Building a Catholic Church in Bridgeport Pennsylvania 

Laying the Foundation

          From a small building rented from Salvatore Paschall to the beautiful church we worship in today, Our Lady of Mount Carmel's parishioners have always exhibited pride in their ethnic heritage and the Bridgeport community.

          In 1923, a young energetic priest named John Colantonio settled in Bridgeport with the vision of forming an Italian Parish.  In early 1924, Reverend John Colantonio set up the rudimentary parish and people gathered to worship at 112 Holstein Street , which was formerly a stable and then a warehouse for the James Bell Store (corner of Holstein and Ford).  Although the building was capable of holding only one hundred worshippers, the small room did not stop the growing faith and number of Catholics that wanted to worship with their fellow Italians.  Reverend Colantonio held daily services and high mass on Sundays. 

          1924 was a landmark year for the ever-growing Catholic Italian community in Bridgeport since “The New Italian Parish”, officially became Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  August 9^th, 1924 , marked the formal establishment of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the diocese of Philadelphia .  Within the first two years of the formation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the parish had as of January of 1926 a population of 1200 Roman Catholics.  Rev. Colantonio performed 97 Baptisms, 92 First Communions, and 10 marriages during the first 18 months of the fledgling parish. 

          As our parish community expanded, the need for a permanent place of worship grew.  With the charitable donation of land at the corner of Ford and Beech Alley by Joseph and Philomena Phillips and the guidance of the new pastor, Rev. Mannella, construction of the “ Lower Church ” began in 1926.  

          During the early years of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Great Depression impacted Bridgeport and caused hardship, but the church remained the cornerstone of the Italian community of Bridgeport .  Through the rough times of the Thirties until the end of the Second World War, Our Lady of Mount Carmel comforted and inspired the Italian population of Bridgeport .

         1940 began a new chapter in the life of the church.  Rev. Joseph Megna arrived in Bridgeport with ambitions to erect a new church on top of the existing “ Lower Church ".  On August 24, 1949 , the dream became a reality when Reverend Megna dedicated the completed “ Upper Church ”.  During the dedication ceremony, special recognition was given to the four hundred plus members who served during the Second World War.  The soldiers also sent contributions from overseas to support the growing parish. 

          The building that we see today is very similar to the one built in the Forties.  Improvements and minors modifications have been made in the ensuing years, however, everything could have been lost.  In 1968 on a November day, the 30^th to be exact, a fire almost destroyed the church.

          Mary Stelmach was the first to detect the blaze as she left the Bridgeport Pharmacy at approximately one in the afternoon.  She noticed smoke rising from the rear of the church.  Mary quickly notified Rev. Carl D. Cellucci, the assistant pastor to Rev. Edward G. Craney. Within minutes sirens sounded throughout Bridgeport as firemen from No.1 and Good Will responded immediately.  Sweedesburg Fire Company assisted in the effort as fire and smoke poured out from windows and doors.  An investigation found that the fire started between the lower and upper staircases.  The basement altar sustained most of the damage.  The fire also damaged many of the vestments, seven valuable ciboriums and chalices, a large Bible, and many other church items.  The building remained stable, quick restoration of the lower church followed, and the spirit of the parish continued to thrive.

STACKING THE BRICKS

          Religious instruction is the insurance that we as Catholics have to enrich our faith, which calms during times of uncertainty, and is the bond that holds us together in times of need.  In 1952, Our Lady of Mount Carmel organized its own religious education program.  The parish school opened with a student body of two hundred sixty-six.  The Parish Hall, the meeting place for the groups and societies of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, became the classrooms for the new school.

          As more parishioners realized the importance of Catholic education, they began to send their sons and daughters to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School.  Subsequently the school grew in size.  The addition of more classrooms and a full service library built in 1982, which the parish dedicated to Father Edward Craney, improved the educational opportunities of the Catholic children in the Bridgeport community. 

          The school year of 1977 brought great change as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School faced declining enrollment and this led to a merger with St. Augustine ’s School.  The new name of the school was St. Augustine - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School.  The first merger lasted approximately twenty-two years when in 1999 Sacred Heart Catholic School in Swedesburg joined the merged schools.  Subsequently, the children of the 3 schools named their new school Holy Trinity Catholic School .

         Throughout the changes of Catholic education in the Bridgeport community, the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have been a stable source of guidance.  Their dedication to Mary and the school has influenced us through the years.  The nuns’ presence and their years of faithful service have blessed us. 

BINDING THE STONES

          The La Grande Festa Italiana, the most anticipated parish event, occurs every year on the second weekend in July to honor our patron, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  The "Feast" brings together the parish community and the whole community of Bridgeport to venerate Our Lady of Mount Carmel and to enjoy the Italian food, fun, and tradition.  Pizza Frita, Porchetta, Tripe, Roast Beef and Sausage sandwiches are only just a few of the many delicious Italian specialties the "Feast" offers.  The live music and friendly atmosphere has kept the "Feast" going through the years.  The Verde Band and the scents of the food turn Bridgeport into “Little Italy” for three extraordinary days.

          The Sunday during the La Grande Festa Italiana is the climax of the three-day Festival.  We celebrate a special mass in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  Following the mass is the traditional procession throughout the streets of Bridgeport .  The local Italian clubs and societies carry the church statues they represent during the procession.  Many parishioners walk in the procession displaying their Catholic faith and pride in the Italian heritage.  The Verdi Band accompanies the procession as well as the voices of the Italian women who sing traditional Italian hymns relative to their homeland.  For over eighty years, the La Grande Festa Italiana transforms Bridgeport into “Little Italy” and is a special time for family and friends of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.