A Timeline of Parish History 1880 - About fifty Catholic families live in the Ridgewood area. 1888 - Enough Catholic families in Ridgewood to establish a congregation. 1889 - Father Michael Nevins is appointed to establish the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 1890 - Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carrigan deed the Union St. house and adjacent lot to the church. The house is used as a rectory and church. 1890 - Rev. Dr. Charles Mull becomes pastor. 1890 - August 24 - Cornerstone is laid for OLMC, a wood building in Byzantium style and will seat 250 parishioners. 1901 - Rev. Father Paul T. Carew begins Mission Churches in Wyckoff and Ramsey. 1908 - Rev. Edward M. O'Malley becomes pastor and remains pastor for thirteen years. 1912 - Purchase of entire city block on Passaic St. 1914 - September 20 - Cornerstone of new church is laid on the Passaic St. property. 1915 - July 4 - New Gothic-style church seating 500 people is dedicated. 1920 - James D. Craig deeds 24 Passaic St. property, site of OLMC's present rectory. 1921 - Father Edward F. Kirk becomes pastor and remains pastor for 29 years. 1923 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel School opens with 35 students. Sister Fidelis Angela of the Sisters of Charity is its first principal. 1930 - Because of increasing enrollment, a new school is built to educate 150 students. 1930-1945 - The OLMC community weathers both the Great Depression and World War II and aids those in need. 1949 - OLMC Mission Church is established in Glen Rock. A modern cafeteria is installed at the school. The Home and School Association is formed. 1950 - Father Kielty handles Church administration during Father Kirk's illness and for 15 months after Father Kirk's death. 1950 - Father Kielty helps Knights of Columbus acquire their clubhouse at Broad and Hudson Streets. 1951 - Monsignor James F. Kelley, former president of Seton Hall College, is appointed pastor of OLMC. 1951 - Additions are made to accommodate ever-increasing enrollment. 1959 - Existing Church is razed to make way for current Church. 1960 - October 29 - Cornerstone is laid for current classic Basilica Church. 1967 - In accordance with the Decree on Ecumenism, OLMC participates in an "Open House" with other churches in the area. 1976 - Monsignor James F. Kelley retires. Monsignor Francis J. Houghton becomes pastor. 1976 - Ann Holland becomes first full-time director of Religious Education. 1977 - Karen Chiappini becomes the parish's first full-time music director. 1977 - Robert V. Thomann is the first member of the parish to be ordained to the Order of Permanent Deacon. 1980's - Expansion of the number of parish ministries and redesign of several interior church areas occur during this decade. 1989 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrates its 100th. Anniversary. 1989 (October) - Msgr. Charles J. McDonnell becomes pastor, after retiring from the Armed Forces. 1991 (September) - Fr. Robert G. Gibney becomes pastor of OLMC. 1997 (June) - Msgr. Ronald J. Rozniak becomes pastor of OLMC. 2002 (June) - Inauguration of OLMC's Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. |
