About Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church · Denver, Colorado
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a historic Italian Catholic parish in the Sunnyside neighborhood of North Denver, Colorado, founded in 1894 by Italian immigrants from the Campania region. Served by the Order of Servants of Mary (Servite Friars, OSM) since 1904, the parish is the spiritual heart of Denver's former Little Italy and is home to the annual Festa della Madonna di Carmine, Italian-language Masses, and a long roster of lay organizations. The Romanesque Revival brick church, built in 1904 with twin copper-domed towers and a landmark statue of the Blessed Virgin, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Madonna del Carmine)
- Rector
- Rev. Chris Krymski, OSM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel offers parishioners a rare combination: a deeply rooted Italian-American devotional and cultural heritage, an unbroken line of Servite friar pastors going back to 1904, and an active working parish in the heart of North Denver. La Prima Domenica brings the community together monthly for a Mass in Italian followed by a Potenza Lodge breakfast; the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Altar & Rosary Society (est. 1918), Men's Club (est. 1953), Servite Secular Order and Young Parishioners give every age and talent a place to serve; and the parish is home to beloved traditions like the St. Peregrine Healing Mass, the Sung Rosary, and the annual July Festa della Madonna di Carmine procession through old Little Italy. Registering as a parishioner plugs you into one of the most historic Catholic communities in the American West — a church the National Park Service itself has called 'a fine example of Romanesque Revival architecture' with 'long-standing and ongoing cultural significance to the state's Italian-American community.'
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (the parish's official Confession page lists Saturdays at 3:00 PM; the home-page schedule shows 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM)
- By appointment (call 303-455-0447)
- Lenten Penance Service during Advent and Lent (private confessions from 11 AM – 4 PM offered annually)
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (at St. Patrick Oratory, 3325 N Pecos St., per third-party schedule)
- Annual Lenten Holy Hour with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (followed by the 4 PM Anticipated Mass)
Our History
Founded in 1894 by Italian immigrants and served by the Servite Friars since 1904, Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the most historic Catholic parishes in Colorado. The parish's interactive timeline traces every milestone — from Fr. Lepore's arrival from Cassano Irpino and the founding and dedication of the original church on March 18, 1894, to Bishop Matz laying the cornerstone of the new church in 1904, the dedication of Mt. Carmel High School, and the parish's 125th anniversary in 2019.
- 1891 — Fr. Mariano Felice Lepore arrives from Cassano Irpino, Campania, and organizes the Italian colony
- March 18, 1894 — Mt. Carmel Church founded and dedicated
- 1899 — Original church rebuilt
- 1904 — Bishop Matz lays the cornerstone for the present church; dedicated December 18, 1904
- 1904 — Servite Friars take charge after Mother Cabrini directs Fr. Tom Moreschini, OSM to the parish
- Mt. Carmel High School dedicated under Fr. Thomas LoCascio, OSM
- 2014 — 120th anniversary Mass in Italian presided by Archbishop Samuel Aquila
- April 3, 2017 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; special Italian Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez
- 2019 — 125th anniversary celebrated
National Historic Designation
On April 3, 2017, the National Park Service designated Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church (built 1904) to the National Register of Historic Places for both architectural and historical significance. The NPS described it as 'a fine example of the Romanesque Revival (architectural) style' that swept the United States in the late 19th century, and wrote that the parish 'exhibits long standing and ongoing cultural significance to the state's Italian-American community, and specifically to Denver's Little Italy, for its enduring, multi-generational traditions and heritage transplanted directly from Italy.' The parish commemorated the designation in November 2017 with a special Mass in Italian presided by Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez, preserved by CPT-12's Dominic Dezzutti.
- Romanesque Revival style
- Twin square towers with copper domes topped by white crosses
- Larger-than-life statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Large brick construction, completed 1904
Devotions & Special Masses
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, the parish maintains a rich devotional life rooted in its Servite and Italian heritage. The highlight of the year is the Festa della Madonna di Carmine in July, with a special Italian/English Mass and procession through the streets of North Denver. Other recurring devotions include La Prima Domenica (first-Sunday Italian Mass with breakfast), the St. Peregrine Healing Mass (second Saturday), Stations of the Cross with Soup & Stations every Friday in Lent, the Sung Rosary led by the Mt. Carmel Choir, and an annual Lenten Holy Hour with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Festa della Madonna di Carmine — annual Italian/English Mass and procession
- La Prima Domenica — first-Sunday Mass in Italian, followed by Potenza Lodge breakfast in Servite Hall
- St. Peregrine Healing Mass — second Saturday with Anointing of the Sick
- Stations of the Cross with Benediction every Friday in Lent ("Soup & Stations")
- Annual Lenten Holy Hour with Eucharistic Exposition
- Sung Rosary by the Mt. Carmel Choir
Liturgical Ministries
Lay parishioners assist at every Mass through the parish's liturgical ministries. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be at least 18, received the Sacraments of Initiation, and have their marriages recognized by the Church if married; they are mandated by the Archbishop of Denver for renewable three-year terms beginning the First Sunday of Advent. Lectors proclaim the readings and intercessions and must have a passion for Scripture. Altar Servers (boys who have made First Communion) assist the priest at Mass, and Ushers/Greeters — dressed in business casual — welcome the assembly, take up the collection, and assist those with special needs.
