In 1913 it was clear that something had to be done for the care of the Italian immigrants who were arriving in such large numbers on the North Shore of Staten Island.  In those days Fr. Anthony Catoggio was considered pastor to the Italian-speaking population, but he had just closed the mission which had been established for them at St. Mary of the Assumption, Port Richmond, whose pastor was Fr. Joseph Campbell.  The other North Shore parish at the time was Sacred Heart, West Brighton, whose pastor was Fr. William Poole.

The Island Catholic clergy reached the conclusion that another Italian mission in the area was not feasible, since the poverty of the people would make expansion difficult.  Nevertheless, Fr. Campbell and Fr. Poole succeeded in bringing the problem to the attention of the Archbishop.  The situation finally resolved itself when Fr. Louis Riccio, then an assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Stapleton, volunteered to assume responsibility for the immigrants on the North Shore.

He located space for his mission in the West Brighton area, in a building owned by Dr. Louis Sirkus, a Jewish dentist, on the corner of Castleton Avenue and Clove Road.  It had previously been a livery stable, which also provided horse-and-buggy transportation to the Port Richmond Ferry.  Dr. Sirkus offered the premises to Fr. Riccio, rent-free for a period of eight months, after which the doctor was to set up his home and dental practice there.  The church's benefactor asked only for prayers in return.

Between 1936 and 1949 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel lost its status as a parish and was converted into a mission of Blessed Sacrament, where Msgr. McAuliffe had been sent as pastor.  Religious services continued to be held in both churches.  

Two Catholic churches in West Brighton have been combined into one parish, according to an announcement made today by Cardinal Hayes, archbishop of New York.  The Rev. Charles McAuliffe will serve as head of the new parish, which includes Blessed Sacrament Church on Manor Road, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Castleton Ave.  The merger will not affect the devotional services of the two churches.  Each will continue its present schedule of weekday and Sunday Masses.  
Fr. McAuliffe, present pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, will take charge of the new parish Saturday.  He came to Staten Island in 1929, when he succeeded the Rev Louis Riccio as pastor.  He will be assisted by the Rev. Vincent Julian, assistant pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, and the Rev Harold Engel, assistant pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.  
As a result of the merger, the Blessed Sacrament School on Manor Road will serve as the parochial school for all children living in the newly-formed parish.   (ADVANCE, 25 June 1936)

In the years after World War II, life on Staten Island underwent great changes.  Soldiers returned from battle, rejoined their families, and produced a new generation of "Baby Boomers".  In the early 1960's the Verrazano Narrows Bridge was constructed, making an easy connection between Brooklyn and the Island.  When the Bridge opened in 1964, many families from Brooklyn found it attractive to purchase property on Staten Island, and move their homes to another Borough.  Thus began a new wave of immigration -- not so much from foreign countries but from other parts of New York City.  This influx of new faces brought changes to the parishes of Staten Island.

In 1949 Mt Carmel was allowed to function once again as an independent parish.  Thirteen years after being joined to Blessed Sacrament, it regained its prior status.  The new pastor was Fr. William Brennan, a native of the parish.

Establishment of Our Lady of Mt Carmel parish in West Brighton was announced yesterday by Francis Cardinal Spellman during the celebration of his tenth anniversary as Archbishop of New York.  The chapel, as 1282 Castleton Avenue, had been combined with Blessed Sacrament Church on Manor Road in 1936, although previously to that it had been a separate parish.  The present chapel will be enlarged.
The Rev William Brennan has been appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church.  He spoke at all the Masses, introducing himself to his new parishioners.  He is a native Staten Islander, born on Taylor Street, a few blocks from the church building, and is a graduate of Sacred Heart Parochial School, West Brighton.  (ADVANCE, 18 July 1949)

Ill health allowed Fr Brennan to serve only three years as pastor, but in that time he renovated the interior and exterior of the parish church.  Plans to enlarge it were not realized.

