Welcome to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol,
Rhode Island. Although our Church was founded for
and by the Italian Catholics of Bristol, Rhode Island
in 1917, who began a feast in honor of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel in 1899, our parishioners now are of
many heritages, many finding their family roots immersed
in Italian culture. Our Pastor, the Reverend Henry
P Zinno Jr.
and our Assistant Pastor, the Reverend Dean P. Perri,
welcome all to visit our website, visit our Parish
in person, and to attend Holy Mass.
A
Tour of OLMC Church
Upon walking into the
foyer of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol,
Rhode Island, there is of course a statue of Our Lady
holding Baby Jesus.
Upon going through the doors into the church
itself is a beautifully created place of worship
wherein you obtain an instant feeling of peace,
serenity and beauty.
This most especially
is the case upon entering on a weekday in the
morning or early afternoon hours when the Church
is empty, the altar is dimly lit and the candles
are aglow. You cannot help but be instantaneously
mesmerized by the Crucifix hung on the marble
wall beyond the altar and above the elegant golden
tabernacle.
As you look upon our Savior, your eyes immediately
are brought up to the angels adorning the stained
glass window above the Crucifix. This is but
one of the many intricately designed stained
glass windows that proudly enhance the beauty
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
If you were to visually tour the
Church from this point in a clockwise direction, you
would behold many statues and burning candles in our
statue room as well as an outstanding array of stained
glass windows. Between these lovely windows are the
plaques depicting the Stations of the Cross. (*Acknowledgments
are noted at the very end of the tour.)
St. Anthony of Padua is one of the
most famous disciples of St. Francis of Assisi. He
was a famous preacher with great charisma impressed
upon by the Holy Spirit. When he spoke, sinners would
fall to their knees. Saint Anthony was a worker of
miracles in his own day. He is associated with the
return of lost objects. He is also the patron of Portugal,
travelers, shipwrecks, barren women, infertility,
spinsters, harvests, starving and the poor. The lily
he carries symbolizes purity, innocence and integrity
and has been associated with the Virgin Mary and other
virgin saints. Holding the baby Jesus symbolizes his
empowerment of honor and trust.
St. Lucy was renowned for her dazzling
eyes, which she once plucked out herself and sent
to a lustful suitor on a platter in an attempt to
convert him. She succeeded and legend has it that
her eyes grew back more beautiful than before. Outraged
because Lucy gave her family's fortune to charity,
her fiancée betrayed her as a Christian to
the authorities. They tried unsuccessfully to deflower
her in a whorehouse and burn her at the stake. In
the end, she was killed with a sword through the neck.
St. Lucy is also the patron of gondoliers, glaziers,
lamplighters, writers, salespersons and peddlers.
People call upon her in prayer for dysentery, eye-disease,
hemorrhage and throat disease.
Saint Francis, born in Assisi, Italy
in 1182, lived and preached a life of poverty and
love of God to all men. The official Franciscan garb
worn by St. Francis was a gardener's cloak given to
him when he was in need of clothing by the Bishop
of Assisi. He traveled and preached against extravagance
and performed a variety of miracles; such as, walking
through fire, taming wild animals and preaching to
birds, who then flew and spread his message to the
four corners of the world. He founded the Franciscan
order, encouraging the friars to always take the last
and lowest place. Anyone wishing to join the order
was asked to give up all their worldly possessions
and live a life of absolute poverty and abstention.
Francis was the first person ever to receive the stigmata,
the five wounds of Christ, which he suffered from
for the rest of his life. He died in the company of
his good friend St. Clare (with whom he founded the
Order of the Poor Clares and the Third Order for lay
people). Despite his request for a pauper's grave,
he was buried in a lavish basilica. St. Francis is
also the patron of Italy, catholic action and tapestry
makers.
Prayer to
St. Francis of Assisi
O God, who, through the
merits of blessed Francis, didst give increase to
Thy Church, by enriching her with new offspring
grant us, that following his example we may despise
earthly goods and ever rejoice in partaking of Thy
heavenly gifts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy
Son, Who lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St.
Therese of the Little Flower (St. Therese of Lisieux)
Patron Saint of
florists, France, Russia, pilots and foreign missions
(because of her dream to travel to Indochina, which
was aborted because of ill health); and she's invoked
against tuberculosis.
French born, at the age of 15, Therese
entered the Carmelite convent convinced she was called
by God. She lived a life of simplicity and humility,
total love and complete acceptance of God's will.
