Honoring our past, celebrating our present, moving toward our future:   Two benches have been placed under the front canopy at what is now known as the Rhodes Elementary School.  These benches were donated by the Mt. Carmel Alumni Association. The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, which owned the school property, entered a Lease/Purchase Agreement with Niles City Schools in October of 2009. One of the benches is in honor of all alumni and staff who served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School.  The other is in memory of the Alumni Association’s Chairman and President Robert DeChristofaro, Jr.   The building, which was known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel School from 1957-2007,  presently serves as the school for more than four hundred first and second graders as Niles City Schools prepares to construct new buildings.  The building and grounds have been beautified by many external and internal improvements by means of public school funding.  The site will continue to be used for a variety of purposes by our local public school system after new buildings on other public school properties are constructed.  The Alumni Association thanks Mr. Rocco Adduci and we thank him and all people who made it possible to place the benches there.

The entire parish extends gratitude to the Mount Carmel Society for paying for the beautiful landscaping, temporary plaque, relocating and restoration costs associated with the statue of Our Lady that used to be in front of the Rhodes Avenue building, and for the lighting that illuminates the statue at its new location in front of the church building.  It is important for us to pay tribute to and pray for all the people whose lives were touched by Our Lady of Mount Carmel School.  We keep in mind that this includes a multitude of Mount Carmel Society members, pastors, priests, religious, school principals, teachers, aids, school employees, students, parents, siblings, grandparents, other relatives, friends, associations, clubs, guilds, organizations, societies, volunteers, neighbors, community members here and elsewhere, and many other people.   Plans are underway to construct and erect a more permanent memorial in place of the temporary plaque in front of the church near the statue.  Thanks to everyone for working together so well in this endeavor.

Festival Profit for 2010:  Speaking of working together so very well, our parish festival realized a profit through September 2 of $132,833.32 (one hundred thirty two thousand eight hundred and thirty three dollars and thirty-two cents.)  This number could change slightly before the Fiscal Year ends on June 30 of 2011, but the vast majority of expenses have been paid and income has been received.   (Our Fiscal Year runs from July1 through June 30.)  We are proud of the many loyal parishioners who are so very dedicated to our festival and our parish.  We are also proud of many people who have just recently begun to step forward and help with the festival. Your labor of love continues to honor our legacy and enables us to touch the lives of many people with the love of Christ in new and meaningful ways.
God bless everyone, and keep up the good spirit and fine work! ~ Father Larry Frient