The Rev William Brennan, 59, pastor of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, and a native Staten Islander, died this morning in St Vincent's Hospital after a month's illness.  He was born 20 January 1893 on Taylor Street, just a few blocks from the church.  Since he assumed the pastorate of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, which three years ago was separated from Blessed Sacrament Parish, Fr Brennan made possible a complete exterior and interior renovation of his church.  (ADVANCE, 19 May 1952)

Eight years after Our Lady of Mt Carmel was granted independence as a parish, the opposite took place at St Benedicta.  After thirty-three years of separate life, it was joined to Our Lady of Mt Carmel.  Due to the increased population of the Island and to demographic shifts, land was needed for public housing on the North Shore.  In 1957 Bishop Joseph Flannelly, Msgr Gustav Schultheiss, and the other Archdiocesan Consultors decided in favor of the demolition of St Benedicta's Church in order to make way for the West Brighton Housing Project, at the intersection of Castleton Avenue and Broadway.  St Benedicta's Church, home to immigrants for two generations, first as a mission and then as a parish in its own right, was scheduled for demolition in February, 1960.  

But the name of St Benedicta was not lost.  A new parish was created, a mother-daughter affiliation which united Our Lady of Mt Carmel, the mother church, with St Benedicta, the daughter church born in 1922.  The new parish was named Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta.  Father Charles Vecchini, administrator of St Benedicta's Church, became the first pastor.

Like Fr Brennan before him, Fr Vecchini recognized the need for a new church.  But he also saw the need for a school.  Since a church, though small and inadequate, was already in existence, he gave priority to providing a Catholic education for the children of the parish.  In the same year of 1957 he announced the purchase of land.

The Rev Charles Vecchini, pastor of the newly-combined parishes of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and St Benedicta's Churches, yesterday announced the purchase of land extending some 400 feet along Clove Road, from Castleton Avenue to White Place, for $150,000.  He announced at all Masses that the purpose of extending the property is to build a new school and a church hall, with the acquisition of buildings for a rectory, convent and youth center.
Groundbreaking for the new church hall, which will be built first, is expected to take place early next year, according to Fr Vecchini, simultaeously with building of the new school.  If funds are sufficient, a new church will be erected later.  (ADVANCE, 1957, date illegible)

On October 5, 1958, Bishop Joseph M Pernicone broke ground for the new Mt Carmel-St Benedicta school and hall.  Bishop Joseph Flannelly laid the cornerstone on May 5, 1959, as reported in the ADVANCE.

As hundreds of parishioners looked on, the Most Rev Joseph Flannelly, auxiliary bishop of New York, last night officiated at the cornerstone laying ceremony for Mount Carmel-St Benedicta's parish school on Clove Road, West Brighton.
The ceremony opened with a procession from St Benedicta's Church, along Castleton Avenue to the school site on Clove Road.  The banner of the Holy Name Society of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta, donated by Arthur Boehmer, was displayed for the first time.  Charles Lawrence was grand marshal of the parade, which included representatives of all parish societies.
Attending the ceremony were Borough President Maniscalco and Mother Aurora, regional mother general of the Pallotine Sisters, and other members of that order who will comprise the faculty of the school.
Msgr Paul M Andrews, pastor of St Rita's RC Church, Meiers Corners, who was the principal speaker, declared:
"Whenever we speak of a cornerstone, we must always think of Christ.  When we see it, our eyes see only a piece of cold masonry, but our faith sees the warm glow of the heart of Christ.  Since Christ is the cornerstone, then this is not just another school, another building.  It is a holy place with his Spirit hovering over it, where the truth which makes people free  is imparted.  Here minds and hearts will be instructed and trained, disciplined and sanctified, so that those therein might be rooted in Christ and built up in him, and strengthened in the faith, made steadfast and not easily moved from the hope of the Gospel.