She was always performing little acts of kindness
and love. She carried the whole world in her heart,
always using Prayer and sacrifice. Her stubbornness
and strong willpower were her assets in overcoming
her faults and enabling her to grow in holiness. Even
when stricken with a terminal illness, she never wasted
time while suffering. Her autobiography, The Story
of a Soul, became a best seller and she inspired many
with her "little way" of finding perfection
in everyday things. Usually depicted with a bouquet,
she once stated that after her death, "I shall
let fall a bouquet of roses". She died at the
age of 24 and was canonized in less than 30 years
after her death, which is faster than any other saint
since 1588. Currently the Vatican Council II is reviewing
the lives of her parents for canonization.
Prayer to
Saint Therese
O little St. Theresa of
the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth
became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong
as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God,
now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues,
cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things
in your hands. Make my troubles your own - speak
a word for me to our Lady Immaculate, whose flower
of special love you were - to that Queen of heaven
"who smiled on you at the dawn of life."
Beg her as the Queen of the heart of Jesus to obtain
for me by her powerful intercession, the grace I
yearn for so ardently at this moment, and that she
join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during
life. Defend me at the hour of death, and lead me
straight on to a happy eternity. Amen
One
of the Seven Angels who stand before the throne
of God
St. Michael is
the leader of the heavenly armies in their battle
against the forces of hell and in rebuking the
devil.
Prayer
To Saint Michael The Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle, be our defense against
the wickedness and snares of the devil; may
God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the divine
power, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil
spirits who prowl about the world seeking the
ruin of souls. Amen.
Click
to Enlarge Image
The Stain glass in the Candle/Statue Room is Blessed
Pope John XXIII
Continuing
on from our statue room...
You begin your tour and viewing of
the stained glass windows. Guido Nincheri and/or the
Nincheri Studio in Montreal, Canada created all of
the stained glass windows located within Our Lady
of Mount Carmel Church circa 1967. Mr. Nincheri, a
master of stained glass, was born in Prato, Italy.
He studied painting, drawing and architecture at the
Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. In 1914 Mr. Nincheri
and his wife immigrated to Montreal. Guido Nincheri's
work graces the wall and windows of more than 200
buildings spanning nine Canadian provinces and seven
U.S. states. Nincheri devoted most of his career to
the making of religious art. There are few known examples
of his secular work, but one exception is the interior
decoration of the Roger Williams Park Natural History
Museum, in Providence where Nincheri lived towards
the end of his life. Considered to be one of the principal
masters of stained glass in Canada, he earned many
distinctions. On April 6 1933, Pope Pius XI appointed
Nincheri Knight-Commander of the Order of Saint-Sylvester,
thereby acknowledging him as one of the great artists
of the Church. In 1972, he was named Knight of the
Republic in his Italian homeland. Twenty years later,
Nincheri was given the posthumous title of Builder
of the City of Montreal. Guido Nincheri died in Providence
on March 1st, 1973, at the age of 87.
Following are our stained glass windows
along with a synopsis on each.
Patron of sinners,
contemplatives, glovers and female hairstylists.
Mary Magdalene, a notorious sinner,
washed Christ's feet at the house of the Pharisee
with her tears, dried them with her hair and anointed
them. Christ forgave Mary, and cast seven devils out
of her. She is considered to be the sister of Martha
and Lazarus, and is the one who anointed the head
and feet of Jesus at their home. She was transformed
by the Lord's grace and became a follower of Christ.
Saint Mary Magdalene was one of the few who remained
with Christ during His agony on the Cross. She visited
Jesus' tomb with two other women and found it empty.
It was to her that our Lord first appeared after His
Resurrection. He asked her to announce His Resurrection
to the Apostles. Mary spent the remaining 30 years
of her life in a remote cave, catered to by angels.
Prayer To
Saint Mary Magdalene
Saint Mary Magdalene, woman
of many sins, who by conversion became the beloved
of Jesus, thank you for your witness that Jesus
forgives through the miracle of love.
You, who already possess
eternal happiness in His glorious presence, please
intercede for me, so that some day I may share in
the same everlasting joy. Amen.
Pope St. Pius X was born in Upper
Venetia, Italy, to a humble peasant family. He was
ordained as a priest, became Bishop of Mantua and
was elected pope in 1903. He became known as the "peasant
pope", devoting himself to charitable work and
religious reform. He refused to consent to the separation
of Church and State and succeeded in raising the Roman
Catholic Church in the United States to exist independently.
