For me it was 10 to 14, dependent on the day, except on Sundays. But this was hard manual labor, not just sitting on a computer inputting data or something. But I was there when there was less work to do, now they have 2 businesses and building a huge monastery on top of everything else, with only 12 more guys. So it's probably worse now.
There was no time for mental prayer really except for 10mins post-mass thanksgiving. That is a strict Carmelite requirement that you are to pray at least 2 hours of mental prayer, this wasn't happening at all and no time was given for it.
Thank you for sharing your story, Ascetik.
It's a big deal, IMO, that there wasn't time there for the two hours of mental prayer, which is a Carmelite requirement. It sounds like they were more concerned with worldly matters, and neglected spiritual matters.
Since they are diocesan, could it be that the superior there didn't have proper understanding of the Carmelite order? Since Vatican ll, it can be quite difficult for folks associated with a diocese to have a proper disposition for the religious life (I'm speaking of the superior, or whomever started the monastery). That's not always the case, but often is these days.