"There has been a merger of the parishes of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and St Benedicta, a change of places and limits. But here, then is an added significance of the laying of the cornerstone.  As in masonry, the cornerstone binds the two walls together so that both stand, whereas without this bond of union each is insufficient and incapable of itself to stand -- so in a deeper way, Christ is the cornerstone that binds the two parishes and makes one of both."
Both Bishop Flannelly and Father Vecchini thanked the parishioners for their efforts and sacrifices in raising funds to make the school possible.
After the outdoor program, the gathering moved into the church, where a statue of St Benedicta, presented by the Men's Society of St Benedicta's Church, was placed on the altar.

The School, which the ADVANCE hailed as "one of the best on the Island", opened its doors to 283 children on September 14, 1959, staffed by the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate, the Pallotine Sisters.  It was completely equipped with eight classrooms, kindergarten, cafeteria, meeting rooms, auditorium-gymnasium, lockers and showers.  The total cost of construction was in excess of $535,000.  A few months later, on May 22, 1960, Cardinal Francis Spellman dedicated and blessed the school, and honored Fr Vecchini by raising him to the rank of Monsignor.

Just prior to the dedication and blessing of the school, Mass was celebrated for the last time in St Benedicta's church.  Even though Our Lady of Mt Carmel and St Benedicta had been combined into a new parish in 1957, the actual church of St Benedicta remained in use until January 1960.

During a Solemn High Mass yesterday, parishioners of St Benedicta's RC Church were consoled and asked to look toward the future growth of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Church.  The Rev Charles Vecchini, administrator, while offering the final Mass in the 34-year old church on State Street, West Brighton, said that "with the destruction of this church we will build a new church for the families of our community."

St Benedicta's Church will be demolished early next month to make way for the West Brighton Houses.  The 400 or more families of the parish will attend Masses, beginning Sunday, at Mount Carmel.  The increase in worshippers, Fr Vecchini said, will mean that the overflow Masses will be offered in the school hall.  The two assistant pastors, the Rev John T Servodidio and the Rev Cosimo Fazio, who also participated in the final Mass, have been reappointed to Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta, it was announced.
Also taking part were two former parishioners, the Rev Augustine DiBlasi, a teacher at Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, and the Rev Joseph Zammitt, a chaplain with the Archdiocesan Hospital Committee.
Prior to closing the church doors for the last time, Fr Vecchini foresaw that "a new a greater church will be built in three years at the site of the present Mount Carmel church."   (ADVANCE, January 1960.)

Through the closing of St Benedicta's church and the need to accommodate an additional 400 families in Our Lady of Mt Carmel church, the need for a new church became imperative.  But where to build?  As if in answer to the question, the year after the closing of St Benedicta's, the parish received a gift of land.  It had been the property of the Staten Island ADVANCE.

The two-story stucco building at 1267 Castleton Avenue, home of the Advance for 47 years, has been given to Mt Carmel-St Benedicta RC Church, which is situated just across the street.  The gift, presented by S.I. Newhouse, publisher of the Advance, was announced by Msgr Charles Vecchini, pastor of the church.  The gift includes the building, a vacant lot behind it on Bodine St, and the two-storey house next to the plant on Castleton.  Church officials have not yet decided how they will use the building.  (ADVANCE, 6 January 1961)

Although parishioners had been waiting for a bigger church since 1949, and although the crowding grew worse after the closing of St Benedicta's church, the need for Catholic education continued to make demands on the families of the parish.  On the one hand, new classrooms were needed, and on the other hand, the Pallotine Sisters still had no place to call home.  Four years afer the opening of the school in 1959, plans were made for a convent and an addition to the school.

The parishioners of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta RC Church, were praised yesterday for their sacrifices in undertaking the erection of a new convent and an addition to the parish school.  The present school was erected in 1959, and provided education for 650 pupils.  The two-story addition, which will extend along Clove Road, will increase enrollment by a third and contain eight classrooms.  The convent, a three-story brick building, will be connected to the school wing on White Place.  It will have facilities for 14 nuns and a chapel.  Demolition work began today on two frame buildings at the corner of Clove Road and White Place, which had served as a convent.  The sisters are now temporarily housed in a former private home at 1836 Richmond Terrace.  (ADVANCE, 21 October 1963)

The parish, already burdened by the debt of the school construction, readily assumed more financial obligation, in order to meet the expected cost of $125,000 for the additions.

