Last Updated on December 26, 2024 by Editor
The Salerno Room on June 25 once again was alive with music of our summer Bistro. The room, filled with parishioners and friends, enjoyed light snacks and refreshments. Entertainment was provided by Coro Italiano. Photos courtesy of Mario Scalzo.
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The Italian Heritage Club and the Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Social Ministry celebrated “Carnevale” Saturday, March 1, in the gymnasium. The family-oriented event, organized by A.J. Valentini, was full of fun activities and sweet treats. Children were instructed on how to create colorful Carnevale masks and color Carnevale images. The children learned how to dance the traditional tarantella. The morning culminated in a parade of mask-wearing children and their adults to show off their handiwork and dancing prowess. Proceeds from the cookie sale go to the Abraham House. Here are photos and a video from the celebration.
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About 50 people attended the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica's lecture and walking tour of our parish on Monday, July 28. Our own Fred Valentini led the tour explaining the history of the parish from its roots in 1896, to the beautiful paintings, to how the parish emerged over the years. Fred provided these photos.
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On Tuesday, May 20, young adults from several parishes — including Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament — received the Sacrament of Confirmation Historic Old St. John’s Church from Bishop Robert Cunningham. In addition to our parish and St. John’s, teens from St. Anthony & St. Agnes, St. Mark’s, St. Joseph St. Patrick and St. John the Evangelist were confirmed. Here are the youths from our parish who received the Holy Spirit in the sacrament: Andrea Guadalupe Casey, Mia Lucia Dumoulin, David Joseph Fanelli, February Peter Htoo, Lennon Andrew Knoop, Patricia Rose Ja Seng Ra Lahtem, Elias Anthony Rosa, Gianna Kateri Tekawitha Rosa, Kiernan Sebastian Sullivan, Connor John Thibault, Christian Sebastian Vella.
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The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was celebrated in a beautiful and prayerful way during the Easter Vigil on April 19. The story of creation from Genesis was presented in a stirring video, the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt was depicted in song and dance, and the Gospel story of the women finding the tomb empty was proclaimed. Two engaged adults were fully initiated into the Catholic faith and a young boy was baptized and received his First Holy Communion. The celebration culminated in the receiving the Body of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
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Engaged couples who plan to be married in our church this year were introduced at the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 9. Prior to Mass, they gathered in the Salerno Room to discuss the Sacrament of Marriage to help better prepare them for their lives together. Members of the parish's Marriage Ministry guided the couples. The couples present were: Alyssa DiBrango and John LaMarco, Ariana Robertello and Michael Senus, Kasper Cuda and Ryan Drake, and Natalie Saldana and Damian Rivera. Not present were Natalia Constantine and Angel Amanna.
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On Sunday, Jan. 5, our parish celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany. The Three Kings made a visit and presented their gifts to the baby Jesus. Also making an appearance was La Befana. On Jan. 5, throughout Italy, excited children prepare for a late-night visit from La Befana by hanging up socks to be filled with small delights. Befana, a grandmotherly woman who resembles a kindly witch, brings gifts to good little children, depositing them in stockings hung above the hearth, then tidying up a bit before taking her leave.
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The parish's first Epiphany Gala took place on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Twin Ponds Golf & Country Club in New York Mills. Attendees were treated to a night of good food, friendship, dancing, and entertainment by Frank Cannistra. The event took the place of the annual Christmas Gala. The Social Ministry decided the best time to gather was after the holidays to avoid the hustle and bustle of the season. These photos are courtesy of A.J. Valentini and Mario Scalzo.
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The annual Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Italian Festival opened on Friday, July 18, under beautiful skies and temperatures in the mid 70s. The festival grounds were crowded as lines formed for food, pizza fritta and the Flea Market (which had the longest line). Musical entertainment graced the assembly as people ate, met with friends and family and enjoyed the night. The festival continued Saturday and Sunday.
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Prior to the annual festival, parishioners and friends get together to cut vegetables for the sausage and peppers, mushroom stew and more. And for the four days before festival Friday, a group of adults meet daily to set up the festival grounds. Others gather in the kitchen to cook the sausage, meatballs and mushroom stew.
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On Sunday, July 20, the Procession in Honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel continued the long tradition in our parish. The annual march takes place on the weekend of the Italian Festival.
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On Sunday, April 27, 2025, 15 children received their First Holy Communion with their families and friends in attendance. The children, under the guidance of Terri Panuccio, K-6 Faith Formation director, have been preparing for this day for months. The children’s last names are not published due to diocesan guidelines that prohibit identifying children younger than 18. (Photos by Deb Chandler, deeTales Photography)
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The 12th annual Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Parish Golf Tournament teed off on Sunday, Aug. 17, at Twin Ponds Golf & Country Club in New York Mills. Nearly 100 golfers (and would-be golfers) participated in the tournament, which Father Jim began in 2013 as another fundraiser for the parish. (The tournament did not take place in 2020 due to the pandemic.) Participants were treated to goodie bags, bloody marys, food and drinks on the course and a prime rib dinner with all the fixings. There also were chances to win prizes on the course and raffles for items ranging from a TV, golf bag and other assorted baskets. All proceeds benefit the parish.
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Mount Carmel Church nearly was filled to capacity on Holy Thursday, April 17, as parishioners from Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament and St. Anthony & St. Agnes commemorated the Lord's Last Supper. There was the traditional washing of the feet of 12 people representing the disciples, the honoring of the Holy Eucharist that Christ instituted at the Last Supper, and the procession with the Eucharist around the dark church. The services were followed by an hour of musical meditation by our Music Ministry.
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The annual Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Lenten Luncheon was served on Wednesday, March 26, in the gymnasium. About 30 people enjoyed their choice of a tuna fish or grilled cheese sandwich and were served a bowl of minestrone soup. Proceeds from the event benefit Abraham House. Many thanks to the Social Ministry for organizing the luncheon.
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On Sunday, May 11, parishioners honored Our Lady with the traditional May Crowning. Children from the First Communion class participated during the 8 and 11 a.m. Masses. As the statue of Mary was crowned, the traditional hymn "Bring Flowers of the Rarest" was sung. After communion "On This Day O Beautiful Mother" was sung.
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Parishioners at Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament celebrated Palm Sunday's remembrance of Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Our traditional procession around the church to the strains of "Jerusalem My Destiny" included parishioners, lectors, ministers and children. The Passion of Our Lord was proclaimed by several readers at both Sunday Masses.
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Members and friends of the Santa Rosalia Society honored their patron saint on the weekend of Sept. 23 and 24 with its annual festival, Mass and procession. Hundreds gathered to share food, drink, entertainment and camaraderie. In 1915, immigrants from Sicily, and particularly Palermo, established the first Santa Rosalia festival in East Utica. It was a simple affair and took place in a backyard on Jay Street across from the site of the present Santa Rosalia Chapel. In the following year, the festivities became more elaborate, and yearly attendance blossomed to the point that by 1920, local English-language newspapers spoke of it. Lights were strung across Mohawk Street from Bleecker to Broad streets. The air was filled with the sound of music and the delicious odor of Italian food. People worshiped, mingled, socialized, relived memories and became acquainted with new entrants into the community. That tradition, on a smaller scale, continues today. Photos courtesy of Fred Valentini.
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