About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Thurmont, Maryland
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Thurmont, Maryland, one of the two parishes in a joint pastorate with neighboring St. Anthony Shrine in Emmitsburg. Founded in the 1850s by priests of Mount St. Mary's College and Seminary, the Gothic-style stone church was dedicated on June 5, 1859, and remains a beloved fixture in the small Frederick County mountain town. Today the parish is served by the priests, deacons, and staff of the St. Anthony Shrine / Our Lady of Mount Carmel community, offering weekend and daily Mass at 103 N. Church Street along with faith formation, youth ministry, Eucharistic adoration, and reconciliation.
- Established
- 1857 (land purchased); dedicated June 5, 1859
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Rector
- Rev. Mariano Vicchi, I.V.E.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel welcomes parishioners into a tight-knit mountain-town Catholic community rooted in 19th-century missionary work from Mount St. Mary's College. Mass is celebrated every day of the week (with First Friday Mass added monthly), there is regular Eucharistic adoration with confession on Wednesdays and Mondays, a K-8 faith formation program with sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, plus active youth ministries (iT for high school and SMAC for middle school). Sharing a pastorate with neighboring St. Anthony Shrine in Emmitsburg means parishioners benefit from two parishes' worth of liturgical, catechetical, and fellowship life while keeping a small, family-sized parish home in Thurmont.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays at St. Anthony Shrine: 7:00–8:30 pm (during adoration)
- Mondays at OLMC Parish Center: 3:00–5:00 pm (during adoration)
- First Saturday of the month at St. Anthony Shrine: 2:30–3:30 pm
- Third Saturday of the month at Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 2:30–3:30 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesday at St. Anthony Shrine: 7:00–8:30 pm
- Monday at OLMC Parish Center: 3:00–5:00 pm
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of two parishes in a joint pastorate that includes St. Anthony Shrine in nearby Emmitsburg. The parish's mission statement, as published by the parish, describes it as a community of faith 'comprised of families with roots in rural Maryland as well as families who are new arrivals to this gateway to the mountains,' who gather 'in the name of Jesus Christ to worship as a community of faith and to embrace one another in the love of Christ.' Their mission is 'to grow closer to God through meditation and prayer, and to each other by leading lives of fellowship and service.'
- Motto: 'See how these Christians love one another.'
- Joint pastorate with St. Anthony Shrine, Emmitsburg
- Church located at 103 N. Church Street, Thurmont, MD 21788
History of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The parish traces its roots to 1828, when Fr. Simon Brute of Mount St. Mary's College envisioned that the college's priests would one day serve the growing mountain settlements — including Mechanicstown, as Thurmont was then known. After decades of occasional visits, Fr. William McClosky purchased land in 1857 and the cornerstone was laid August 30, 1857. The Gothic-style stone church was dedicated on June 5, 1859. The first resident pastor, Fr. John Conway, was appointed in 1881; the rectory at 18 Altamont Street was acquired in 1919 under Fr. Thomas Wheeler. Twentieth- and twenty-first-century pastors expanded the parish's physical plant and, since 1987, joined it in a single pastorate with St. Anthony Shrine.
- 1828 — Fr. Simon Brute's vision to serve Mechanicstown from Mount St. Mary's
- 1857 — Land purchased by Fr. William McClosky; cornerstone laid August 30
- June 5, 1859 — Church dedicated under the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- 1881 — Fr. John Conway appointed first resident pastor
- 1918 — Fr. Thomas Wheeler begins pastorate; 1919, 18 Altamont Street acquired as rectory
- 1932 — 75th anniversary jubilee Mass celebrated by Mount St. Mary's president
- 1974–1975 — Church substantially reconditioned under Fr. Donald Croghan
- 1979 — Parish Hall built
- 1987 — Joint pastorate with St. Anthony Shrine begins under Fr. Edward B. Hemler
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish offers a K-8 Faith Formation Program for children, along with age-appropriate preparation for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Faith formation is directed by Sister Trinity, who can be reached at the parish office (301-447-2326 ext. 19) or by cell (227-203-4715). Parents seeking any sacrament for their child are invited to contact Sister Trinity directly.
- K-8 Faith Formation Program
- First Reconciliation Preparation
- First Eucharist Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation
- Director of Faith Formation: Sister Trinity
Youth Ministry
Active youth ministry is a hallmark of the joint parishes, with two named programs for middle and high school youth. The 'iT' program serves high school youth, while 'SMAC!' serves middle school youth in grades 6–8. Both groups meet regularly for fellowship, faith, and service.