Gifts and pledges totaling $145,000 have put the expansion program of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Church well over its $125,000 minimum goal, it was announced yesterday by Msgr Charles Vecchini, pastor.  The campaign has been undertaken to defray construction costs of a convent and an eight-classroom addition to the present school.  Work on the new buildings in under way with the completion date scheduled for September.  John Bruno, general chairman, announced that a final report will be issued when workers have visited the 300 remaining families in the parish.  (ADVANCE, 10 February 1964)

Three months later it was possible to lay the cornerstone:

The Most Rev Joseph Pericone, auxiliary bishop of the New York Archdiocese, yesterday officiated at the cornerstone laying for the new convent of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta RC Church.  The ceremonies on White Place followed the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for a class of 140 in the church at 11 am.  Assisting the bishop at the cornerstone laying were Msgr Paul M Andrews, pastor of St Rita's RC Church, Msgr Pasquale Cannizzaro, pastor of St Roch's Church, Port Richmond, and Msgr Anthony Ricotti, pastor of Our Lady of Pity RC Church, Graniteville, together with Msgr Charles Vecchini, pastor, and Sister Louise, principal of the school.  (ADVANCE 19 May 1964)


Three of the Pallotine Sisters.  From left to right: Mother Mary Martha, Superior General; Mother Mary Gertrude, School Principal; Mother Mary Aurora, Regional Superior

At the same time, as the school was being built, the families displaced from the church of St Benedicta were making their home in the new parish.  Their church organizations continued to exist and to meet in the rooms of Mt Carmel.  One of the most active groups was the Society of St Benedicta.

The St Benedicta's Ladies Society of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta RC Church, will mark its silver anniversary tomorrow at a dinner in the Plaza Casino, West Brighton.  The organization, founded by some 75 women to honor the patroness of St Benedicta's parish, has continued to exist even after their church was torn down five years ago.  The parish was combined with that of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, but the same group of women, now numbering 35, still continued to operate.  It is headed by Mrs Victoria Mezzacappa, president for 25 years, whose staff has served for just as many years:  Mrs Stella DeMartinis, vice-president; Mrs Filomena DeCelia, secretary; and Mrs Michael Iosue, treasurer.
"Everyone threatened to quit the organization if I didn't continue to serve as president, so that's why I'm still doing the job today," Mrs Mezzacappa explained.
Present at tomorrow's celebration will be Msgr Charles Vecchini, pastor, and Fr Cosimo Fazio, moderator.  (ADVANCE 30 April 1965)

Fr Vecchini had not forgotten the promise which he made in 1957 and again in 1960: The parish would have a new church.  Plans were made to tear down the old church and to erect a new church on the same spot.  In this way the church would be situated next to the school, and both would share the same campus.  The cover of the church bulletin (from November 1966, a month before the fire) bears an architectural sketch of the new church, in a somewhat modified Romanesque style.

Two events intervened, however, to change both the location and the style of the church.

In 1965 the Second Vatican Council came to end, and introduced many changes into the life of the Catholic Church.  One of the most obvious changes took place in the celebration of the Eucharist.  English replaced Latin as the language of the liturgy, and the altar was placed nearer to the congregation, with the priest facing the people.  This meant that church architecture, including the plans for Mt Carmel church, underwent major development to accommodate the changes of Vatican II.

Secondly, a sudden and terrible fire struck Mt Carmel church during the night of 8 December 1966.  Everything was destroyed.  Everything went up in smoke, including the plans for a church next to the school.

Please click on the links below to read articles and see pictures from the fire.

"Fire Destroys Mount Carmel Church."  Staten Island Advance  8 Dec. 1966.

"Scarred Statues in the Sunlight." Staten Island Advance 9 Dec. 1966.

"We'll Build Again, Says Burned-Out Parish." Staten Island Advance 9 Dec. 1966.

