Last Updated on September 6, 2024 by Editor
ABOUT US
St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Parish is located at 648 Jay Street, in Utica, NY.
Our church was established in 1896 by the Italian Immigrants. On Sept. 15, 1901, St. Bishop Scalabrini blessed the cornerstone of our church.
For 95 years, Mount Carmel was staffed by the Scalabrini fathers, and for 80 years, while our school was open, the Franciscan sisters.
In July 1991, Mount Carmel became a parish under the Diocese of Syracuse. We continue to be a strong and vibrant parish, serving the needs of all races and nationalities in our culturally diverse city and its surrounding areas where ALL ARE WELCOME.
Faith Formation, formerly known as Religious Education, denotes more than knowledge of God and the tenets of our Catholic Religion, which are important. Faith Formation speaks of a continuing growth in our relationship with God and the Church — the People of God. It also includes prayer, worship, and a sense of service to each other.
FAITH FORMATION IS LIFELONG AND ONGOING
It is our goal that the young people in our program:
- Know their faith.
- Participate actively in liturgy and sacraments.
- Make moral decisions with an informed conscience.
- Pray always and in all ways.
- Fully participate in our faith community.
- Hold a missionary outlook/spirit.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
Children’s faith is first formed with the family. “The role of parents … is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.”(Declaration of Christian Education No. 3 — Vatican II). Being instrumental in your child’s faith formation helps you grow in your own faith. To this end, we offer parent sessions, adult formation opportunities, and formation sessions for children.
THE FAITH FORMATION PROCESS
- Proclaims and teaches God’s Word.
- Is committed to enabling growth in faith and relationship to Jesus.
- Follows the guidance of the General Directory for Catechesis and the National Catechetical Directory.
- Uses texts that are in accordance with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.