“Bellissima!” That’s the word that best describes the day the “Pilgrim Virgin” statue of Our Lady of Fatima visited Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish & Shrine in October.  The statue, identical to the original in Portugal, has been traveling the globe since 1947, spreading a message of peace and hope. Our Lady of Mount Carmel was one of a dozen or so churches in the Chicago area selected to host the Blessed Mother for the day. She arrived the morning of Oct. 11, and by 10 a.m. she was ready to greet the line of people waiting to venerate …

More than 30 pilgrims gathered at the steps of the Basilica of St. Josaphat in Milwaukee for a day of spiritual revitalization and historical enlightenment. The Altar and Rosary Society of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Shrine revived its tradition of conducting an annual pilgrimage after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic. There are only 91 basilicas in the country, and the Basilica of St. Josaphat was the third in the United States to earn that designation. Built with bricks from the original Chicago post office, St. Josaphat is inspired by both St. Peter’s Basilica in …

The sporadic rain on Sept. 11 couldn’t diminish the feeling everyone had as they gathered in front of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish and Shrine to watch the awe-inspiring silent arrival of fire and police vehicles. First responders from 10 neighboring communities participated in a procession from Wolf Road down Lake Street in Berkeley to 25th Avenue in Melrose Park.  The anticipation mounted as the flashing lights quietly moved north on 25th to Division Street and then south to 23rd Avenue. As the procession approached the church, Fr. Leandro Fossà, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, greeted each …