Traditional Pilgrimage for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Today the annual Traditional Pilgrimage took place which concludes the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patron of the Pontifical shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on East 116th Street, New York. Father Chris Salvatori was the celebrant of the missa cantata; Bill Riccio was the organist. In addition to the Latin chant, Italian and French hymns were sung. The devout, largely Haitian, congregation  processed into the church on their knees. It was heartening to see how this community has made the celebration of this mass their own! I had hoped, however, to see many more representatives of the New York Traditional Mass community. After all, Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of three locations (the others being St. Agnes and the late lamented St. Ann’s) where the regular celebration of the Traditional Mass in New York City first resumed in the 1980’s.

(Above) The sanctuary of this church is one of the most extravagantly decorated in New York. The holy image above the altar is currently being restored; a painting was substitued.

(Above) Cosmas and Damian. (Below) Our Lady of Monte Vergine. A sign requests: “Please don’t write on the statues.”

(Above) Up to the 1970’s this was one of the most famous Italian parishes in the city. Today other nationalities, such as the Haitians, make up the bulk of the congregation.