A week after the fire of 8 December 1966 the parish announced plans to rebuild.  Msgr Vecchini called for a building fund of $500,000 to replace the church, hall and rectory.  He hoped to add this to an anticipated payment of $180,000, the amount for which the church was insured.  "I think there will be a little struggle on this," Msgr Vecchini said frankly of the insurance settlement, adding that he hoped the insurers would agree that the old building and church hall were a total loss.  (ADVANCE, 16 December 1966).

It was expected that the new structure would cost $700,000 and would seat 600 to 700 persons, compared to the old structure which seated 250 persons and required the celebration of Mass in two locations.  If there were money left over from the building fund it would be used to repay a $300,000 loan which the parish had taken from the New York Archdiocese for the construction of the parish school.

The plan for a new church called for a structure on the same site, to be built in a "simple, modest" style.  In January 1967 Msgr Vecchini said: "The new church must be within the means of its parishioners, but must be adequate for parish needs."  He called attention to the need to begin immediately, for the parish had lost its spiritual home.  (ADVANCE, 10 January 1967).

In February 1967 the campaign to rebuild the church was announced from the pulpit and in the pages of the ADVANCE.

For the past two months, 1,200 Island families have been forced to worship their God beneath the basketball backboards and hoops of a school gymnasium.  The combination gymnasium-auditorium, designed originally for use by the 800 pupils of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta School, is now the sole place for parishioners to participate in religious services.  This has been the situation since December 8, when Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta church was totally destroyed by fire.
"It's a tremendous problem", said Msgr Charles Vecchini, pastor.  He said that the auditorium, with its rows of uncomfortable folding chairs, has to be changed "a dozen times a week" in order to provide for the various services that are the core of parish life.
To carry out the building program, Msgr Vecchini recently announced a fund-raising campaign.  He said the drive, scheduled to begin February 21 with the aid of 150 volunteers, has a minimum goal of $200,000.  In making the announcement, he thanked parishioners for their past generosity, and expressed confidence that they will support the drive.
Arthur Sullivan is chairman of the campaign committee.  He will be assisted by John J. Bruno.  Joseph Conti will serve as special gifts chairman with the aid of Charles Murphy.  All are parishioners of Mt Carmel.
The design of the church is still in the planning stage.  Msgr Vecchini said he hopes to have the new church finished in 1968.  He said, "We need the church so badly.  The existing conditions have made it very difficult to function as a parish."  (ADVANCE, 14 Feb 1967)

In that same month of February 1967 Msgr Vecchini spoke at all Masses and sent a letter to all parishioners.

My dear parishioners:
We suffered a serious blow in the parish when our venerable church and hall was destroyed by fire over a month ago.  It had served its purpose well over the years, but it was evident to all that it had to be replaced.  Other needs delayed its priority, but now the erection of a new church has become of immediate necessity.
We have been pleased by the response of our friends on Staten Island, who have voluntarily offered us financial assistance.  Yet, burdened by our existing debt of $277,000, I am sure that all of you realize that a new church is a costly venture.  We must once again undertake financial sacrifice to realize a fitting House of God.  Therefore, we are launching a capital campaign among our parishioners to realize a minimum of $200,000.  Your generosity and sacrifice in the past stirs confidence in me that this challenge will be met.
I would be pleased to discuss our plans with you personally, but you can appreciate that my parish duties would not make this possible.  So, in a short time, two of your fellow parishioners will call upon you to discuss this program and accept your pledge.  I am certain that you will receive them cordially.
Assuring you of my prayers, and with humble thanks for your cooperation,

I am sincerely yours in Christ,

Msgr Charles J Vecchini, pastor.

