About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Cruz Bay, Saint John Island
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church is the only Catholic parish on the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, affectionately known as the "Parish in Paradise." Founded in July 1962, it serves a vibrant, multicultural community of about 200 full-time resident families, roughly 30 part-year families, and up to 100 weekly visitors in peak tourist seasons, with weekend Masses celebrated in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay and a Sunday evening Mass in Spanish. The parish belongs to the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and offers a full range of liturgical, educational, and outreach ministries, including Eucharistic Adoration available 24/7, RCIA, youth and music programs, the Catholic Charities soup kitchen, and the Our Lady of Charity Transitional Shelter for the homeless.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Rector
- Father Anthony Abraham
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a small but unusually lively parish that takes seriously both its local residents and the steady stream of visitors who return year after year and treat OLMC as their "away-home" parish. With seven weekly Masses (including a Sunday evening Mass in Spanish, a weekday Mass in Coral Bay, and perpetual Eucharistic Adoration), a strong music ministry, a steel pan program for youth, RCIA, Legion of Mary, Charismatic Prayer Group, Magnificat women's group, Men's Group, Catholic Charities soup kitchen, and the Our Lady of Charity Transitional Shelter, it is a parish where you can worship reverently, find formation for every age, and put faith into action on a small island that feels very much like family.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. (before the 6:00 p.m. Mass)
- After any Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
History of the Parish
Our Lady of Mount Carmel was founded in July 1962 thanks to the vision and generosity of William and Carmel Callahan, who donated the land in Cruz Bay and gave generously toward building a chapel. The Catholic community was small at first, made up largely of Puerto Rican migrant workers, since most St. Johnians belonged to Moravian or Lutheran congregations. Growth was gradual: the first resident pastor, Father Charlie Roddy, did not arrive until 1970, eight years after the chapel opened. From those humble roots, the parish grew through the pastoral care of successive priests and the steady involvement of locals and returning visitors, eventually outgrowing its original chapel.
Building the New Church (2000–2005)
By the late 1990s, even with extensions added to the original chapel, the growing congregation needed a larger worship space. In 2000, a young, newly ordained Father Neil Scantlebury oversaw the demolition of the old chapel. Construction proceeded slowly but steadily, and Mass was first celebrated in the new church during the 2004 high tourist seasons — at a time when the building still had no doors, no windows, and electricity supplied by extension cords run from the adjoining rectory. Bishop George Murray, SJ formally dedicated the completed new church on December 11, 2005. The parish's Cruz Bay footprint now consists of two buildings: the church itself and Guadalupe Hall, with the rectory above it.
St. Therese Chapel — Coral Bay Mission
Because OLMC's parish boundaries cover all of St. John, the parish has expanded its physical presence to the eastern end of the island. Today it celebrates a Sunday 12:30 p.m. Mass and a Tuesday 6:00 p.m. Mass at a multi-use facility in John's Folly, in the Coral Bay area. The parish has also purchased land in Coral Bay to build a dedicated chapel to be named St. Therese, which will serve the Coral Bay community and reduce the long drive across the island for parishioners on the eastern side of St. John.
- Sunday Mass in Coral Bay at 12:30 p.m.
- Tuesday Mass in Coral Bay at 6:00 p.m.
- St. Therese Chapel phone line: 340-693-2650
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Pastor Father Anthony Abraham, with Father Godfrey Chandya serving as Assistant Pastor. Four deacons — Evans Doway, Peter C. Laurencin, Cassius Mathurin, and Michael Jackson Sr. — assist with liturgy and ministry. Simonia Dagou serves as Administrative Assistant; Digna Doway and Sherry-Ann Francis-Hill coordinate Religious Education; Sherry-Ann Francis-Hill is also Parish Council President. Acolytes Hayden Smith and Audy Castillo serve at the altar, and Jacori Laurencin and Shanekua Lee-Tyrell lead the Youth Group and Young Adults, respectively.
- Most Rev. Jerome Feudjio — Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands
Faith Formation: Religious Education and RCIA
Children's Religious Education classes are held on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., with registration forms available in the church and the parish office. For adults, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and welcomes adults seeking to become Catholic, adult Catholics who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation, and Catholics who want to deepen their understanding of the faith.
