A Historic Italian Catholic Parish in the Heart of North Denver
Tucked into a quiet block of Navajo Street in Denver's Sunnyside neighborhood, Our Lady of Mount Carmel has stood for more than 130 years as the spiritual home of Italian Catholic life in North Denver. The parish was established in 1894 by Italian immigrants and has been served by the Servite Friars since 1904. Today the church building, the adjoining Servite Hall at 3517 Navajo Street, and the surrounding community still carry the marks of the Italian neighborhood that built it, and the parish keeps that heritage alive through a monthly Mass in Italian, an annual summer feast day, and a slate of devotional traditions tied to the Carmelite scapular and the Servite saints.
The parish describes itself as "a caring and active parish family in the heart of North Denver's former Little Italy," and visitors today find a community that welcomes new members, offers full sacramental life, and runs a busy calendar of feast days, fundraisers, and devotional events. The chapel is open for private prayer on most days, and the parish office at 3549 Navajo Street is the hub for registrations, sacramental preparation, and community information.
Served by the Servites Since 1904
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is staffed by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary, known as the Servites, and that order has shaped the parish's character for well over a century. The Servite story begins in thirteenth century Florence, where seven prosperous men gave up their comfortable lives to honor Mary, the Mother of God. They moved first into a dilapidated building outside the city and then to the summit of nearby Mount Senario, where their penitential life attracted others seeking spiritual counsel. The bishop of Florence formally recognized the order between 1240 and 1247, and the Holy See gave definitive approval in 1304.
The Servites arrived in the United States around 1852 when Father Antoninus Grunder began working with German Catholics in New York and eastern Pennsylvania. By 1870 Bishop Joseph Melcher of Green Bay had invited the order into his diocese, and four Servites took charge of St. Charles Church in Menasha, Wisconsin. Chicago became the American center of Servite life after Bishop Foley invited them there in 1874. Today the Servites minister on six continents, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the parishes where their Marian spirituality and Italian heritage meet.
That dual identity is reflected in the parish's patroness, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Carmelite scapular, a small cloth worn over the shoulders, is one of the most recognizable signs of that devotion, and the parish preserves the tradition by sharing Our Lady's words to St. Simon Stock: "Take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."
Mass Schedule: Saturday Evenings, Sundays, and Weekday Mornings
The regular rhythm of the parish centers on a stable weekly Mass schedule. Saturday anticipatory Mass is celebrated at 4:00 PM, and Sunday Masses are offered at 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, and 11:00 AM. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM, and because the main church is used for other activities during the week, weekday Mass takes place in the Parish Office chapel. On the first and second Saturdays of the month, an additional 9:00 AM Mass is offered, with the second Saturday reserved for the special healing Mass described below.
Confessions are heard on Saturdays from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM, immediately before the anticipated Mass, and priests are also available for confession by appointment. During Advent and Lent, the parish gathers the faithful for communal penance services. The parish encourages all Catholics to receive the sacrament at least once a year in keeping with Canon Law, and notes that a good confession is required before receiving Holy Communion when one is conscious of grave sin.
La Prima Domenica: Mass in Italian
Every first Sunday of the month at 9:00 AM, the parish celebrates La Prima Domenica, a Mass in Italian that gathers the local Italian American community, alumni, and visitors who want to hear the liturgy prayed in the language of the founders. The Mass is followed by a breakfast in Servite Hall sponsored each month by a different Italian club or family, including the Order of the Sons of Italy (OSDIA Denver #2075), Potenza Lodge, the Mauro Family, the Altar and Rosary Society, and the umbrella All Italian Clubs.
The Italian Mass is one of the parish's most distinctive offerings and a clear sign of its identity. In Denver, where Italian heritage is woven through neighborhoods like Sunnyside and Highland, the tradition draws people who want to pass the language and customs of their forebears to the next generation. Visitors are warmly invited to join the breakfast, and the parish encourages new faces at every Prima Domenica.
The St. Peregrine Healing Mass
On the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 AM, the parish celebrates a healing Mass in honor of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer patients and a beloved saint of the Servite order. The Mass includes the Anointing of the Sick for those who desire it, and the parish notes that Fr. Chris Krymski has been involved in St. Peregrine ministries for more than twenty years and previously served as director of the National Shrine of St. Peregrine.
The devotion has drawn a steady following from across the Denver area. Catholics seeking the sacrament for themselves or for a loved one are invited to attend, and the parish welcomes anyone who wishes simply to join in prayer. The Mass is held in English and follows the regular liturgical calendar.
Sacraments: From Baptism Through Holy Matrimony
Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and offers preparation for each. Infant baptism, for children from newborn to age five, is scheduled four times a year on the last Sunday of the month at noon, with required instruction for parents and godparents the Thursday before at 6:00 PM in the Parish Office. Parents are asked to contact the parish at least two months in advance and either be registered members themselves or bring written permission from their own parish. Each child needs at least one practicing Catholic godparent who has received Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
Children ages six through seventeen prepare for Baptism through the two year Rite of Christian Initiation for Children, while adults prepare through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, with Baptism typically celebrated at the Easter Vigil. First Communion and Confirmation are received together, often at a special Saturday Mass at 4:00 PM, followed by a reception sponsored by the Altar and Rosary Society.