- Parish Choir (all-volunteer)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers (boys who have made First Communion)
- Lectors
- Ushers/Greeters
Parish Organizations
Our Lady of Mount Carmel has long been a community of lay societies and confraternities. The Altar & Rosary Society (est. 1918) is the parish's oldest organization and continues its original ministry of caring for the altar and fostering devotion to the Holy Rosary — today meeting six times a year with Corporate Communion, meal, and business meeting. The Men's Club (est. 1953) grew from the Mt. Carmel Father's Club that supported the parish schools, and now supports the annual Feast and La Prima Domenica. The St. Vincent de Paul Society (est. 2006) provides person-to-person assistance with food, rent, utilities, prescriptions, and spiritual support to neighbors in need. The Servite Secular Order (Third Order of Servites) and the Young Parishioners group (est. 2017) round out the community, and former students and catechumens maintain the Alumni Association (est. 2011).
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (est. 2006) — food bank and direct aid; 303-455-0447 x12
- Altar & Rosary Society (est. 1918) — women's society for altar care and Rosary devotion
- Men's Club (est. 1953) — Feast, La Prima Domenica, golf & bocce tournaments
- Alumni Association (est. 2011) — Grade School, Junior High, High School, Catechism, and OCIA alumni
- Servite Secular Order — Third Order of Servites devoted to Our Mother of Sorrows and the Dolor Rosary
- Young Parishioners (est. 2017) — college through young families
Sacraments
Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Confession are all celebrated at the parish. Baptisms are celebrated quarterly with a required baptismal class on Thursdays at 6:00 PM and a prior consultation with a priest or deacon (schedule with Fr. Hugh by calling 303-455-0447). Couples planning to marry should contact the parish at least eight months in advance. First Communion (and First Confession, received in 2nd grade) and Confirmation are prepared through the parish Religious Education program; unbaptized youth prepare via RCIC; adults prepare via OCIA. Anointing of the Sick is offered at the monthly St. Peregrine Healing Mass.
- Baptism — quarterly; class Thursdays 6:00 PM; call 303-455-0447
- Marriage — contact parish at least 8 months in advance
- First Communion / Confirmation — parish Religious Education
- Anointing of the Sick — St. Peregrine Healing Mass (2nd Saturday, 9:00 AM)
- Confession — Saturdays and by appointment
Faith Formation (OCIA / RCIA)
Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments join the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults — formerly RCIA) program. Classes meet Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Parish Office. The OCIA journey follows the classic stages: Period of Inquiry, Rite of Acceptance and Rite of Welcome, Catechumenate, Rite of Election (with the Bishop on the First Sunday of Lent), Period of Purification and Enlightenment during Lent, full initiation at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion), and the Easter Season period of Mystagogy through Pentecost.
- OCIA classes: Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Parish Office
- Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Lent
- Easter Vigil — Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion
- Mystagogy through Pentecost
- Welcomes the unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and Catholics needing First Communion and/or Confirmation
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Chris Krymski, OSM (a Servite friar), with Rev. Hugh Guentner, OSM, in residence and Deacon Joshua Knight serving as Pastoral Associate. Lay staff members round out the team and can be reached at the extensions below.
- Rev. Chris Krymski, OSM — Pastor (x24)
- Deacon Joshua Knight — Pastoral Associate (x10)
- Rev. Hugh Guentner, OSM — In Residence (x19)
- Gwen Berens — Director of Religious Education (x24, [email protected])
- Shaun Steavenson — Music Director (x22, [email protected])
- Linda Melgares — Business Manager (x20, [email protected])
- Judith Lochi — Secretary / Bulletin (x10, [email protected])
- Tello Garcia — Facilities Manager (x11)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 3549 Navajo St., Denver, CO 80211, by phone at (303) 455-0447, by fax at (303) 455-5487, or by email at [email protected]. Sacramental emergencies are handled through the same main number, extension 25. Newcomers are encouraged to register online through the parish's New Members page, where they can also inquire about Baptism and weddings.
- Address: 3549 Navajo St., Denver, CO 80211
- Phone: (303) 455-0447
- Sacramental Emergency: (303) 455-0447 x25
- Fax: (303) 455-5487
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.ourladymountcarmel.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olmcdenver/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mariano Felice Lepore1894–
First pastor; arrived in Denver in 1891 from Cassano Irpino, Campania, Italy, and organized the Italian colony into a parish population.
- Fr. Tom Moreschini, OSM1904–
First Servite pastor; personally recruited by Mother Cabrini in Colorado Springs and assigned by the Servite provincial.
- Fr. Thomas LoCascio, OSM
Laying the cornerstone for Mt. Carmel High School during his pastorate; also organized the Mt. Carmel Father's Club.
- Fr. Julius A. Porcellini
Founded the Servite Secular Order at Mt. Carmel on the occasion of the seventh centenary of the Order of Servites.
- Fr. Timothy Kremen, OSM
Former pastor who, together with Carol DiBiase-Ruffe, founded the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society in 2006.