On Sunday 14 July, the community of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish, Wentworthville celebrated their patronal Feast Day.
The Parish, dating from 1946, was originally established as St Columba’s, which also included nearby areas of Pendle Hill/Greystanes, Toongabbie and Westmead. The Carmelite friars have been caretakers of the parish since 1956.
The church was filled for the principal Mass at 10am, with standing-room only in the narthex and overflowing out to the driveway.
It was wonderful to see so many families, couples, teens and individuals walking into the narthex before Mass carrying aromatic dishes of food, condiments, and desserts to share with everyone later.
The main celebrant was Parish Priest, Fr Januario (Janu) Pinto OCarm, with Carmelite Fathers Albino (Alby) Dos Santos, Anthony Scerri and Paul Gurr concelebrating. The liturgical rites were celebrated with a joyful solemnity, inviting the people to a deeper and fuller relationship with God through the intercession of Our Lady.
Priest in resident Fr Paul Gurr OCarm (left), Parish Priest Fr Januario (Janu) Pinto OCarm (second left) and Assistant Priest Albino (Alby) Dos Santos (right) with a parishioner during the feast day celebrations at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville. Image: Supplied
The Offertory Procession was a visual feast with parishioners presenting the gifts dressed in the national garments from their homelands, while the Prayers of the Faithful were proclaimed in six different languages. The full choir, accompanied by the ever-popular pipe organ, added to the solemnity and devotion of this very special and holy occasion.
After Communion, Fr Janu blessed the brown scapulars that were worn by many in the congregation.
After Mass, parishioners gathered in the narthex where they generously shared with one another the many delectable foods from an array of cultural backgrounds. Then, having feasted on delicacies from around the world, parishioners provided entertainment which included music, folk singing, poetry, dancing, and even operatic singing. In honour of the occasion, a very special song was written to lightly portray some of the characters that form the backbone of our dear parish.
Parishioners are seen during the feast day celebrations at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville. Image: Supplied
Our Parish is like an extended family – embracing scores of different nationalities merging into one multicultural entity so colourful and diverse, yet clearly identified as one united and strong community.
Undoubtedly, the success of this event was based on our wonderful parishioners collaborating together to share and celebrate the many gifts that we have been blessed with, through our friend Jesus and with the example of Our Lady of Mt Carmel.
Frank Zammit is a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville.
