3D"History

A Dream becomes a Reality=

It was a chilly winter day in December of 1955 = when the groundbreaking for the parish school took place. All of this began back in the early 1940’s when the first of the famous Mount Carm= el bazaars was held to raise funds for this project. Pursuing the building of a school = was whole-heartedly endorsed by the parishioners and clergy. Every social group participated in= the fundraising activities with such e= vents such as live-turkey raffles, spaghetti suppers, rummage sales, public aucti= ons, pot-luck suppers, and dances with all of the proceeds going to the building fund.

By mid-1954 a building fund nucleus of $133,239= .13 had been accumulated and on October 15, 1954 the official approval to erect= a parish school was granted. Me= eting after meeting was held under the direction of then pastor, Fr. Emmanuel Hourihan, O. Carm. to set up fundraising teams, solicit pledges and memorial gifts and see to the details of the Building Fund Campaign. The building design and principal = architect was the work of Gordon S. Marvel, A.I.A.

Fr. Emmanuel then appointed Mr. Edward J. Carey= to act as the general chairman, Mr. Lawrence Reineke and Dr. Donald Hughes to cover memorial gifts and Mr. Robert Hulse as community committee chairman.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Each of the mission parishes of Ho= ly Name in Otisville, St. Paul’s in Bullville, Our Lady of the Assumption in Bloomingburg, Our Lady of the Scap= ular in Unionville, and Holy Cross in South Centerville were represented by enthusiastic team members making up the divisional administration of the campaign. Father Emmanuel was also assisted by a large group of Mt. Carmel parishioners and his pastoral associates of Fr. Forrester, Fr. Nagle, Fr. H= owe, and Fr. Timothy.

The slogan for the building fund campaign used = in billboards and advertising was “for God, Church, and our Youth” – Pray – Work – Give.&nb= sp; The goal was to raise sufficient funds to include a full-size gymnasium/auditorium and cafeteria and to eventually construct an adjacent convent.

By September 1956 the doors opened to one hundr= ed and forty-seven kindergarten through fourth grade pupils who now officially beg= an their first semester at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School. The parish was able to use the ser= vices of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Sparkill for our teaching staff. For many years before this the Carmelite Sisters and the Ursaline Sisters along with= our assistant pastors instructed our children in religion and sacrament preparation.

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On the Feast of the Holy Rosary, October 7, 195= 6, ground was broken for the convent. T= he first principal of the school was Sister Mary Thomas Walsh (1956-1962). The Dominican Sisters were present= as principals and teachers until 1991.

The official blessing of the convent and school= took place on Sunday, June 23, 1957 as hundreds proudly gathered as His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Spellman, blessed each room of the convent and hung a cruc= ifix in its entranceway. From the convent a procession escorted by the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Color Guard made its way to the school where similar dedication ceremonies were repeated. The convent now hou= ses the Priory for the Carmelite priests, the parish offices, Religious Educati= on office and the Chapel. <= /o:p>

Father Emmanuel recognized the importance of su= pport and active participation and wasted no time in organizing the Parents’ Guild. Without the untiring e= fforts of dedicated parents and parishioners a school would not be able to continue. Right away the Parents’ Guild set to organizing fun and fruitful activities including continuing the Labor Day weekend Bazaar, social games, Penny Socials, spagh= etti dinners (in our new cafeteria and kitchen), Communion breakfasts, Christmas Fair, Moms & Pops a Poppin’, St. Patrick’s Day variety show= and the annual car raffle. Still = today the success and future of a Catholic school is forever indebted to our pare= nts who entrust us to care for their children and guide them in the Catholic fa= ith.

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The slogan that began in the 1950’s and w= as able to begin the Capital Campaign still holds true today – Pray, Wor= k, Give.

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September 2006 marked the celebration of the school’= ;s Golden Anniversary. A committ= ee was established in June 2006 to arrange for the festivities. Our many parish organizations assi= sted in providing for a memorable occasion.&nbs= p; Congratulations came from the Cardinal’s office, the Superintendent of Schools and the Orange County Executive. A Proclamation w= as issued from the office of Senator John Bonacic of the New York State Senate= and read aloud at the reception. = The 11:30 a.m. Mass celebrate= d by Pastor, Fr. Frank Dixon, and assisted by school children in uniform began t= he celebration. A reception unde= r the direction of our Special Events committee followed. Invitations were sent to the first graduating class (1961). Many of the Dominican Sisters who formerly taught = at Mt. Carmel were able to attend as well as a good number of alumni. Displays were set up of past uniforms, memorial plaques= , and photo albums. A commemorative journal of congratulatory messages from our friends, benefactors and associ= ates throughout the community was published.

Mt. Carmel School was the first Catholic School in Orange County to go through the process of receiving accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Official accreditation was received in 1994. By 2004/05 we were up for renewal = and in the Fall of 2005 Mount Carmel began work= ing on the development of its Strategic Plan for reaccreditation. A Planning Committee was establish= ed and complying with the protocols and requirements of the selected format, “Renewing the Vision” we sent our report to the Middle States Associa= tion in September 2006. A visiting= team was hosted in November who then recommended Mt. Carmel School for reaccreditation. Following the annual meeting of the B= oard of Directors we received official notification of reaccre= ditation in April of 2007. Our Lady of= Mount Carmel recently was responsible for formulating a three-year report and hos= ting a Middle States representative. Again the Middle States Commission on Elementary Education views Our Lady of Mount Carmel School as one who fulfills its = Mission and Philosophy .

Along with the many slogans that have = arisen through the years the one that will always hold true is: Home – Church – School as we continue to put ourselves under the protection and guidance of our patroness, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

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