Within a month $117,000 had already been raised.  Indeed, the response to Msgr Vecchini's appeal was so generous that it was possible to break ground for the new church in December, exactly one year after the fire.  However, in the intervening months the original plans were altered.  Instead of building a new church on the site of the old one, it was decided to move across the street, and place the building on the site of the old ADVANCE building, at the corner of Castleton Ave and Bodine Street.  The site of the old church would be used as a parking lot for the church and the school.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for a new church and rectory of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta RC Parish will take place on Friday, December 8, exactly one year after a raging four-alarm fire gutted the parish's edifice.  The blaze, which apparently was started by burglars during the night, destroyed the church, and for the past year services have been held in the parish school gymnasium.  Ceremonies Friday will include a concelebrated Mass at 12:15 pm, followed by the groundbreaking.  Bishop George Guilfoyle, episcopal vicar of Staten Island, will officiate.

The new structure, to be built on the site of the old Advance building at Castleton Ave and Bodine St, will have a church with a seating capacity of 600 and a connecting rectory for three priests.  The church will include a large number of stained glass windows, and a Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.  One of the windows and an outside shrine will be dedicated to St Benedicta.


Msgr Vecchini, pastor, said, "The building is designed to be as simple as possible, while also expressive of a church that will lift the people's hearts up to God."  He added that the parish hopes it can celebrate the first Mass in the new church on the second anniversary of the fire.  (ADVANCE, 6 December 1967)

Great progress was being made, but it was not possible to use the church on the second anniversary of the fire.  Rather, on that date, 8 December 1968, the cornerstone was laid.

At 4:00 pm parishioners from Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Church will take part in laying the church's cornerstone on the second anniversary of a devastating fire which razed their old building.  Msgr Gustav Schultheiss, episcopal vicar of the Bronx, and former pastor of St Peter's Church, New Brighton, will preside at the event, assisted by the Rev Cosimo Fazio, assistant pastor at OLMC and the Rev John Servodidio, director of family services for Catholic Charities.  

A concelebrated Mass will follow at 4:45 pm.  Msgr Charles Vecchini, pastor, will be the main celebrant, with these concelebrants: Msgr Louis A Martorella, pastor of Assumption Church, the Rev Augustine DiBlasi of Archbishop Stepinac High School, the Rev Patrick Walsh of the Greymoor Friars, and Msgr Paul Andrews, pastor of St Rita's Church.  The Rev Philip Franceschini, assistant pastor of Mount Carmel, will be master of ceremonies.
Although parishioners were hopeful that they would be in their new building by this time, occupancy will not be possible until the Spring.  The service will be held, instead, in the school auditorium.   (ADVANCE, 9 Dec 1968)

Despite the enthusiasm of the parishioners and the zeal of Msgr Vecchini, the actual construction of the church took longer than expected.  It was not ready for use in the Spring of 1969, as had been hoped, but it was open for use in the early winter -- indeed on the third anniversary of the fire.  By December 1969 the church could be used, although not yet officially dedicated, and the parish priests moved into their new home.  They were given a warm welcome by the parish societies, including the St Benedicta Society and the Altar-Rosary Society.

Three years ago a raging four-alarm fire gutted OLMC RC Church in West Brighton, destroying the $500,000 church and rectory.  Shortly after the fire Msgr Charles Vecchini, then and now pastor of the North Shore church, predicted that the parish would start over again, although little was salvaged from the fire.  Exactly a year after the fire, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for a new church and rectory on the site of the old Advance building at Castleton Ave and Bodine St.
This past week, the combined societies of the parish -- including the Parents' Guild, the Holy Name Society, the Altar-Rosary Society, the St Benedicta Society and the youth organization -- staged a parish housewarming for the new rectory, which is now 90% completed.  Three parish priests moved into the rectory on December 16.  Furnishings are still being brought into the building, which is a two-storey structure containing an administration office, kitchen, dining room, two guest rooms and quarters for three priests.  The parish is using its new church building also, but it has not yet been formally dedicated.  (ADVANCE, 10 January 1970)

With great joy and profound thanks to God the new church was consecrated and dedicated by Cardinal Terence Cooke on 8 May 1970.

