Our Story
Our Lady of Mount Carmel sits in southeastern Michigan, just north of the Michigan-Ohio state line. While the community of Our Lady of Mount Carmel welcomes visitors and members from anywhere, the official borders of the parish fall within the original geographical boundaries: Rauch Road on the north, Crabb Road on the east, the state line on the south, and Douglas Road on the west. Neighboring parishes are St. Joseph, Ida; St. Joseph, Erie; St. Anthony, Ottawa Lake; and the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio to the south. Mount Carmel covers nineteen and one-half square miles.
The parish is one of fifteen members of the Vicariate of Monroe and belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit. The second-largest parish in the Vicariate, Mount Carmel continues to grow in size as the community of Bedford Township increases rapidly. During 2004, the Parish administered 66 Baptisms, 3 marriages, and 42 funerals.
By the end of 2004, the Parish listed 1501 registered families consisting of 4,280 parishioners. For 2004-2005 there were 480 children enrolled in Religious Education, with 57 children preparing for their First Holy Eucharist and 49 Confirmation candidates. Thirteen adults and eight children are studying the Catholic Faith in the RCIA-RCIC programs with the intent to become baptized Catholics in 2005.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Community sits on 23 acres of land. A number of shrines are installed throughout the property. The structures consist of the church, with attached administrative offices and meeting rooms, as well as a two-story classroom center, a social hall, gymnasium with stage, all connected to the main structure.
Additionally, the property contains a twinplex-style rectory, a convent, playground with ball diamond, storage building, and the cemetery.
The church exterior is made of a brick and glass contemporary design while the interior relies heavily on rich wood fixtures. Contemporary stained glass windows provide accents, along with a skylight above the baptistry. The church, administrative offices, social hall, gym, and the lower floor of the classroom center are fully handicapped-accessible.
On Sunday afternoon September 22, 1957 in the rectory of St. Anthony Parish, Msgr. Bernard Kearns, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit met with Rev. Hugo Noetzel (pastor of St. Anthony) to discuss the establishment of a Mission Church in the Village of Temperance. Fr. Noetzel was given the responsibility to locate a suitable temporary location to be used for the celebration of Mass on Sundays. The location he chose was the Rotary Hall at Carr’s Park in Temperance.
On October 13, 1957 at 9:00 AM, Fr. Paul Berg of Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit celebrated the first Mass. Attending at this Mass, were about 250 people. About 100 people were turned away because of lack of space. Thereafter, two Masses were celebrated every Sunday, one at 8:30 AM and one at 10:00 AM.
A small group of women were give the responsibility to prepare the alter for Mass at the Rotary Hall, take it down afterward, and laundering of the altar linens. This small group of women was the seed for what was to become the Ladies Guild.
On November 9, 1957, Fr. Edward D. Popielarz from the faculty of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Orchard Lake, Michigan was appointed assistant to Fr. Noetzel at St. Anthony and then assigned by Fr. Noetzel to celebrate the two Masses at the Rotary Hall, relieving Fr. Berg from further service.
The Archdiocese of Detroit notified Fr. Noetzel on November 14, 1957 that the official name for the Mission was to be Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. (Other names that were considered were: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and St. John Vianney.)
On March 28, 1958 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was given the status of autonomous mission attached to St. Anthony and Fr. William G. Hunt was appointed administrator.
Ground breaking for the church (at its current location) took place on August 17, 1958. Actual construction started on August 22, 1958. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated at Midnight, December 25, 1958. Despite the fact that there was no heat, there were 380 in attendance. Mass was also celebrated that Christmas morning and every Sunday thereafter, while construction continued during the week. On June 7, 1959 Archbishop John Dearden solemnly blessed the church and offered Solemn Pontifical Mass.
Effective April 13, 1960, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Mission was raised to parish status by decree of Archbishop John F. Dearden and Chancellor Bernard Kearns. The parish boundaries were established at that time. On April 20, 1960, Fr. William G. Hunt was officially appointed first pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. In October of 1964, Fr. Leo J. Smith arrived at Mt. Carmel to assist temporarily in the parish during Fr. Hunt’s illness. That temporary assignment lasted eighteen years!
In 1965 the parish property was increased to 20 acres with the acquisition of an additional 7 acres. In 1966 the parish purchased a house adjacent to the rectory to be used as a residence for Extension Society Volunteers and later to become a convent. The first Extension Volunteers to serve the parish were Rita Travaglione, Delores Grover, and John and Mary Jo Overbeck.
Ground was broken for the future school on December 4, 1966. School opened in September 1967 with 56 students and staffed by two Dominican Sisters, Sr. M. Clement and Sr. Marie Jonathan. In 1968 Sr. Juanita became principal and also directed the CCD program. In 1969 Sr. Juanita was joined by Sr. Linda Kelly. The school remained opened until 1970 when it was closed because of a lack of funds and a lack of religious to staff the school.
In 1971 Dominican Sisters Marie Decker, Jean Harger, and Catherine Hohl headed the religious education program. In July of 1972, Tom and Leigh Russow became the religious education coordinators, a position they held until 1984.
In 1978 Father Dominic Finn, OSFS, after having serving the parish for 10 years as weekend assistant, took a new assignment in Philadelphia. Father Roland Calvert, OSFS, came to serve as weekend assistant that same year.
In 1979, Fr. Hunt retired and Fr. Smith was installed as pastor. Also, that year, Sister Beverly Hillis, OSF, became a member of the Parish staff. It was during Fr. Smith’s tenure, the church was renovated following the guidelines of Vatican II and the religious education program for students of the parish grew and was recognized as one of the most successful in the archdiocese.
In 1980, Fr. Hunt died of a massive heart attack in his Florida home. His body was returned to Michigan for memorial services and for internment.
Fr. Smith retired in 1982 and Fr. Alfred Miller became pastor. In 1984, Rev. Aloysius Dullinger was assigned as a permanent deacon to the parish.
In August of 1984 Sister Regina Smith, OSU joined the staff as Religious Education Coordinator.
In 1990, Father Tom Byrne started assisting at the parish periodically, saying masses, hearing confessions, funerals, etc. A short time later, he became the permanent weekend assistant, a position he still holds today.
In 1993, Sister Aloise Paluszak, OSF joined the parish staff as Director of Religious Education. In 1997, Sister Pam Nosbusch joined the religious education staff and took over direction of the junior and senior high school programs. Sister Aloise continued directing the grade school program and began visiting the sick and hospitalized members of the parish. In 2002, Sister Aloise was given the responsibility of overseeing the RCIA program in addition to her visitation responsibilities and a sacristan ministry that she shares with Clara Dunnigan, all of which she performs to this day.
In July of 2002, Fr. Miller retired after 21 years of service to the parish and now makes his residence in Florida. Soon thereafter, Fr. Steven L. Vileo was assigned as pastor and remained with us for about 2 years. Fr. Vileo left in June of 2004 to follow a calling and a desire to teach.
In July of 2004, Fr. Daniel Nusbaum came to the parish after retiring from 39 years on the teaching staff at Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland and spending a year on temporary assignment in Wyandotte, Michigan. On Sunday, September 19, 2004, Fr. Dan was officially installed as pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and remains, to this date, as our pastor.