Pope Pius "championed the cause of the Eucharist
by encouraging frequent communion and by admitting
children into the Eucharistic feast. Reforming the
liturgy, he promoted clear and simple homilies and
brought Gregorian chant back to services. He revised
the Breviary and teaching of the Catechism. Pope Pius
initiated codification of canon law promoting Bible
reading by all the faithful. His will read: "I
was born poor; I lived poor; I wish to die poor."
Many miracles have been attributed to his intercession.
Pope St. Pius X said: "If you want peace in your
heart, in your home, in your country, assemble together
every night and say the ROSARY". He died shortly
after the outbreak of World War I. Pope Pius X was
beatified in 1951 and canonized in 1954, the first
pope to be canonized in nearly 300 years.
Madonna Del Rosario (Mary
of the Rosary) (Our Lady of the Rosary)
Click to Enlarge Image Who
else, but Our Holy Mother, by praying to and through
her intercession are we able to reach Our Lord Jesus
Christ? What a beautiful gift our Holy Mary has given
to us. What a wonderful consolation to know that we
can be assured of Salvation by giving just fifteen
minutes a day to Praying the Rosary.
The rosary has been prayed since
the thirteenth century. While meditating on the life
of Jesus, one recites the prayers that bring one closer
to Him and to His Mother, Mary. Beginning with Mary's
unique cooperation with the working of the Holy Spirit,
the Churches developed their prayer to the holy Mother
of God, centering it on the Person of Christ manifested
in His mysteries. In countless hymns expressing this
prayer, two movements usually alternate with one another:
the first "magnifies" the Lord for the "great
things" He did for His lowly servant and through
her for all human beings. The second entrusts the
supplications and praises of the children of God to
the Mother of Jesus, because she now knows the humanity,
which, in her, the Son of God advocated.
The work of Pope Leo XIII in promotion
of the Rosary is a landmark in the evolving history
of this most glorious prayer of devotion to Mary.
More than any other pontiff, Leo wrote extensively
on the Rosary. In his twenty-five year pontificate
Leo touched on all aspects of the Rosary devotion,
centering on the concept that by using the Rosary
one could most efficaciously reach Mary, and through
her intercession, her son Jesus Christ.
St. Dominic was distressed at his
lack of success in his preaching in countering heresy
and in his desperation turned to the Mother of God
for help. She appeared to him (according to the tradition)
and said to him "This is why, before doing anything
else, priests should try to kindle a love of prayer
in people's hearts and especially a love of my rosary.
If only they would all start saying it and persevere,
God, in His mercy, could hardly refuse to give them
His grace. So I want you to preach my Rosary!"
When Our Lady appeared at Fatima, she told the three
children that "many souls go to Hell because
there is no one to pray for them . . ." How important
it is that we prayer the Rosary.
Another magnificent assurance of
Salvation is Our Lady's Brown Scapular. One of the
great mysteries of our time is that the great majorities
of Catholics either ignores or have forgotten the
Blessed Virgin Mary's promise that "whoever dies
clothed in this (Scapular) shall not suffer eternal
fire." She further stated "Wear it devoutly
and preservingly. It is my garment. To be clothed
in it means you are continually thinking of me, and
I in turn, am always thinking of you and helping you
to secure eternal life." To obtain the fullest
possible benefits from the Brown Scapular devotion,
a priest must validly invest one in the Brown Scapular.
Our Lady asked for this consecration in the last apparition
at Fatima, when she appeared as Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, holding the Brown Scapular out to the whole
world. It was Her last loving appeal to souls to wear
Her Scapular as a sign of Consecration to Her Immaculate
Heart. She said "dress them with the garment
of my scapular, and lead them to my Son, your Lord
Jesus Christ!"
San
Giovanni Bosco (St. John or Don Bosco) (1815-1888)
Father Don Bosco was a dedicated
priest who took on blood-thirsty revolutionaries,
the Italian government and his own archbishop in his
quest to rescue the homeless children of Turin. This
heroic priest's undying belief in the boys he sought
to help inspired them to fulfill their potential in
the Catholic Faith. Don Bosco's lifelong effort to
save the children of the street became the foundation
of the Salesians (Society of St. Francis de Sales
and later, the Daughters of Our Lady, Help of Christians
for the poor and neglected girls) one of the largest
childcare networks in the world. St. Don Bosco of
the Salesians had a very special devotion to Our Lady
of Mount Carmel and wore Her Brown Scapular. When
he died, he was buried in his priestly vestments and
Scapular. Many years later, his grave was opened,
his body and sacred vestments in which he was buried
were decayed, just dust, but the Brown Scapular that
he was wearing was perfectly intact. Pope Pius XI
canonized him in 1934.
