Our Lady & St. Simon Stock

The Blessed Mother appeared to St. Simon Stock in Aylesford, England on July 16, 1251. She gave him the brown scapular as a devotional to the values of Christ and guaranteed that anyone who dies wearing it she would save from eternal fire.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast: Italian Immigration Vow

After Italy unified in 1861, many Italians left for America, departing from the Port of Naples where the last landmark they saw was the 75-meter tower of the Basilica “Il Carmine Maggiore.” Before leaving, they prayed to the Blessed Mother for safe passage and vowed lifelong gratitude in return. That promise inspired Italian immigrants to build OLMC churches across the U.S. in the late 1800s and early 1900s—many of which still stand today in Manhattan, Newark, Orange, Jersey City, Montclair, and Lyndhurst.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast: A Berkeley Heights Tradition

Each year on July 16th, the Mount Carmel Society honors the vow with the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The day begins with an 8:00am procession from Little Flower Parish, where members, families, and neighbors walk through town with the OLMC statue, handing out brown scapulars, collecting pinned donations, and firing ceremonial cannons in tribute to veterans and past members. The procession returns to Little Flower for a special Mass around 11:00am. That evening, the celebration continues with food, music, games, drinks (21+), and a spectacular fireworks display by Berkeley Heights’ own Santore Family of Garden State Fireworks.