as faith-based nonprofits with multi-decade operational histories and diversified ministry portfolios.
• Dominican Sisters (e.g., Dominican Sisters of Peace): A Catholic women's religious congregation operating schools, healthcare facilities, and pastoral ministries. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit running diversified apostolic ministries sustained by donations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/379113655466091
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sisters-of-mount-carmel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sisters of Mount Carmel