Prayer to
Our Lady, Help of Christians (By St. John Bosco)
Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christian,
how sweet it is to come to your feet
imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children,
how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget
me?
Grant then to me, I implore you,
your perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now
suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to
the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally
thank you in heaven.
Maria Goretti was born in Ancona,
Italy and the third of seven children and daughter
of humble sharecroppers. She and her family moved
to Ferriere, Italy in 1899 in search of work. Desperately
seeking to support his family, Luigi Goretti struck
up a bargain to work with Signor Serenelli, who had
a son named Alessandro. The two families lived together
in a building owned by Count Mazzolini.
Maria quickly matured in grace and
holiness in the eyes of friends and other acquaintances.
After losing her father to malaria, she developed
great strength and maturity. Alessandro, however,
lured by the passions and nurturing of the dark side
of his soul, propositioned Maria on several occasions
and harassed her with impure suggestions. On July
5, 1902, he would be denied no longer. As she once
again rebuffed his sexual advance, shouting, "No!
It is a sin! God does not want it", Alessandro
lunged, stabbing Maria 14 times. After 20 painful
hours of suffering, during which she forgave and prayed
for Alessandro, Maria entered Heaven fortified with
the Last Sacraments. Her last earthly gaze rested
upon a picture of the Blessed Mother. Almost fifty
years later on June 24, 1950, Pope Pius XII stood
on the steps of St. Peter's in Rome and pronounced
Maria Goretti, a Saint and Martyr for her purity of
the Universal Church to half a million people. He
proposed her as the Patroness of Modern Youth and
set July 6th as her feast Day. Her mother, and Alesssandro,
her murderer, attended the canonization ceremony together.
Prayer to
St. Maria Goretti
Oh Saint Maria Goretti
who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate
even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and
sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity,
look graciously on the unhappy human race, which
has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation.
Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage
and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus
anything that could offend Him or stain our souls
with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in
temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and
the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert
intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the
imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen
Born to Zechariah, a priest in the
temple, and Elizabeth a cousin to Mary, John the Baptist
leapt for joy in his mother's womb at the sound of
Mary's voice, whom herself was pregnant with our Lord.
Jesus said there is not "anyone greater than
John the Baptist." A greater prophet has never
been born. John's parents were quite old when John
was conceived and the birth in itself was a miracle.
The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and said to
him, "...you shall have joy and gladness and
many shall rejoice at his birth, for he shall be great
in the sight of the Lord. He will neither drink wine
nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the
children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their
God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers
to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom
of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord. You shall name him John". John, the prophet
of hope, the precursor our of Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, lived and died to prepare the way for the
one coming after him, the one whose sandals he was
not worthy to unfasten.
John spent his time in endless prayer;
separate, alone, close to God. He drank water from
the river and he lived on locusts and wild honey.
He went barefoot, wore a robe of woven camel hair
and a simple heavy leather belt tied at the waist.
John preached in the desert of Judea, the "badland".
John called the people to come out and meet God. Many
thought John to be Elijah returning. Large crowds
gathered to hear his voice crying in the wilderness
to walk closer to God for moral renewal and baptism.
John told them Messiah was coming. John asked them
to share. John told the Roman soldiers to be happy
with their wages and not to take advantage of the
common people.
John baptized with water symbolizing
the washing away of sins, but he proclaimed that the
Messiah would baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire.
He preached "Prepare the way for the Lord. Make
his path straight". He was called "the baptizer"
because he wanted everyone spiritually cleansed in
order to receive the Christ." Finally, the day
came when Jesus joined those who wished to receive
baptism at John's hands. John claimed himself as being
unworthy to baptize Jesus, but did so in obedience.
When Jesus arose from the waters of the Jordan, "the
heavens opened and the Spirit as a dove descended.
And there came a voice from the heavens, Thou art
my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased". (Mark
1.11).
