Our Lady of Mount Carmel - St Benedicta ChurchParish History1913 - 2008

A PARISH OF IMMIGRANTS

Mt. Carmel Church, corner of Castleton Ave and Clove Rd (the current parking lot)

Monsignor Charles Vecchini

• Pastor during the combination of OL Mt Carmel and St Benedicta, during the building of the school, during the fire which destroyed the church, and during the construction of the new church.

1957. Knights of Columbus lead procession from St Benedicta to OL Mt Carmel.

January 17, 1960: Last mass at St. Benedicta Church, corner of Market Street and Broadway.

Groundbreaking for school. October 1958

1959. The new school opens, staffed by the Pallotine Sisters.

1959. Cardinal Spellman blesses the school.

Msgr Vecchini with holy water

1959. Cardinal Spellman blesses the school.

Cardinal Spellman blesses a classroom, with Msgr Vecchini and a Pallotine Sister

1959. Cardinal Spellman blesses the school.

Cardinal Spellman blesses a classroom, with Msgr Vecchini and a Pallotine Sister

November 1966: One month before the fire. Even before the fire, plans were underway for a new church, to be built on the site of the old church.

December 8, 1966: Fire destroys the church.

Msgr Vecchini sadly looks at his fire-ravaged church.

• Charred chalices, ciboria and crucifixes, rescued from the fire, are examined by Msgr Vecchini.

• The crucifix on the left, now in our chapel.

• Ruined statues flank the wreckage of a side altar of the wrecked church.

• After the fire Fred Berardi hangs out vestments to dry.

Architect’s plans for the new church, to be built at the corner of Castleton Avenue and Bodine Street.

December 8, 1967Msgr Gustave Schultheiss and Bishop George Guilfoyle pose with Msgr Vecchini during groundbreaking ceremonies for the new church, exactly one year after the

December 8, 1968Blessing of the cornerstone for the new church, exactly two years after the fire.

May 8, 1970Cardinal Cooke at the dedication ceremony of the new church. Msgr Vecchini, the pastor, is at left.

1993: Crowning

• Rev David Colella watches as Jessica Martinisi puts flowers on the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with the help of Deacon Anthony Lagotta.

June 2006: Fr Keith Fennessy puts the parish into the hands of the Jesuits: Fr Michael Flynn and Fr John Hyatt.

July 2007

Parish Picnic Willowbrook Park

May 2008: Confirmation