Carmelites seek to be contemplatives, friends with God, who form praying communities at the service of all God's people. Reading the signs of the times we are engaged in many different ministries of service and presence: retreats and spiritual development; parishes; prison, hospital and university chaplaincy; counselling; teaching and research; publishing and broadcasting; ecumenism and interfaith dialogue; and many other apostolates. We are an active partner in the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland (CIBI).