About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Osprey, Florida
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Roman Catholic parish in Osprey, Florida, in Sarasota County, serving the Osprey and Nokomis communities. Founded in 2000 as a mission of Epiphany Cathedral and established as an independent parish on March 1, 2002, it is distinctively served by the Carmelite Order (O.Carm.), whose charism of prayer, community, and service shapes parish life. The faithful gather at 425 S. Tamiami Trail, where the parish hall currently serves as the worship space while plans move forward for a dedicated church building.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony Armstrong, O.Carm.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a young, mission-minded Catholic community rooted in the Carmelite tradition of prayer, community, and service. Daily and weekend Masses are complemented by weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction on Fridays and a regular confession schedule that makes the sacrament easy to access. A robust family faith formation program — including OCIA for adults, sacramental prep for First Communion and Confirmation, and weekly classes for children — is offered at no registration fee, making it an excellent fit for families. Welcoming newcomers is a stated ministry, and the parish actively supports the less fortunate in the Osprey and Nokomis area.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:00 PM (January–April)
- Saturday 3:00 PM (May–December)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 AM (Following 8:00 AM Mass; ends with Benediction at 9:30 AM)
- As needed (check parish calendar)
Parish History & Founding
Our Lady of Mount Carmel was founded on October 1, 2000, as a mission of Epiphany Cathedral to serve the growing Osprey and Nokomis areas of Sarasota County, Florida. It became an independent parish on March 1, 2002. The community first worshipped in a storefront building along Route 41, then moved weekend liturgies to the Pine View School Auditorium. Land was acquired and groundbreaking for a permanent home took place on February 22, 2004; the first Mass in the new building was celebrated in October 2005, and the facility was dedicated on January 15, 2006. The parish hall currently doubles as the worship space, with plans in place for a dedicated church building in the future.
- Founded October 1, 2000 as a mission of Epiphany Cathedral
- Established as an independent parish March 1, 2002
- Groundbreaking: February 22, 2004
- First Mass in new building: October 2005
- Facility dedication: January 15, 2006
Carmelite Heritage & Patroness
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of relatively few U.S. parishes served by the Carmelite Order (O.Carm.). The parish's patroness traces back to hermits who settled on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the 1100s, who built a chapel dedicated to Mary as 'The Lady of the Place,' from which the title 'Our Lady of Mount Carmel' emerged. The parish draws on the Carmelite spiritual family — including St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Blessed Titus Brandsma O.Carm., and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross O.C.D. — and celebrates the Marian charism of humble, contemplative service.
- Served by the Carmelite Order (O.Carm.)
- Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: July 16
- Known as 'the scapular feast' — commemorating the Brown Scapular given to St. Simon Stock in 1251
- Mary honored as mother, patroness, and sister in Carmelite tradition
Clergy, Staff & Parish Office
The parish is led by Rev. Anthony Armstrong, O.Carm. as Pastor, with Deacon Harry Antrim assisting. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at 425 S. Tamiami Trail, and can be reached at (941) 966-0807. Bulletin submissions go to [email protected].
- Rev. Anthony Armstrong, O.Carm. — Pastor
- Deacon Harry Antrim
- Fr. Fred Till — leads Scripture sessions
- Tom Chila — Business Manager
- Kathleen Lyda — Director of Music
- Robert Swarts — Facilities Manager
- Donna Pierson — Pastoral Associate
- Darwin Reeck — Director of Lay Ministries
- Seeta Joshi — Administrative Assistant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Adult Faith Formation at OLMC centers on evangelization and catechesis, with opportunities for Scripture study, OCIA, and ongoing learning. Fr. Fred Till leads weekly sessions in Tillotson Hall (10:00–11:30 AM), alternating between reading St. Matthew's Gospel and listening to lectures on biblical history, theology, and archaeology. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes the unbaptized, baptized Christians from other traditions, and uncatechized Catholics seeking to complete their Sacraments of Initiation, as well as Catholics willing to serve as sponsors or godparents.
- OCIA — classes begin in August; sign-ups close August 15
- Contact: Fr. Anthony Armstrong at 941-966-0807
- Contact for OCIA: John Sellner at [email protected]
- Bible/Scripture sessions with Fr. Fred — Tillotson Hall, weekly, 10:00–11:30 AM
Youth Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish's Family Faith Formation model brings parents into an adult Bible study while their children are in class — meeting Sundays 9:15–10:15 AM between the two Sunday Masses. There is no registration fee; families are asked only to be registered parishioners, attend Sunday Mass regularly, and be involved in parish life. Sacramental preparation follows the standard two-year track: First Reconciliation / First Communion starting in 1st Grade, and Confirmation starting no earlier than 9th Grade, with lessons integrated into the weekly Sunday program.
- Family Faith Formation: Sundays 9:15–10:15 AM
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — 2-year process starting in 1st Grade
- Confirmation — 2-year process starting no earlier than 9th Grade
- No registration fee for parish religious ed or sacramental prep
- Contact: John Sellner, [email protected]
Welcoming Committee & Parish Life
Our Lady of Mount Carmel places a strong emphasis on welcoming newcomers. The parish's Welcoming Committee greets new parishioners and helps them feel at home in the faith community — a 'wonderful opportunity to meet new people and join in offering a hand of friendship' according to the parish's own description. The parish describes itself as 'a vibrant and compassionate community of Catholic Christians, united in our mission to proclaim the Good News and live as the Body of Christ in the Osprey and Nokomis areas of Sarasota County.'
- Welcoming Committee volunteers greet new parishioners
- Contact: Kathy Crisman or parish office (941) 966-0807
- Parish mission: proclaiming the Good News and serving the less fortunate
Outreach & Catholic Faith Appeal
The parish participates in the Diocese of Venice Catholic Faith Appeal, the annual giving program that supports diocesan ministries and services. Gifts may be made by cash, check, credit card, direct debit, online giving, stock donations, and charitable distributions from IRAs; bequests and gift annuities credit the parish when realized. The parish also stewards care for creation as part of its mission, encouraging generous sharing of time, talent, and resources for the greater good.
- Gifts may be made online, by mail, or by phone at 941-486-4719
- Stock gifts accepted — call first for DTC instructions
- IRA charitable distributions and gift annuities supported
Visit, Contact & Plan a Visit
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is located at 425 S. Tamiami Trail in Osprey, FL 34229, with a mailing address of PO Box 1097, Osprey, FL 34229. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the main phone line is (941) 966-0807. Visitors are invited to register as parishioners through the parish website. The parish maintains an active Facebook presence and posts regular updates there in addition to its website and weekly bulletin.
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM
- Main phone: (941) 966-0807
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected]
- Diocese-listed email: [email protected]
- Facebook: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Osprey
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Anthony Armstrong, O.Carm.Current
Current pastor; member of the Carmelite Order