Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel is a mountain in northwestern Israel that is above the port of Haifa. From the earliest times, Mount Carmel was revered as a holy place dating back to the sixteenth century BC.  Biblically, it was the sight of Elijah’s confrontation with the false prophet Baal and was a habitation site for early Christians. From around the sixth century when Greek monks established a church and a monastery there, Carmel was especially associated with the veneration of Mary. The Carmelite Order was founded on Mount Carmel around 1154 AD. It was comprised of former crusaders, hermits and pilgrims who had taken up residence there – the hermits claiming descent from Elijah. After the collapse of the Crusader States in the Holy Land, most of the Carmelites moved to England where they reassembled under the leadership of St. Simon Stock. St. Simon, who was elected Prior General of the Carmelite Order, was greatly responsible for its rise and growth throughout Europe.

The Brown Scapular

One of the symbols most closely associated with the Carmelite Order is the Brown Scapular, which St. Simon designed from instructions he received in 1251 AD through a vision of the Virgin Mary, venerated as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  The wearing of the Scapular signifies the dedication and commitment of one’s life to the rules of the Order.  By the 1500’s both the Carmelite friars and the nuns were in need of reform which was accomplished by two truly remarkable Carmelite saints, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross (both principal characters in our stained glass windows.) Today the Carmelites, dedicated to Mary, have carried their work throughout the world.

By analogy to the scapulars of religious, there are small scapulars that are derived from them which represent a particular devotion or spirituality, usually associated with a particular community. Such a scapular is two pieces of cloth (generally about an inch square), connected by cords and worn over the head. It often has a picture or a particular color, depending on the spirituality it stands for.

The best known and most highly esteemed scapular, and the one most favored by the Church, and by the Blessed Virgin in many of her apparitions, is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. It is adapted from the scapular of the Carmelite Order and represents a special Consecration to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Those who wear it practice a special devotion to Mary. In addition, the person has a special entrustment of themselves to Mary for their salvation. This, in fact, has been promised to those who faithfully wear the scapular:  “Those who die wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” This must not be understood superstitiously or magically, but in light of Catholic teaching that perseverance in faith, hope and love are required for salvation. The scapular is a powerful reminder of this Christian obligation and of Mary’s promise to help those consecrated to her obtain the grace of final perseverance.

The Land

The original four lots for the new mission at Newport Beach were purchased in 1923 from the Pacific Electric Railroad, which owned much of the land adjoining the train tracks that ran down the center of the peninsula. The four lots were purchased for $820.00 each for a total price of $3,280.00. This was a great sum in 1923. These lots comprised a total of 12,650 square feet.
In 1944 the parish purchased three adjacent lots on Fifteenth Street at a total cost of $6,500.00. Following the war the parish purchased a fourth adjacent lot for $3,500.00. The parish now had eight lots bringing the parcel to approximately 25,000 square feet. In 1962 the parish purchased two more lots for a total of $83,000.00 bringing the total land owned to approximately 32,000 square feet.
 

The Church

The little wooden structure served as the original church was built in 1923 at a cost of $4,759.80.
The 1936 addition cost approximately $1,800.00. The present church built in1950-51 cost $106,000.00 including the rectory. These sums were a great deal of money for their time and the parishoners worked very hard to raise these funds.

The First Pastor

In 1924 Bishop John C. Cantwell established the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel serving Newport Beach, Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, Costa Mesa and Corona Del Mar. If that sounds like a lot , it wasn't. In this vast and sandy territory lived a gently weathered and stalwart congregation of twenty, year round Catholic families. This abiding core was seasonally supplemented by a summer horde of sun-worshippers. Although, especially in this context, one should not take this description quite lterally.

Bishop Cantwell placed the pastoral burden of this spiritual and scenic responsibility on the grateful shoulders of a thirty-three year old Englishman, Reverend Thomas Tannyane.
Reverend Tannyane took charge of the parish on February 23, 1924.