our lady of mount carmel\Through the years

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 343 Via Mount Carmel St., Youngstown, is marking its centennial with the theme “Celebrating One Hundred Years of Catholic Tradition.” A Mass for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Day will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church with Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown concelebrating with other priests. The church mission is to provide quality sacred liturgy, religious education, pastoral care and hospitality; to preach and live the Gospel of life, justice and compassion attentive to the cry of the poor; and to contribute to our culture and the cultural life of the community.

1900s: The Rev. Emmanuel Stabile arrived from the Diocese of Newark, N.J., in 1908 to start Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. With leadership from Luigi Adovasio and Frank Zarlenga, Father Stabile initiated the first excavation of the church. Parish members worshipped at St. Columba Cathedral and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church.

1910s: Monsignor Vito Franco accepted the call May 11, 1911, to lead the church. The monsignor called a meeting of the leaders of the Italian community. Antonio Onorato was unanimously elected the group’s leader. The immigrant community was involved in the building of the church and on Nov. 4, 1916, the church was dedicated.

1920s: A fire of unknown origin struck June 12, 1923. The fire destroyed the Holkamp pipe organ, which had been donated in part by millionaire Andrew Carnegie and in part by the faithful. Also damaged was the church interior including windows and statues. A restored church was rededicated Dec. 16, 1923.

1960s: Under Monsignor Franco’s leadership, the parish flourished in faith. He died in 1961. The Rev. Henry Fabrizio, who succeeded Monsignor Franco, led the church to buy parcels of available nearby property. In 1963, Father Fabrizio and the congregation brought to completion a new rectory and a large social hall with classrooms for religious and cultural education.

1970s: A shrine garden in honor of St. Anthony also was added to the church grounds in 1971. Because of illness, Father Fabrizio retired from active ministry. On July 3, 1973, the Rev. Joseph Leo Iati became pastor. Father Iati’s pastorate brought the restoration of the altars, frescoes and the installation of a new pipe organ. The church recognized many for their contributions, including Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. and family, William Cafaro and family and Carmen and Rose Ambrosiol. On May 23, 1979, Our Lady of Mount Carmel was given special status and listed as an Historical Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

1980s: In 1983, the parish observed its 75th anniversary. Father Iati died in May of 1986. On July 1, 1986, Bishop James W. Malone named the Rev. Michael J. Cariglio Jr. as the fifth pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Monsignor Cariglio was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Youngstown on Dec. 18, 1970, in St. Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal James Hickey. He served as associate pastor of St. Patrick Church in Kent and taught in the diocesan high schools. Serving the diocesan tribunal since 1978, he became the adjutant judicial vicar in 1988 and is the judicial vicar. He has master’s degrees in philosophy from the Athenaeum of Ohio and in education from Notre Dame University, a licentiate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, and received his licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in 1980. He was named a Chaplain of His Holiness on March 23, 1997. Father Cariglio, working with the Parish Council, has continued the restoration of the church, extension of the St. Anthony shrine garden, the purchase and restoration of a building on Via Mount Carmel, which has become the religious education center, a memorial walk to honor our living and deceased parishioners and installation of outdoor Stations of the Cross.

1990s: In 1990, Monsignor Cariglio instituted Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which continues 24/7. The parish also dedicated a 10-foot statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which overlooks the city of Youngstown, in 1990 and a memorial walk in 1998.

2000s:In 2001, Monsignor Cariglio led the parish in its latest building project, the construction of a tower attached to the church, which includes an elevator and handicapped-accessible rest rooms. An ongoing program of improvements continues to beautify the parish grounds and landscape. In 2005, the duplex house that the parish uses for religious education classes was renamed and dedicated as the John Paul II Center. In 2008, a bronze statue of Italian immigrants was dedicated. Tony and Mary Lariccia of Boardman donated $135,000 for the statue created by sculptor Tom Antonishak of Poland.

Source: Web site, www.ourladyofmtcarmel.net and church pamphlet of history.