Corpus Christi Carmelites

Mother Mary Ellerker inspired a small band of women to cross oceans in search of souls. She was a teacher, foundress, author, leader, and BOLD ADVENTURER. She is now known simply as our beloved Little Mother.

Clare Perrins was born at Handsworth in Birmingham in October 1875 into a comfortable middle-class family and was baptized in the Church of England. As a small child, she heard a conversation between her father and a family friend who mentioned that Catholics believe God is actually present in their churches. The little girl noted this and consulted the Bible to see if it was true. She then announced to her startled father that she wished to become a Catholic. Though her father refused her wish, she had made up her mind.

A determined and strong-willed young woman, at the age of fourteen she sought the advice of a solicitor and learned that if she left home and took a job to support herself she would be outside her father's jurisdiction. She then announced her intention to hire herself out as a domestic servant. To avoid the embarrassment that would ensue, her father relented somewhat and gave his permission for her to attend a Catholic School. She was taught by the Assumption Sisters at Kensington, and, at the age of sixteen, was baptized into the Catholic Church. So completely did she feel her conversion that she had her family name changed to Ellerker, after a renowned Catholic ancestor on her mother's side. A quote taken from the life of Mother Aimee de Marie, a friend and contemporary of her times, says "Full of ardent love and deep faith towards the Eucharist, Miss Ellerker had many great qualities... very ardent and full of sincere generosity, she was far ahead of her times".

From the very first, Clare saw other ways of apostolic service which meant radical change from what was then considered normal. The founding community reached towards forms of social work considered to be very novel at the time-- Clare was determined not to refuse any request for needed assistance from a priest. The women undertook such labors of love as motor chapels, sodalities, parish visiting, social and health reform efforts, distress counseling, and many others. The life of our little Mother and the history of the Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters is chronicled in "With God and Two Ducats" by Katherine Burton, and other publications such as "A Great Adventure".

Prayer for the Beatification
of our Mother Foundress
Mary Ellerker of the Blessed Sacrament

Father in Heaven, we thank you that you called Mother Foundress, Mary Ellerker of the Blessed Sacrament, to live her entire life in close union with your Son Jesus, through the generous outpouring of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for her faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist which bore fruit in her service to your poor and needy people, her dedication to the cause of unity among Christians, and her constant prayer for the priests of your Church.

We humbly pray that, as a way of fostering among us the many virtues which she practised, you may glorify her by granting us this special favor...

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

With ecclesiastical approval please report graces received to one of the following addresses:

Corpus Christi Carmelites
110 Lawrence Street, York, YO10 3EB, England

Corpus Christi Carmelites
412 W. 18th Street, Kearney, Nebraska 68845, United States

The Vice-Postulator, 5 Back Street, Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Carmelite Postulator General, Via Sforza Pallavicini 10, 00193, Rome, Italy.

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