About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Erie, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Roman Catholic parish in the Grandview neighborhood of Erie, Pennsylvania, established in 1960 and entrusted to the Diocese of Erie. The parish takes its name from one of the most beloved Marian titles, honoring the Blessed Virgin's appearance to Saint Simon Stock on Mount Carmel and the tradition of the brown scapular. Since July 2024, Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been combined with neighboring St. Luke Parish, sharing a pastor, staff, and operations while continuing to celebrate Mass and the sacraments at its 1531 E. Grandview Boulevard church. The community remains devoted to Mary and gathers each year around the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
- Rector
- Rev. Lawrence R. (Larry) Richards
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel offers a welcoming, Marian-centered Catholic community in the Grandview neighborhood of Erie, with a long tradition of devotional life centered on the Blessed Mother and the brown scapular. The parish combines its deep roots with the energy of a newly merged community alongside St. Luke Parish, sharing priests, staff, and a wide range of ministries — including faith formation, liturgical music, pastoral care, and outreach — so members can be served well at every stage of life. Visitors and parishioners are invited to come worship at the historic Grandview Boulevard church, gather for the annual July 16 feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and grow in faith under Mary's protection.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (at Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Stations of the Cross with Adoration and Benediction every Friday of Lent at 7:00 p.m. (alternating between parishes)
History and Identity
Our Lady of Mount Carmel was established in 1960 in the Grandview neighborhood of Erie, Pennsylvania, under the Diocese of Erie. The parish took its name from one of the most beloved titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with roots in the 13th-century tradition of the Carmelites and the apparition of Mary to Saint Simon Stock on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, when she entrusted him with the brown scapular. From the beginning, devotion to Mary has shaped the parish's identity, with the annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16 drawing the community together for special liturgies, the rosary, and reflection.
- Established 1960 in the Grandview neighborhood of Erie, PA
- Patron: Our Lady of Mount Carmel — the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Feast Day celebrated each year on July 16
- Brown scapular devotion is a long-standing part of parish life
Merger with St. Luke Parish (2024)
As part of the Diocese of Erie's Final Pastoral Plan for Erie County published in April 2024, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish was paired with neighboring St. Luke Parish in Erie, and the two parishes were formally combined in July 2024. The parishes now share a pastor, clergy, and staff under the name 'St. Luke and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes,' with a joint website at stlukeolmc.org and a shared phone line. Despite the merger, Our Lady of Mount Carmel continues to offer Masses and the sacraments at its 1531 E. Grandview Blvd. location, and the Marian character of the parish remains central to its identity.
- Listed in the Diocese of Erie Final Pastoral Plan (April 2024) as a parish to merge with St. Luke Parish, Erie
- Combination took effect July 2024
- Shared pastor: Fr. Larry Richards
- Joint website: https://www.stlukeolmc.org
- OLMC church at 1531 E. Grandview Blvd. remains in active use
Parish Staff and Clergy
Following the 2024 combination, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Luke are served by a single pastoral team, with Fr. Larry Richards as pastor. The staff includes a senior associate priest, a priest in residence, a weekend sacramental assistant, a permanent deacon, a director of ministries, a faith formation director, a director of finance, a parish secretary, and a liturgical music director.
- Pastor: Rev. Lawrence R. (Larry) Richards
- Senior Associate: Rev. Ian McElrath
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Joseph R. Czarkowski
- Weekend Sacramental Assistant: Rev. Casimir J. Wozniak
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Frank C. Pregler
- Director of Ministries / Pastoral Minister: Diane Kiehlmier
- Faith Formation Director: Julie Lampard
- Director of Finance / Accountant: Mary Kiehl
- Parish Secretary: Deidre Brown
- Liturgical Music: Gabriel Borrero
Faith Formation and Pastoral Care
Faith formation for children and families, sacramental preparation, and ongoing adult faith enrichment are coordinated across the combined parish community under the Faith Formation Director. A dedicated Pastoral Minister accompanies parishioners through life's joys and difficulties, and the parish offers seasonal devotional programming — most notably a Lenten 'Getting to Know Jesus' booklet written by Fr. Larry.
- Faith Formation Director: Julie Lampard
- Pastoral Minister / Director of Ministries: Diane Kiehlmier
- Permanent Deacon Frank Pregler assists with pastoral care
- Annual Lenten devotional booklet (e.g., 'Getting to Know Jesus' series)
- Holy Week passion talks and additional formation offerings
Liturgical Music and Worship
Liturgical music at the parish is led by Gabriel Borrero, supporting sung prayer at weekend and holy day Masses. The music ministry is shared across the combined St. Luke / Our Lady of Mount Carmel community.
- Liturgical Music Director/Contact: Gabriel Borrero
- Music supports weekend Masses, holy day liturgies, and special feasts (including the July 16 Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The parish's patronal feast day — July 16, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel — is one of the most cherished dates on the parish calendar. In past years the community has gathered for special Masses in honor of Our Lady, recited the rosary together, and shared moments of reflection on Mary's example of faith and trust in God. The feast recalls the Blessed Virgin's apparition to Saint Simon Stock and the tradition of the brown scapular as a sign of her maternal protection.
- Feast day: July 16
- Special Masses celebrated in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Communal rosary and reflection
- Brown scapular devotion is highlighted during the feast
Lenten and Holy Week Schedule
The combined parishes publish a full Lenten and Holy Week schedule each year, drawing on shared traditions. The 2026 schedule (a typical year) included daily Mass, an evening of 'The Light is On' confessions, Stations of the Cross with Adoration and Benediction on Friday evenings, a Wednesday Passion Talk with confessions, the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday (held at OLMC), and the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses.
- Stations of the Cross with Adoration and Benediction – Fridays of Lent, 7:00 p.m. (alternating between parishes)
- Ash Wednesday Liturgy
- 'The Light is On' Confessions during Lent
- Holy Thursday Liturgy of the Lord's Supper – 6:30 p.m. (at St. Luke)
- Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord's Passion – 1:30 p.m. (at OLMC); Tenebrae 8:00 p.m. (at St. Luke)
- Holy Saturday Blessing of Easter Baskets and Easter Vigil
- Easter Sunday Masses at OLMC and St. Luke
Visiting and Contact Information
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church is located at 1531 E. Grandview Boulevard in Erie's Grandview neighborhood. Parish offices and mail are handled through the partner St. Luke Parish office at 421 E. 38th St., Erie, PA 16504. Inquiries can be directed to the joint parish phone number and email, and the parish maintains a Facebook presence for news and updates.
- Church Address: 1531 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA 16510
- Mailing Address: c/o St. Luke Parish, 421 E. 38th St., Erie, PA 16504
- Phone: (814) 825-6920
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stlukeolmc.org
- Facebook: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish – Erie, PA