- iT — High School Youth Ministry
- SMAC! — Middle School Youth Ministry (grades 6–8)
Liturgy Team & Liturgical Ministries
The parish is supported by a Liturgy Team that welcomes new volunteers into a variety of liturgical roles. Training is offered for greeters, ushers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and ongoing formation is available for altar servers from 4th grade through adulthood.
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
Parish Staff
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is served by a pastor and associate pastor, two deacons, a Director of Faith Formation, and parish support staff — all of whom serve both parishes in the joint pastorate. The parish secretary can be reached through the parish office at 16150 St. Anthony Road, Emmitsburg.
- Pastor: Fr. Mariano Vicchi, I.V.E.
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Peter Trinko
- Pastoral Associate: Deacon Joseph Wolf (301-271-4099)
- Deacon John Hawkins
- Director of Faith Formation: Sister Trinity
- Parish Secretary: Cindy Wivell (ext. 5)
- Parish Secretary: Karen Davis (ext. 6)
Volunteer Requirements (Virtus)
Any volunteer at St. Anthony Shrine or Our Lady of Mount Carmel — new or returning — must complete the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Virtus screening and training before serving. Background checks and references are required, and certification must be renewed every five years. The parish office coordinates the correct training module for each volunteer role.
- Virtus online training required for all volunteers
- Renewal every five years
- Background check and references required
Visiting & Office Information
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and closed on Fridays. A mail slot in the side office door is available for after-hours correspondence, Mass intention requests, and donations. The office follows Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) closings during inclement weather — opening late on delays and closing when FCPS is closed. Both Mass times and office hours may be affected by severe weather and state-of-emergency declarations.
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–3:00 pm; closed Friday
- Mail slot available in side office door
- Office closes/delays with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS)
- Donations can be mailed, brought to Mass, dropped in mail slot, or made online via Give Central
Contact
Parish correspondence should be addressed to the joint parish office in Emmitsburg, which serves both Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Anthony Shrine. Deacon Joseph Wolf is the Pastoral Associate for Our Lady of Mount Carmel and can be reached directly at 301-271-4099.
- Parish Office: 16150 St. Anthony Road, Emmitsburg, MD 21727
- Phone: 301-447-2367; Fax: 301-447-3618
- OLMC Pastoral Associate line: 301-271-4099
- Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation: Sister Trinity, 301-447-2326 ext. 19 (office), 227-203-4715 (cell)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Simon Brute1828 (manuscript)
Suggested Mount St. Mary's priests would serve Mechanicstown (Thurmont) along with the college and Emmitsburg congregations.
- Fr. William McClosky1856–1857
Director of the seminary at Mount St. Mary's (later first Rector of the North American College in Rome); advocated and purchased land for the new church.
- Fr. George Flaut1857
Mount St. Mary's priest who built the original wooden altar with four marble columns.
- Fr. John Hickey, Jr.1859 (first listed)
Officiated at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel every Sunday from Mount St. Mary's.
- Fr. John Conway1881–1886
First resident pastor; rented quarters about a mile and a half from the church.
- Fr. Eugene Gynne1886–1889
Transferred residence to Libertytown; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was then served from St. Peter's.
- Fr. Joseph L. Curran1929
Celebrated the 75th anniversary of the parish on May 15, 1932, with more than 3,000 attending.
- Fr. Thomas Wheeler1918–
Also cared for patients at the State Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Sabillasville; acquired 18 Altamont Street as rectory in 1919.
- Fr. John J. Hart1954–1961
- Fr. Edward V. Echole1961–1971
- Fr. Thomas Caulfield1971–1973
- Fr. Donald Croghan1973–1986
Extensive work on the property; church reconditioned 1974–1975; Parish Hall built 1979.
- Fr. Edward B. Hemler1987
Assumed joint pastorate of St. Anthony Shrine and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; assisted by Deacon Michael Lind, first Pastoral Associate.
- Fr. Leo R. Tittler1992–2001
Joint pastorate; in January 2001 assigned Senior Priest at St. John's, Frederick.
- Fr. James Hannon2001–2005
Appointed pastor of St. Anthony Shrine and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; later transferred to Western Maryland.
- Sr. Joan Maenner2005–2006
Pastoral Life Director; died in office October 2006.
- Sr. Marietta Culhane2006–2007
Temporary administrator.
- Ms. Barbara Anderson2007–2016
Pastoral Life Director appointed by Cardinal Keeler.
- Fr. Colin Poston2016
Named pastor of both parishes by Archbishop William Lori.
- Fr. Mariano Vicchi, I.V.E.current
Current pastor.