"Everybody is filled with joy after many days of sorrow."  These were the words of Terence Cardinal Cooke, archbishop of New York, aptly describing the feelings of parishioners at yesterday's dedication of the new Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Church and rectory.  
Participants in yesterday's ceremony, in addition to Cardinal Cooke, were the church's pastor, Msgr Charles Vecchini, Msgr John Haverty of Blessed Sacrament RC Church, Msgr Paul Andrews of St Rita's RC Church, and Msgr Andrew Quinn, epsicopal vicar of Staten Island and pastor of Sacred Heart RC Church, West Brighton.   (ADVANCE 9 May 1970)

Monsignor Vecchini served as pastor for seventeen years.  In 1957 he had become the first pastor of the new parish -- Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta -- which bore the names of the two previous parishes, both founded by Fr Riccio.  It was while Msgr Vecchini was pastor that Mt Carmel-St Benedicta School was built, an addition to the school was built, a convent was built, and after the fire of 1966 the new church and rectory were built.  In 1974, after many years of tireless dedication to the parish, Msgr Vecchini died.

Upon his death, Msgr Joseph Santulin was installed as pastor of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Church, where he served until his retirement in 1990.  (He previously had served as assistant pastor at St Mary of the Assumption, 1949-1951.)

In July 1990 Cardinal O'Connor invited the Trinitarian Fathers to undertake the administration of the parish.  For the first time since 1913 the parish was placed under the direction of the members of a religious order, and not the priests from the Archdiocese of New York.  Fr Wes Lamb O.SS.T. became the pastor, and Fr Carl Pfeiffer O.SS.T.  was his assistant.  The following year a campaign was begun for the renovation of the church.  

In 1993 Fr David Colella O.SS.T.  became pastor, and in that year the 80th anniversary of the parish was celebrated.  As part of the celebration three objects which survived the fire of 1966 were brought to the church.

The first was a crucifix which used to hang in the sanctuary of the old church.  Although it was somewhat burned and dirtied, it escaped complete destruction.  It was left in its charred condition to remind people of the tragedy, and of the strength and hope which God alone can give at a time of crisis.  It now hangs in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.

The second was a statue of St Joseph, which stood in the church and escaped the flames.  It was rescued by the DeNora family, was cleaned and restored, and now stands in the new church, near the organ.

The third was a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which also survived the destruction of the fire.  It was saved by the Fallacara family and restored.  It now stands in the sanctuary of the new church, on the Castleton Avenue side (while a statue of St Benedicta stands on the opposite side.)
 
Parishioners and friends of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Church gathered yesterday to witness the dedication of the parish's patroness statue.  The Rev David Colella, pastor, celebrated the 11:30 am Mass, where the statue was crowned with flowers from head to toe.
The statue made its reappearance in the church sanctuary yesterday after being absent for 25 years.  It was badly damaged in a fire that destroyed the church's original building at the corner of Castleton Ave and Clove Rd in 1966.  "It was in such poor condition that it could not be on display for the parishioners", said Fr Colella.
After the fire, it had been entrusted to Carmine and Catherine Fallacara by the former pastor, Msgr Charles Vecchini.  
 
 
Last fall, Fr Colella chose to get the statue refurbished.  He sent it to an ecclesiastical restoration company in Queens.  Although "we could have had a new statue made," he opted to restore the old one because of its authenticity.  
The newly refurbished statue was dedicated in memory of Mr Fallacara's parents, Vito and Mary.  The crown of flowers for Mary's statue was carried by parishioner Robert Stentella and placed by parishioner Jessica Martinisi.  
Church members were so pleased with the renovated statue that Fr Colella has contracted the same company to design a statue of the church's other patron saint -- St Benedicta.  The new statue, which should be ready in about a month, will be dedicated during a special ceremony.  The two statues will each adorn a shrine on either side of the sanctuary.  (Advance, 9 May 94)


The interior of the church was renewed, repainted and completely redecorated in 1996.  The twin statues of the patron saints, St Benedicta and Our Lady of Mt Carmel, are clearly visible to the left and right of the sanctuary in this picture of the church decorated for Christmas.

