Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

July 16, 2021

Dear Friends,

I'm writing this letter on the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and
pray that under her patronage, you may share the blessings and the
grace that Carmelites have experienced over 8 centuries of service to
the church and the holiness of our members living the common life in
prayer and contemplation. Following the example of Elijah, our
spiritual founder who found God in the gentle breeze, we also find God
in the gentle hand of Mary who constantly guides us to her son. On the
Cross Jesus gives Mary to us as he says to St. John, “Behold your
mother.”

Our parish life has been blessed in many ways during the past year. We
have been able to continue daily Mass and our ministry has held fast
on weekends with good liturgies and assistance from Father Ken and
Father Gregory. Numbers are still down a little from two years ago but
people are coming back. On Sunday, we celebrate our feast day with a
parish picnic. Over 160 have signed up to attend and the Knights of
Columbus continue to offer their support in making our social events a
time of community and celebration. I am so grateful for their
leadership, vigilance and willingness to lend a hand.

Financially, we fell behind by about $60,000 from last year for the
Sunday collection but I am hoping that we will see that number
restored in the coming years. Instead, we received approximately
$430,000 from wills and the sale of the old rectory that has more than
kept us afloat.

Our CFA is lagging behind a little bit. The report from the diocese
indicates that only 20% of our households have recorded contributions
so far this year. There are still 6 months left in the appeal and I
have faith that you will respond as generously as you always do.
Remember that if we go over our $247,000 assessment, the overage will
come back to the parish. Let’s look at it this way, the thimble is not
half empty, it is half full. Let’s fill it up.

I am sorry to tell you that one of the pillars of our parish is moving
away. Jo Kilgallon has decided that it is time to move to Virginia to
be closer to her family. I appreciate how important, but difficult
this decision has been for her but I will miss her. She has been one
of the true movers and shakers of the parish since its inception 21
years ago. For the first 8 years of the parish, Jo and her husband Joe
helped Father Lucas to establish the parish, set up all of the parish
programs and ministries as well as building the new facility. When her
husband passed away, Jo carried on with several social justices
outreaches to the community. Their accomplishments include the food
drive each month for the poor in Immokalee, a bible study group that
has met weekly for years, the moving force giving witness and protest
against Planned Parenthood and abortions in our community. She is the
organizer of our weekly hour of prayer and adoration of the blessed
sacrament, and a daily communicant who spreads the Gospel by giving
witness through example.

We will miss you Jo and your inspiring witness to all that is Catholic
and Carmelite in our parish. May our Lady of Mt. Carmel continue to
hold you gently with love and good health and guide your steps in
safety until we meet again.

God bless you all and have a good summer

Father Fred