About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Roman Catholic parish in the borough of Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The parish serves its members at 47 South Market Street with a full weekly schedule of Masses, daily Confessions, a CCD religious education program for grades 1–8, two choirs, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and active participation in the Mount Carmel Ministerium Food Pantry. The parish is pastored by Very Reverend Monsignor Francis J. Karwacki, V.F., who also serves as Dean of the Northumberland Deanery and the Bishop's Liaison for Charismatic Renewal, and who was raised to the rank of Monsignor by the Vatican in February 2025. The parish website identifies the church as the historic home of the community's first Catholic congregation, established in the late 1860s by German, Irish, Tyrolean, and Lithuanian immigrants in the anthracite coal region.
- Established
- 1869 (first church building); 1878 (independent parish)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Rector
- Very Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Karwacki, V.F., M.Ed., M.Div.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a faithful, multigenerational Catholic community serving Mount Carmel and the surrounding Northumberland County coal-region towns. Parishioners find a packed sacramental life — daily Mass Monday through Saturday, Vigil and Sunday Masses, Confessions twice a day most days, weekly CCD for grades 1–8, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, and a Catholic school option through Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School. Beyond the liturgy, the parish runs two choirs, a Thursday charismatic prayer meeting, a Vocation Cross devotion, a St. Vincent de Paul Society, and serves the hungry through the inter-parish Mount Carmel Ministerium Food Pantry. Led by a Monsignor who was honored by the Vatican in 2025, the parish combines the heritage of a 19th-century immigrant church with the active ministries of a present-day parish family.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Welcome to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the historic Roman Catholic parish of the Mount Carmel area in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Harrisburg. The parish website opens with the church's address at 47 South Market Street and invites visitors to come for daily Mass, weekend worship, Confession, faith formation for grades 1–8, the parish choirs, the charismatic prayer meeting, the food pantry, and the parish's other ministries. Monsignor Karwacki's weekly parish bulletin is posted on the website, and visitors are pointed to the parish's Facebook page ('Our Lady's') for ongoing updates.
- Parish website: https://revfrankkarwacki.net
- Facebook: 'Our Lady's'
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
- Deanery: Northumberland Deanery
Parish History
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in Mount Carmel. Catholic faithful had been meeting for Mass locally since 1867; in 1869 Father McDermott of Centralia built the first frame church at Fourth and Market Streets. Mount Carmel became an independent parish in 1878 under its first resident pastor, Father John O'Reilly, who purchased adjoining land, built a hall and rectory, and began the current church. Father M. A. O'Neill completed the building, which was dedicated in 1888 by Bishop McGovern of Harrisburg. The 1891 Parochial School was begun by Father James O'Reilly and finished by his assistant and successor, Monsignor Aloysius Meusese, who served 38 years. In July 1995 the parish was consolidated with four neighboring parishes — Our Lady and Saint Joseph, Mt. Carmel; Saint Joseph, Locust Gap; Saint Joseph, Locustdale; and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Centralia — to form today's parish.
- 1867 — Catholics began gathering for Mass in Mount Carmel
- 1869 — First frame church built at Fourth & Market Streets by Father McDermott of Centralia
- 1878 — Independent parish under Father John O'Reilly (first resident pastor)
- 1888 — Present Gothic Revival brick church dedicated by Bishop McGovern of Harrisburg
- 1891 — Parochial School begun by Father James O'Reilly on adjacent land
- 1905–1910 — Church renovated by Philadelphia architect George I. Lovatt Sr., who also designed the adjoining school
- Monsignor Aloysius Meusese served the parish for 38 years
- July 1995 — Consolidated with four neighboring parishes
Pastor and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Karwacki, V.F., M.Ed., M.Div., who was raised to the rank of Monsignor by the Vatican in February 2025 at the recommendation of the Bishop of Harrisburg. Monsignor Karwacki also serves the diocese as Dean of the Northumberland Deanery and as the Bishop's Liaison (Moderator) for Charismatic Renewal. The parish website lists the full support staff that keeps the parish office, religious education program, music program, and physical plant running.
- Very Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Karwacki, V.F., M.Ed., M.Div. — Pastor
- Joe Fesniak — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Katrina Gownley — Coordinator of Religious Education (570-205-9575; [email protected])
- Kathy Lapotsky — Part-time Administrative Assistant
- Tom Horan — Facilities Manager
- Eileen Hirsch — Housekeeper & Cook
- Paul Koutch — Disabilities Advocate (570-875-2650)
- Sherry Moroz — Organist / Choir Director (570-274-0011; [email protected])
Office Hours and Contact
The parish office at 47 South Market Street, Mount Carmel, is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Visitors and parishioners can reach the office by phone at 570-339-1031 (fax 570-339-4814). The Coordinator of Religious Education is also reachable at 570-205-9575 and [email protected], and the Religious Education voicemail line is 570-339-5091.
- Parish Office: 47 South Market Street, Mount Carmel, PA 17851
- Phone: 570-339-1031
- Fax: 570-339-4814
- Religious Education: 570-339-5091 / Coordinator cell 570-205-9575
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Faith Formation — CCD (Religious Education)
Religious education for parish children is coordinated by Katrina Gownley and held in the Parish School Building. CCD classes meet most weeks for both elementary and middle-school grades: Grades 1 through 5 gather on Mondays at 5:45 PM, and Grades 6 through 8 gather on Sundays at 5:45 PM. The program prepares students for the sacraments of First Reconciliation (typically celebrated at noon on a designated Saturday in the church), First Holy Communion (celebrated annually at the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass — in 2026 on May 17, 2026), and Confirmation. The website posts 'This Week's Activities' so families can track CCD days and special events.