Fr Philip Cordisco O.SS.T. succeeded Fr Colella in 1997.  Fr Thomas Cerulo, O.SS.T. followed Fr Cordisco in July 2000, and then Fr Daniel Houde, O.SS.T. in 2004.  Six months later, however, in a sign of a serious lack of priests, the Trinitarian Fathers were obliged to leave the parish, and return its administration to the Archdiocese of New York.  Cardinal Edward Egan asked Fr Keith Fennessy to take over temporary management of the parish.

Rumors and fears began to circulate that the parish would be closed, or amalgamated with another parish.  In October 2004 an appeal was posted on the internet in order to bring attention to the problem and to seek a solution.  It was addressed to Cardinal Egan:

The Trinitarian Fathers of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-St. Benedicta Church will be leaving at the end of January 2005.  We will be left without any religious leaders for our church. Many of the 400 families in this church were baptized, received Holy Communion and Confirmation, got married and raised families in this church.  Many, still alive and attending the church, are members for over 70 years.  They have literally built the church with all their hard work and monetary donations. They have sacrificed to build the school and raised their children in that school. They have always participated in the Cardinal's Appeal.
 
We now face the probability of seeing all of our sacrifices being reduced to nothing by the closure of the parish, if we are not supplied with priests to continue the work that has brought our church to this point.  
We implore you, Cardinal Egan, to provide our church with the pastoral care that is needed to continue our religious serivces.  Do not close this church!

In June 2006 it was announced that the Jesuit Fathers of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus would accept responsibility for the administration of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Parish.  Two priests (Fr Michael Flynn, SJ and Fr John Hyatt, SJ) were already assigned to the neighboring parish of St Mary of the Assumption.  With the approval of Cardinal Egan and the New York Province, Fathers Flynn and Hyatt would assume the same functions at Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta, while continuing to work at St Mary of the Assumption.

Priests of the Society of Jesus will take over the administration of Our Lady of Mt Carmel-St Benedicta Church, which has been administered by the Archdiocese of New York since the Trinitarian Order pulled out in December 2004.
The Rev Michael Flynn, a Jesuit who is pastor of St Mary of the Assumption Church in Port Richmond, will serve as pastor of both parishes, beginning July 1.
The Rev Keith Fennessy, an archdiocesan priest now serving as Administrator of Mt Carmel will become pastor of St Margaret Mary's Church in Midland Beach.
Richard Nolan, a trustee of a scholarship fund at the parish school, suggested the takeover by the Jesuits.  He himself had long-standing family ties to the parish.  His great-grandfather, Azzaria Bruno, was a founding member of the church, and his grandfather, John Bruno, was a longtime benefactor of the parish and school.  In his name the scholarship fund had been established.  Moreover, Nolan sits on the Board of Directors of Mt Manresa Retreat House in Fort Wadsworth, and which is run by the Jesuits.  According to the Rev Gerald Chojnacki, Provincial Superior of the Jesuits' New York Province: "Mr Nolan made a compelling case that our neighboring parish of St Mary of the Assumption shares a common focus with the people of the North Shore of Staten Island."
Nolan said that Mt Carmel parish had many similarities to St Mary of the Assumption, which the Jesuits took over in 2002.  Both parishes minister to the North Shore's growing Latino community.  "You look at what the Jesuits can do for a parish.  They have a great deal of experience and expertise with inner-city schools, and particularly Latino ministry.  You take that skill-set into consideration.  And you gaze down the street at St Mary.  It seemed very logical."

While the two parishes share many similarities, the plan is for each to retain its distinctive identity.  The Rev John Hyatt would serve as associate pastor of both parishes, and Fr Flynn will hire a business manager to oversee the building and finances of both.  Jesuit priests will live in the rectories at both parishes.  Father Flynn said that he is looking forward to developing a lay leadership program in both parishes.
Father Fennessy said, "It's a positive thing.  Coordination between the two parishes will be be helpful to both of them.  It makes sense."  (Advance, 17 June 2006)