61st Annual Outdoor Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
During the Novena you may visit our Podcast page to listen into the Novena and view photos.
“Those who look to you All Holy Mother Never lose their serenity No matter what the hardships of life.” -- Pope Benedict XVI
Dear Friends of Carmel,
With Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we invite you to join us in the Solemn Novena beginning on Saturday, July 11th and ending on Sunday, July 19th. Each year hundreds of the faithful come to Carmel to honor their loving Mother Mary and to implore her intercession.
Great is our need to come to our Mother who loves each one of us. Mary wants to save her children and to bring us to her Divine Son. A mother immediately recognizes the dangers that surround her children. Therefore, Mary knows well what we need before we ask her; but she still wants us to bring our lives to her.
One day the Divine Master exclaimed under the impulse of ardent love: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you." [Matt. 11:28]. And a great crowd of men, women and children followed Him, forgetful of everything. The cry of Jesus is echoed by Mary's cry which is none the less compassionate. What tenderness we discover in this our mother, what loving care and desire to help us! Let us entrust to her our every hope, consolation, trail and suffering in our lives. Living with Mary is a great comfort in all of life's hours, for Mary consoles, relieves and even carries us if necessary.
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands!
The Order of Carmel has at all times been zealous in spreading far and wide the love of prayer, the desire for evangelical perfection, and devotion to the Mother of Christ.Their special devotion is to the Blessed Virgin under the title of "Our Lady of Mount Carmel": as they make their journey to the "holy mountain which is Christ", she cherishes them as a loving mother, protects them as a sure patroness, and accompanies them as a faithful sister. The Carmelites, though they are assiduous in meditating on the totality of the mystery of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are particularly devoted to contemplation of our Lady intent ofn prayer, or leading her hidden life, or treasuring the words of the Lord in her heart, or doing her works of charity.
Our Lady has always been known by the Carmelite brothers and sisters as "mother and teacher in the Spirit" because she was a perfect disciple of Christ and "is still a mother, continuing to give "God" children ... encouraging them by her love, and drawing them by her example to pursue perfect charity.
| Date | Theme | Main Celebrant | Parish | Deacon | Choir |
| Saturday, July 11th: | Mary, Disciple of the Lord | Rev. Michael J. Houser | Associate Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish | Deacon Anthony Ochoa | Carmelite Sisters – Divine Heart |
| Sunday, July 12th | Mary, Mother of Divine Hope | Rev. Timothy P. Elliott | Pastor, St. Gianna Parish | Deacon Albert Vaughn | St. Gianna Parish Choir |
| Monday, July 13th | Mary, Cause of our Joy | Rev. David P. Skillman | Associate Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton | Deacon James Holbrook | St. John the Baptist Parish Choir |
| Tuesday, July 14th | Mary of Nazareth | Rev. Daniel Chowning, OCD | Carmelite Desert | Deacon Norman Werne | St. Mark Parish Choir |
| Wednesday, July 15th | Mary, the Immaculate Conception | Rev. Daniel Chowning, OCD | Hinton, West Virginia | Deacon Richard Vehige | The Choir Boys |
| Thursday, July 16th | Mary, Queen, Beauty of Carmel | Rev. Daniel Chowning, OCD | Hinton, West Virginia | Deacon Timothy Noelker | Crux Ave Ensemble |
| Friday, July 17th | Mary, Queen of Peace | Msgr. Timothy P. Cronin | Rector, Cardinal Glennon College Seminary | Deacon Lee Martin | Eyes of the Heart |
| Saturday, July 18th | Mary, Queen and Mother of Mercy | Rev. Mark Chrismer | Associate Pastor of Sacred Heart, Valley Park | Deacon Delfin Leonardo | Filipino-American Friendship Choir |
| Sunday, July 19th | Mary, Gate of Heaven | Archbishop Robert J. Carlson | Archbishop of St. Louis | Deacon Anthony Yates | St. Mary Magdalene Choir Brentwood |