- Religious Education — Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
- RCIA — Mondays at 6:30 p.m.; call 340-776-6339 to register
Youth, Young Adult, and Music Ministries
OLMC places strong emphasis on forming its young people. The Youth Group meets on Mondays at 4:30 p.m., and the Young Adults ministry brings together parishioners in their 20s and 30s. A popular Steel Pan program rehearses on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m., and the Music Ministry rehearses on Wednesdays at 4:45 p.m., providing music for Sunday and holy day liturgies.
- Youth Group — Mondays at 4:30 p.m.
- Young Adults — led by Shanekua Lee-Tyrell
- Steel Pan — Tuesdays 3:30 p.m.; Saturdays 8:30 a.m.
- Music Ministry — Wednesdays at 4:45 p.m.
Prayer and Devotional Groups
A vibrant devotional life anchors the parish. The Charismatic Prayer Group meets Thursdays from 6:00–7:30 p.m. for prayer, teaching, and occasional healing services with guest speakers. The Legion of Mary leads the Rosary on selected Tuesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in the church, and all are welcome. The Magnificat ministry serves women, while the Men's Group fosters fellowship and faith among the men of the parish.
- Charismatic Prayer Group — Thursdays 6:00–7:30 p.m.
- Legion of Mary Rosary — Tuesdays 5:30 p.m.
- Magnificat (Women's Ministry)
- Men's Group
Outreach: Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen
OLMC partners closely with Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands to feed and care for the less fortunate on St. John. The Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen, located at the parish, serves breakfast from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and lunch from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Showers and clothing are available from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., and a hot lunch is also distributed in Coral Bay. Food donations may be dropped off during working hours; for more information, call 340-775-0969.
- Soup Kitchen: Mon–Fri, breakfast 8–9 a.m., lunch 12:30–1 p.m.
- Showers and clothing: 9:00–11:30 a.m.
- Lunch distributed in Coral Bay
- Case Manager: Digna Doway, 340-775-0969
Outreach: Our Lady of Charity Transitional Shelter
In March 2020, OLMC opened the Our Lady of Charity Transitional Shelter to address growing homelessness on St. John. The shelter opened housing seven men — three of them senior citizens, one in a wheelchair, and two working through substance abuse. With the help of two stateside couples and ongoing donations, the parish today houses five men and two women and is consistently at capacity. Residents receive counseling and support for their spiritual needs, with the goal of transitioning each person back to independent living. The shelter operates entirely on donations and is supported by checks mailed to the parish office, PayPal, and QR-code giving.
- Opened March 2020 with seven men
- Currently housing five men and two women
- Managed by Deacon Evans Doway
- Funding: donations only (check, PayPal, QR code); memo: Our Lady of Charity Shelter
Sacraments
Baptisms at OLMC are celebrated by appointment; parents and godparents must complete three preparation classes before the ceremony. Marriages are also arranged by appointment through the parish office. First Communion, Confirmation, and adult initiation are prepared for through the Religious Education and RCIA programs.
- Baptism — by appointment; three preparation classes required
- Marriage — by appointment with the parish
- RCIA for adult initiation
- Religious Education for First Communion and Confirmation
Visiting and Getting Involved
OLMC welcomes visitors warmly, knowing that many vacationers return year after year and consider OLMC their "away-home" parish. Mass attendance, confession, adoration, and most ministry events are open to all. The church building itself is open Mondays–Fridays 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Saturdays 8:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m., and Sundays 6:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. The parish office and Pastor's hours run Monday–Friday 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; for an appointment with Father Anthony, call 340-776-6339. Donations are tax-deductible and can be directed to the General Fund, St. Therese Chapel, Our Lady of Charity Shelter, feeding the homeless, youth ministry, church maintenance, flowers, men's or women's ministry, or the Ronald Lee Jr. Scholarship Fund.
- Church building open daily
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Emergency line: 340-626-4135
- Donate by check, PayPal ([email protected]), or QR code
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charlie Roddy1970–
OLMC's first resident pastor, arriving in 1970, eight years after the chapel was founded.
- Father Ken Stewart1990s
OLMC's first African-American priest; served during the growth years that led to the chapel extensions.
- Father Neil Scantleburyc. 2000–2005
Newly ordained in 2000; oversaw demolition of the old chapel and the construction of the new church, which was dedicated by Bishop George Murray, SJ on December 11, 2005.
- Father Anthony Abrahampresent
Current pastor; leads the parish, the Our Lady of Charity Transitional Shelter, the push to build St. Therese Chapel in Coral Bay, and the parish's vibrant ministry lineup.