John spoke against Herod intentions
with Herodias and was cast into prison. Herod wanted
to kill John the Baptist, but feared the reaction
of the people as they regarded him as a prophet. Later,
pleased with a dance performance by Herod's daughter,
he told her she could have whatever she wanted. She
asked for John the Baptist's head on a platter. Herod
ordered that John be beheaded. Disciples of John recovered
his body and buried him. Jesus and the whole nation
mourned John's death.
The youngest of 13 children, Mary
Frances Cabrini was born near Lombardy, Italy. At
the age of 30 she founded the Missionary Sisters of
the Sacred Heart in an abandoned Franciscan convent.
Per the order of Pope Leo XIII, she came to the United
States in 1889 to do religious and charitable work
among Italian immigrants, with plans of her own to
later go on to China as a missionary. She became a
U.S. citizen in 1909. With great skill and energy
she established hospitals, schools, orphanages and
convents in cities in America and all around the world.
She died in one of the hospitals she established and
was buried in the chapel of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
High School in New York City. Pope Pius XII canonized
her in 1946 as the first American citizen ever to
be canonized a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
Patron saint of
a good and sweet death, because he himself died in
the arms of Jesus and Mary. He is also the patron
of Austria, Canada, Mexico, Peru and Vietnam. He is
the patron saint of family life, hand-labor and carpenters,
social justice and the Church.
Saint Joseph is the greatest saint.
He is of special interest to single people, because
of his caste life; to married persons, as Chief of
the Sacred Family, and to fathers as Saint Joseph
was the figure of God Our Father on Earth; to the
consecrated and apostles in his devotion to Jesus
and Mary; to priests, in his reverence for Christ
and to workers as he was a worker. Jesus called himself
the "son of man" in Joseph's honor. Leo
XIII offered St. Joseph as a model for fathers, by
Benedict XV for workers to be under his protection
and by Pope Pius XI as the pattern for social justice.
Prayer To
Saint Joseph
O blessed Joseph, faithful
guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, protector
of thy chaste spouse, the virgin Mother of God,
I choose thee this day to be my special patron and
advocate and I firmly resolve to honor thee all
the days of my life. Therefore I humbly beseech
thee to receive me as thy client, to instruct me
in every doubt, to comfort me in every affliction,
to obtain for me and for all the knowledge and love
of the Heart of Jesus, and finally to defend and
protect me at the hour of my death. Amen
San
Carlo E. Monsignor Scalabrini
Click
to Enlarge Image John
(Giovanni) Scalabrini was born in northern Italy in
1839. In high school he developed a love for the Eucharist
and a devotion to the passion of Christ. He became
pastor of San Bartholomew's Church in Como. At the
age of 36, he was consecrated Bishop of Piacenza.
During his 29 years as bishop his visited the 365
parishes under his care, half of which could only
be reached on foot or mule. He organized and supervised
three diocesan synods, worked to bring the Eucharist
back to a central position, dedicated 200 churches,
reorganized the diocesan seminaries and reformed their
curriculum. At all times he administered the sacraments,
taught the faith and devised educational programs.
His charity was abundant. He cultivated a singular
devotion to Mary, visited the sick and prisoners,
founded a special school for hearing and speaking
impaired and organized assistance to young rice workers,
to impoverished noble families and helped the poor
to the extent of selling his horses, his chalice and
pectoral cross which he from Pope Pius IX.
When he discovered people were emigrating,
he championed of the welfare of emigrants. Bishop
Scalabrini founded the Missionaries of St. Charles
(Scalabrinians), for the moral, religious, social
and legal assistance to immigrants. He later founded
the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of St.
Charles (Scalabrinian Sisters).
In 1901 and 1904, Bishop Scalabrini
visited his missionaries and the migrant communities,
first to the United Stated, then to Brazil. The Italian
and American press covered his three-month visit,
most notably his visits to the Italian immigrant ghettos
that had previously only received publicity for crimes.
His visit brought him to U.S. cities and Canada. He
visited Providence in 1901 where he was welcomed by
clergy, representatives and a crowd. He wrote: "At
2:30 PM on Saturday I reached Providence, the Capital
of Rhode Island, the smallest State of the Union.
The welcome could not have been more cordial. On Sunday,
Oct. 20, I solemnly blessed and dedicated the new
and beautiful Church dedicated to the Holy Ghost".
President Roosevelt acknowledged the Italian immigrants'
abilities and sacrifices and respected the workers
for their abilities and unending endurance.