Couples planning to marry at Mount Carmel are asked to contact the parish at least eight months in advance so that preparation can begin well before the wedding day. The Anointing of the Sick is available to any Catholic who is seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or of advanced age, and can be arranged through the Parish Office. Confession, described above, is offered weekly and by appointment.
Religious Education and OCIA
The parish runs a Religious Education program for children ages four through seventeen who are preparing to receive the sacraments or who want to deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith. Classes meet on Sundays during the school year, with a modest yearly registration fee that is reduced for registered parishioners. Students participate in a number of activities beyond the classroom, including a canned food drive, a Procession of Saints for All Saints Day, a Christmas Play, and tithing projects.
Adults who want to learn about the Catholic faith, whether unbaptized, baptized in another tradition, or already Catholic and seeking Confirmation or First Communion, are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, also known as OCIA (formerly RCIA). The program walks inquirers through the Period of Inquiry, the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election celebrated by the bishop on the First Sunday of Lent, and the Easter Vigil, when the sacraments of initiation are received. OCIA classes meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Parish Office.
Music, the Choir, and La Desolata
Music has always been a vital and joyful part of the Mass and liturgical life at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The all volunteer choir sings at weekend Masses and special celebrations and welcomes new voices throughout the year, whether one is a seasoned vocalist or just loves to sing. The choir presents Journey to Hope each Lent, a musical journey through the life of Christ with music by Joseph A. Martin, narrated by Religious Education students who also present a tableau vivant. The musical is free to attend, with donations gratefully accepted.
One of the most moving musical traditions of the parish is La Desolata, an evening of sacred music and meditation on the sorrows of Mary. The original music was written by Jesuit Father A. S. Dimichino, S. J., in 1933, and the meditations at Mount Carmel are offered by Fr. Chris Krymski. The service is presented in the days leading into Holy Week and is open to all.
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass in a number of lay liturgical roles. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with the distribution of the Eucharist at weekday, weekend, and Holy Day Masses; they must be at least eighteen, have received the sacraments of initiation, and complete ongoing training, and their ministry is formally mandated by the Archbishop of Denver for three year terms. Lectors proclaim the Word of the Lord during the Liturgy and lead the General Intercessions when no deacon is present.
Altar Servers assist the priest at Mass and may be any boy of the parish who has made his First Communion and whose parents believe he is ready and responsible enough to be trained. Ushers and Greeters are the first ministers one meets when arriving for Mass; they direct crowd flow, take up the collection, and assist those with special needs. The choir rounds out the liturgical ministries. Volunteers for any of these roles are invited to reach out through the Parish Office.
Parish Life: Organizations and the Annual Bazaar and Feast
A wide range of parish organizations welcome men and women, boys and girls of all ages. The Altar and Rosary Society, a women's group, hosts an annual Purse Auction and Brunch Buffet fundraiser in Servite Hall, with proceeds supporting the parish. The Men's Club gathers men for fellowship and service. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society ministers to those in need in the wider community. The Servite Secular Order offers a way for lay faithful to share in the spirituality of the Servite order. The Alumni Association of the former Mount Carmel schools hosts events such as the annual Trivia Night and an Alumni Memorial Mass for deceased alumni. The Young Parishioners group, for adults aged eighteen to forty five, meets throughout the year for social and volunteer activities.
The biggest event of the year is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, known locally as La Festa della Madonna del Carmine. The celebration begins with a special bilingual Mass in Italian and English at 2:00 PM on the Sunday nearest July 16, followed by a solemn procession through the streets of North Denver carrying the statue of the patroness. The parish's annual Bazaar opens immediately after the procession and runs for two evenings with Italian food, games, and old school Italian fun. The Bazaar is also the occasion for the annual Grand Raffle. Together, the feast day Mass, procession, and Bazaar form the heart of the parish's Italian identity.
Lent, Holy Week, and St. Joseph's Table
Mount Carmel observes the Catholic liturgical year with particular care. During Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday afternoon, followed by Benediction, and a simple soup lunch is served in the Parish Office at noon on those Fridays for those who wish to join. La Desolata is offered in the week before Holy Week, and Divine Mercy Sunday brings the faithful together for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 6:30 AM followed by the 7:00 AM Mass.
Holy Week begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday evening, when the church remains open until 10:00 PM for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Good Friday is marked by the liturgical commemoration of the Passion, with the church open from noon to 3:00 PM for private prayer. On Holy Saturday afternoon, the Italian tradition of Benedizione di Pasqua invites families to bring baskets of Easter meal ingredients for a blessing. That evening the Easter Vigil closes the Sacred Triduum. The Holy Week celebrations are supplemented by special observances of Mass in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows in September, a May Crowning on Mother's Day weekend, and the annual St. Joseph's Table, a meatless feast of traditional Italian foods that the parish has hosted for nearly five decades in honor of San Giuseppe.
Getting Connected
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed at every Mass, and the parish offers several ways to stay in touch. Registration as a parishioner is simple and can be completed by picking up a packet at the Parish Office, mailing in a form, or emailing church@mtcarmel7.com. The weekly bulletin, available in print and online, carries parish and community announcements. The myParish app, available for Apple and Android devices, delivers notifications, the parish calendar, prayers, and daily readings. Parish news, events, and seasonal updates are also sent by email through Flocknote and shared on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Online giving is available through the parish's eService Payments portal, and the parish calendar can be subscribed to through Google or Apple. For sacramental emergencies, the parish office number rings a dedicated line at extension 25.