Mount Carmel Astoria

OUR LADY OF NUBE

On New Year’s Day, 2014, we celebrated Mass in honor of Nuestra Sra de la Nube, a devotion which comes to us from Ecuador. Our Committee organized by Klever Rodriguez has been recognizing Our Lady of the Cloud annually since 2009. Over 510 parishioners attended the Mass, procession and reception in the Parish Institute.

Our main celebrant was native Ecuadorian, Father Angel Jimenez, Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Woodside; concelebrating was OLMC Pastor, Msgr. Sean G. Ogle, V.F. There were two deacons: Deacon Manuel Barahona of OLMC and another native Ecuadorian, Deacon Juan Zhagnay, who’s also from Corpus Christi Woodside. Here are some pictures.

The devotion originated in 1696, 85 years after the Archbishop of Quito blessed the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Good Success in 1611. This is the story of the miracle of Our Lady of the Cloud.

In 1696, the Bishop of Quito became quite ill. The people of a village on the outskirts of Quito, decided to organize a novena to the Blessed Mother asking for his recovery. A procession to the Cathedral in Quito was formed and on their return back, the Chaplain who was leading the Rosary saw a figure forming in a cloud.

The Blessed Mother appeared standing on a cloud.

She wore a crown over a long white veil and in her

left hand she carried her Divine Son. She was

dressed in a white silk tunic that draped to her feet.

Here is a picture of our statute which has a permanent

place in our lower Church.

This apparition was viewed by over 500 people at that time and lasted the length of a Glory Be, one Our Father and one Hail Mary. Testimonies are conserved in the Archives of the Quito Archdiocese. The Bishop was immediately healed in confirmation of this miracle and lived a few more years.

This devotion has spread to the United States through immigrants from Ecuador in Chicago and New York where annual festivities take place on January 1.

For all pictures, please go to the Photo Gallery which are courtesy of Msgr. Ogle.

SAINT MARGARET MARY

On Tuesday, December 24, 2013, the annual Vigil Mass was celebrated at our parish chapel of Saint Margaret Mary by Pastor Emeritus, Father Ed Brady. Here are a few pictures from the Mass and party that took place after Mass. We thank the parishioners who took the time to decorate the Chapel so beautifully. For all pictures, please go to the Photo Gallery. All pictures courtesy of Peter Walton.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel/Saint Margaret Mary has a sewing group that has been going strong for over three years. Please go to the Photo Gallery for pictures of members learning their craft and the fun they had during their Christmas Party this December, 2013. All pictures courtesy of Peter Walton.

Blessing of the New Stained Glass Windows

Our Lady of Mount Carmel was thrilled to welcome Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn on Saturday, December 7, 2013 for a pastoral visitation and to bless our new stained glass windows in the newly created vestibule with elevator. One window depicts Pope Francis’ Coat of Arms and the Bishop’s own Coat of Arms is on the other. We believe these are the first permanent installations of these images in our diocese. Our own Martha Mosler who received the Distinguished Parishioner Award in 2012 for her years of outstanding service to the parish, most generously memorialized the memory of her family and friend in these windows. The Bishop also met with the Parish Pastoral Council members to review their accomplishments and plans under “Christ Jesus Our Hope,” the pastoral planning project of the diocese.

To commemorate his tenth anniversary as leader of the Brooklyn Diocese, during this visit Bishop DiMarzio was presented a miter embroidered with the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that was handmade in Vietnam. Also, four students representing all 275 CCD students gave the Bishop congratulatory cards signed by them all and were accompanied by the CRE, Nelly Gutierrez and their moderator, Father Peter Nguyen.

Bishop DiMarzio was the main celebrant at 5 pm Mass and concelebrating were: Pastor, Msgr. Sean G. Ogle, V.F.; Father Ed Brady, Pastor Emeritus; Parochial Vicars Father Joseph Pham and Father Peter Nguyen; Rev. Antonin Kocurek of the Czech Apostolate; Deacon Jaime Varela; Deacon Rev. Mr. Christopher Heanue who served as M.C. and Deacons Manuel Barahona and Ruben Mendez.

We concluded the evening with a lovely champagne toast in the vestibule and new outdoor plaza.

Here are a few pictures. For all pictures, please go to the Photo Gallery. Photos courtesy of Nina Carullo. Videos by Neida C. Martinez and can be viewed on the parish’s You Tube channel.