Bishop Scalabrini's activities were
nourished by his deep devotion to Christ in the Eucharist
and to the Blessed Virgin. He always sought holiness
and invited others to meet it. Popes have called him
the "Apostle of the Catechism", "Father
to the Immigrants" and "Missionary Bishop".
He died in 1905, the year of the feast of the Ascension.
In 1997 at his beatification, Pope John Paul II called
on him as "Father to the Migrants". One
hundred years after his historical visits to the United
States, his invitation still echoes strong "Go
to every part of the world …because there you
will find souls who need you…they ask for the
bread of the Spirit and there is no one who will break
it for them".
Prayer to
Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini
Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini,
you were chosen by God to become the faithful servant
and guide to your people, the Apostle of the Catechism
and the Father to the Migrants.
Guide us in our pilgrimage
of life with the wisdom of your faith and the strength
of your courage. May we face our daily struggles
with the knowledge that in all that happens God's
providential love is at work in us. Lead us to fullness
of life in Jesus, to harmony with one another and
to openness and welcome toward our migrant brothers
and sisters.
Listen to our prayer and
entrust it to Jesus through the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary. Extend your protection
to all who live and work in foreign lands, to their
families at home. Assist us in sorrow and distress,
so that, free from fear and with a joyful heart,
we may give glory to God through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Your
tour would lead you back to the left front section
of the Church to the Baptismal Font and the exquisite
tiled wall behind it. Herein displayed is a breathtaking
depiction of:
John
the Baptist baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River
Your eyes then come
back to glance at the Stations of the Cross, the stained
glass windows and of course a picture of our Holy
Father, Pope John Paul II.
As you exit the door
into the foyer of the church, take a moment to look
to your right and view the stained glass window of
Saint Cecilia tucked in the side.
Born in Rome in the 3rd century,
Cecilia, raised as a Christian, dedicated her virginity
to God. Against her will, she was forced to marry
a young nobleman, Valerian. Walking down the aisle,
her inner voice sang out to God for help. She told
Valerian if he touched her that her guardian angel
would be angry and make him suffer. Valerian wanted
to see this guardian angel, but Cecilia insisted he
be baptized first. He was, and upon his return the
angel appeared and crowned the newlyweds with roses
and lilies. Valerian agreed to a life of celibacy
with her. His brother also became a convert and with
Valerian buried the bodies of martyrs for which they
were arrested and beheaded. Anti-Christianism was
rampant in Rome at that time, and when Cecilia refused
to denounce her faith in Jesus, she was sentenced
to be steamed to death in her own bath. Even after
adding seven times the normal fuel for her furnace,
she survived. A henchman was sent in to behead her
and chopped her three times in the neck. She lived
for three days, making the Sign of the Trinity with
her fingers. Hundreds who came to plead to save her
life were converted. She, her husband and brother-in-law
were buried in Rome.
Prayer to
Saint Cecilia
Dear Saint Cecilia, one
thing we know for certain about you is that you
became a heroic martyr in fidelity to your divine
Bridegroom. We do not know that you were a musician
but we are told that you heard Angels sing. Inspire
musicians to gladden the hearts of people by filling
the air with God's gift of music and reminding them
of the divine Musician who created all beauty. Amen.
Lastly, before descending the stairs,
look above the handsome doorway to feast your eyes
upon the stained glass window of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel with Jesus.
Thank you for viewing
our church. Having recently celebrated the 102nd Feast
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we leave you with this
prayer:
Novena Prayer
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
O Most beautiful flower
of Carmel,
Fruitful vine, Splendor of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate virgin,
Assist me in this my time of need.
O Star of the Sea
Help me and show me that you are my Mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
To assist me in this my urgent need.
O show me that you are my Mother.
God, our Father, never leaves unaided
Those for whom you pray.
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.
~ Acknowledgments
~
Many families/parishioners have graciously
donated the stained glass windows, the repainting
of the statues and the Stations of the Cross as well
as the restoration of the windows, the bell system,
the confessional, etc. Most will be listed below.
Our sincere apologizes are extended to any families
who have so generously contributed to our Church but
were inadvertently not mentioned within this tour,
specifically those who contributed to the exterior
window restoration, the bells at the front and rear
entrances, the marble in the foyer, marble on the
altar, the baptismal font and any remaining offerings
given on behalf of our beautiful parish.
