By Kate Twiss
Contributing writer
The bell at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church sounded on Sept. 21, inviting all to take their pews inside the historic church in honor of the 180th anniversary of its founding. The 11 a.m. Mass was concelebrated by Father John. F. Hogan, Jr., pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Camden, and Father R. Paul Mathis, who retired in 2019. Filled to capacity, familiar faces focused on the messages delivered by the priests as light streamed through the fully renovated stained glass windows, each bearing inscriptions of long-ago donors and names of those to be memorialized.
As Fr. Hogan began his homily, he thanked all for coming and went on to give a brief history of the building that has served the community as a Catholic church since 1845. Father described how the Irish immigrants settled the area, and as their numbers grew, they needed to sustain their Catholic faith through worship and the sacraments: “They implored Father William Beecham of St. Peter’s in Rome, NY to visit periodically, starting in the late 1830s, to celebrate Mass and offer the sacraments, gathering in private homes. The need was great. With Beecham’s help, and with permission from the Diocese, which was then governed from New York City, a former Baptist seminary was purchased for about $700, thus creating St. Mary of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, high on the hill in Florence.
“St. Mary’s first pastor was Father Robert KeKelliher, and he served until 1852,” Father Hogan continued. “The early parish served the entire area, encompassing Camden, Annsville, Redfield, Osceola, Williamstown, and several communities on the North Shore of Oneida Lake. In time, other communities founded their own parishes, but St. Mary’s is credited as the area’s Mother Church.”
Father John F. Hogan, Jr. and Father R. Paul Mathis draw winning tickets from a tumbler on Sunday. The annual Mass and raffle revenues are the main fundraisers for the upkeep of St. Mary’s. The Friends of St. Mary’s organization was formed nearly 20 years ago to ensure the future of the historic church and the cemetery that surrounds it. Closed for regularly scheduled Masses in 2003, St. Mary’s is now a Devotional Chapel, available for weddings, funerals, and special Masses. Photo credit | Kate Twiss
At the conclusion of Mass, Friends of St. Mary’s spokesperson, Michael D. Clark, gave a progress report on the projects tackled in the last year. He also offered special mention to those who renovated the stained glass, performed work on the basement and roof, and gave financial support over the years. Clark thanked Fathers Hogan and Mathis for coming and spoke fondly of the late Bishop Thomas J. Costello, for whom the Mass was offered, remembering all his help and support in the early years of the restoration effort.
After Mass, parishioners made their way from the church into the dooryard for cake, ice cream, and raffles. A bagpiper and a young violinist provided music from the sidelines.
The Friends of Saint Mary’s wish to extend heartfelt gratitude to Fathers Hogan and Mathis and to all who participated, taking the time to spend a few hours celebrating at the beautiful historic church, high on the hill in Florence.