- Coordinator: Katrina Gownley — 570-205-9575 / [email protected]
- Grades 1–5: Mondays at 5:45 PM, Parish School Building
- Grades 6–8: Sundays at 5:45 PM, Parish School Building
- First Reconciliation (annual Saturday noon Mass)
- First Holy Communion (annual at the 11:00 AM Mass)
- Confirmation preparation
Music and Liturgy
Two parish choirs share the work of music at Our Lady of Mount Carmel under the direction of organist and choir director Sherry Moroz. The Adult Choir rehearses every Wednesday at 6:30 PM, and the Youth Choir rehearses every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. Choristers regularly lead sung liturgy at the weekend Masses and on solemnities. Organist inquiries can be directed to Sherry Moroz at 570-274-0011 or [email protected].
- Adult Choir — Wednesday 6:30 PM
- Youth Choir — Sunday 10:00 AM
- Director: Sherry Moroz — 570-274-0011, [email protected]
Charismatic Prayer & Devotions
Monsignor Karwacki is the Bishop's Liaison (Moderator) for Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Harrisburg, and the parish hosts a regular charismatic prayer meeting. The meeting is held on Thursdays at 6:30 PM in the church; attendees are asked to use the Park Street entrance because all other doors are locked for the gathering. The parish also fosters vocations through a 'Vocation Cross' devotion that rotates weekly to a parishioner's home, encouraging family prayer for priestly and religious vocations.
- Charismatic Prayer Meeting — Thursdays at 6:30 PM, in the church (use Park Street entrance)
- Vocation Cross — rotates weekly to a parishioner's home for family prayer
Outreach — St. Vincent de Paul and Food Pantry
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a visible presence in the broader Mount Carmel–Kulpmont community through its outreach ministries. The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society serves those in need directly; donations to the conference (such as the $1,000 anonymous gift noted in the parish bulletin) fund both SVdP work and the food pantry. The parish also co-sponsors the Mount Carmel Ministerium Food Pantry, a cooperative effort of the local churches that distributes food on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from the parish or partner site. Volunteers to staff the pantry are actively recruited.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — accepts donations and serves neighbors in need
- Mount Carmel Ministerium Food Pantry — distributes food 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month
- Food-pantry volunteers always needed — contact the Parish Office
Catholic School — Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School
Parish families seeking a Catholic education turn to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, a Middle States–accredited PreK-12 regional school of the Diocese of Harrisburg, located in Coal Township just minutes from Mount Carmel. Lourdes traces its roots to St. Edward High School (1892, Shamokin) and grew through several consolidations, including the merger of Mount Carmel Catholic High School with Lourdes in 1964 and the addition of diocesan elementary schools (Our Lady Queen of Peace in 2006–07 and Mount Carmel's Holy Spirit in 2007–08). The phone line for the school is listed directly on the parish website footer: (570) 644-0375.
- Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School — 2001 Clinton Avenue, Coal Township, PA 17866
- Phone: 570-644-0375
- Enrollment: ~442 students PreK–12 from seven supporting parishes in eight school districts
- Tuition assistance available — 65% of students receive assistance
- Athletic co-op with Mount Carmel Area High School for football, track, baseball, and swimming
Sacraments at the Parish
Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrates the seven sacraments as a normal part of parish life. Daily and weekly Confessions, the Sunday Eucharist, First Reconciliation and First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Baptism are all available; parishioners are asked to contact the Parish Office to schedule Baptisms, weddings, and other pastoral needs. The Coordinator of Religious Education works closely with families preparing children for First Sacraments and Confirmation.
- Baptism — contact the Parish Office to schedule
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion — annual program through CCD
- Confirmation — preparation through the parish CCD program
- Marriage — contact the Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick — pastoral care available on request
- Confession — Mon–Sat 7:30–7:55 AM; Sat 3:00–3:50 PM
Facilities and Accessibility
The parish campus at 47 South Market Street includes the church, restrooms, and a social hall — facilities the Diocese of Harrisburg lists as available for parish events. The diocese's accessibility note also indicates that assistive listening is available for those who need it. On Thursday evenings for the charismatic prayer meeting, the Park Street entrance is the one kept open; on other days parishioners use the main doors.
- Church, restrooms, and social hall on site
- Assistive listening available
- Park Street entrance used for Thursday prayer meeting
Bulletin and Communications
The parish keeps parishioners informed through a weekly bulletin that is posted on the parish website, an active Facebook presence under the name 'Our Lady's,' and 'This Week's Activities' listings on the homepage that flag CCD sessions, First Communion and First Confession dates, charismatic prayer meetings, food-pantry days, the Vocation Cross host family, and parish fundraisers like the annual yard sale.
- Weekly bulletin posted at https://revfrankkarwacki.net
- Facebook page: 'Our Lady's'
- 'This Week's Activities' panel on the homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father McDermott of Centralia1869
Constructed the first frame church at Fourth and Market Streets for the Catholic faithful gathering in Mount Carmel since 1867.
- Father John O'Reilly1878–
First resident pastor; purchased adjoining land, built a hall and rectory, began the present church.
- Father M. A. O'Neill
Successor; oversaw the completion and 1888 dedication of the present Gothic Revival church by Bishop McGovern of Harrisburg.
- Father James O'Reilly1891–
Began the Parochial School on land adjacent to the church.
- Monsignor Aloysius MeuseseServed 38 years (early 20th c.)
Assistant and successor to Fr. James O'Reilly; finished the school building.