Repainting
of the statues:
St. Anthony of Padua - In thanksgiving
of the many blessings and favors received.
St. Lucy - In memory of Guiseppe
R. Perroni Family
St. Francis - In memory of Frank
Cavalieri by wife Caterina
St. Theresa - In memory of Joseph
and Anna Russo and deceased members of the Russo
Family.
St. Michael - In memory of Fr.
Michael Sommesi from his family
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (both statues)
and Stations of the Cross- In memory of Mr. and
Mrs. Luigi and Angela Stanzione by Paul Stanzione
and Family
St. Joseph - In memory of Guiseppina
Catalano
Stained glass windows:
Statute room window - In memory
of Frank and Assunta Bruno by Children
Mary Magdalene In memory of Luis
G. Codola by parents, Gerardo and Maddalena Codola
Pope Pio X - In memory of T. Thomas
and Michael J. Balzano by brothers and sisters
Mary of the Rosary - By the Holy
Rosary Society
John Bosco - In memory of Alfonso
and Carolina Salzano by Children
Maria Goretti - In memory of Melina
I. Proto by Husband and Son
John the Baptist - In memory of
Mr. and Mrs. John Ruggiero and Mr. and Mrs. Matteo
Troiano by Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Ruggiero
Mother Cabrini - In memory of Domenic
and Philomena Sansone by Children
St. Joseph - In memory of Aniello
and Maria Carmine Maisano and John and Anna Maisano
by Grandchildren and Children
Bishop Scalabrini - In memory of
Adelina Balzano by Children
Saint Cecilia - In memory of Dora
L. Iannuccillo, Choir Director, by Dora Iannuccillo
and Choir
Our Lady (over front doorway) -
In memory of Francesco and Teresa Vellecca and Gabrielle
and Maria DeFelice by Mr. and Mrs. James Vellecca
Windows leading in Sacristy - In
memory of Carmela Lillian Pasquarelli by Family
and In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Mansi by Children
St. Michael the Archangel - In
Memory of Gaetano Murgo, by his Wife
Miscellaneous:
Front doors - In memory of Biagio
and Virginia Deltoro and John and Afke Melchers
- 1997
Bell System - In memory of Matthew
and Elizabeth Capone and Guiseppe and Pasqualina
Fusco by Children, Matthew A and Elvira F. Capone
Tiled wall with depiction of John
baptizing Jesus - In memory of Michael A. DeLeo
by Family
Confessional - In memory of Lucia
Romano Lasiello by Husband
Special Thanks:
This tour would not exist, were it
not for the hard work and dedication of Melanie Petit.
In my opinion, this tour itself is an incredible work
of art. One can only imagine the countless hours it
took to research and compile this beautiful tour.
Merely transferring her work to a web page, became
an inspirational and educational experience for me.
My personal thanks and prayers go out to her.
02809
Feast
Day: December 13
Feast
Day: October 4 
Feast
Day: October 1 
Feast
Day: July 22 
Feast
Day: December 3
Who
else, but Our Holy Mother, by praying to and through
her intercession are we able to reach Our Lord Jesus
Christ? What a beautiful gift our Holy Mary has given
to us. What a wonderful consolation to know that we
can be assured of Salvation by giving just fifteen
minutes a day to Praying the Rosary. 
Feast
Day: January 31
Feast
Day July 6 (1980 - 1902)
Feast
Day: June 24 
Feast
Day: December 22
Feast
Day: March 19 
John
(Giovanni) Scalabrini was born in northern Italy in
1839. In high school he developed a love for the Eucharist
and a devotion to the passion of Christ. He became
pastor of San Bartholomew's Church in Como. At the
age of 36, he was consecrated Bishop of Piacenza.
During his 29 years as bishop his visited the 365
parishes under his care, half of which could only
be reached on foot or mule. He organized and supervised
three diocesan synods, worked to bring the Eucharist
back to a central position, dedicated 200 churches,
reorganized the diocesan seminaries and reformed their
curriculum. At all times he administered the sacraments,
taught the faith and devised educational programs.
His charity was abundant. He cultivated a singular
devotion to Mary, visited the sick and prisoners,
founded a special school for hearing and speaking
impaired and organized assistance to young rice workers,
to impoverished noble families and helped the poor
to the extent of selling his horses, his chalice and
pectoral cross which he from Pope Pius IX.
Feast
Day: November 22 
