This afternoon there was a strange sound of something like a parade outside my window in Newark. I looked outside, and low and behold it was the procession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel through the streets of Newark. In case you aren’t familiar (as I was not), the Ironbound area of Newark used to be significantly Italian. The demographics have changed to more Spanish and Portugese-speaking nationalities, but the Catholic Church of Mt. Carmel is still a strong beacon within the community.
The parade brought out residents to contribute money to the statue. Young and old, all were there to celebrate. Local vendors and grandmothers all contributed food for the celebration. The final destination of the statue was the church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Newark, where the devout said prayers. Enjoy the photos and by all means, enjoy your local feast day celebrations. July is a heavy month for the saints.
If you would like to see more photos like these from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Newark, please visit my website.
