Rental of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Hall may be arranged by calling the Dean or Michelle Pudenz @ 712-790-0122 or 712-830-8327

RATES

1. PARISH MEMBERS: $100.00

2. NON-PARISH MEMBERS: $200.00

3. WEDDING RECEPTION: $450.00 

A signed Proof of Insurance and  Facility Usage/Idemnity Agreement and payment are due before use of the hall.

19471 140th St
PO Box 39
Mount Carmel, Iowa
ESTABLISHED 1869
Current church building built: 1907
 

Office Hours:  Mon - Fri:  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Parish Office is located at St. Bernard School, Breda)
Phone: 712-673-2582
 

In 1868, Bishop Hennessey encouraged Lambert Kniest, Henry Baumhover and a few friends to establish a settlement of democratic German Catholics in good standing. So they went west until they arrived at an elevated plateau. After discovering that it was the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the men named the sight and returned to Dubuque.

The I. Blair Land and Townlot Company appointed Kniest the exclusive agent to sell 25 acres of wild prairie land to 50 settlers in five years or the agreement was not valid. The last two plots were given away to complete the contract made in 1869.

Kniest plotted the town with the church in the center, the school to the north, and a cemetery north of that. Additionally, the parsonage was to the east of the church. Kniest also planned a home for the aged which was never built.

The first church built in 1869 was a frame structure on a stone foundation. It was 24-feet by 40-feet of unknown cost. This was the only Catholic Church between Boone and Council Bluffs. Father Henry J. Heimbucher was appointed the first pastor.

The second church was built in 1881, a brick structure. It was burned in 1883, possibly by incense. The third church lasted until the steeple was struck by lightning in 1892. The third church was also destroyed by fire in 1906 and once again rebuilt. The 1906 structure still stands today.

In 1874, the first church was expanded to include the first school, with six Catholic lay teachers. In 1880, the Franciscan Sisters of LaCrosse, Wis., sent sisters to conduct school at Mt. Carmel. The Sisters continued until 1986, with 106 contiguous years of service.

A new school was built in 1912. The last class to graduate high school was in 1958, with 13 graduates. In 1983, Lidderdale and Maple River untied Mt. Carmel and in 1983 the last eighth-grade class graduated. In the fall of that year, Breda untied to form Christ the King School with 1-5 grades in Mt. Carmel. Grades 6-8 were at the Breda center. Full-day kindergarten started in 1990. Mt. Carmel then had grades K-4 with grades 5-8 in Breda.

There have been many vocations from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. There have been nine vocations to the priesthood and 30 vocations to women religious from the parish. A special event took place on July 16, 2000, when Mt. Carmel was named one of the five Jubilee parishes. The parish celebrated its sesquicentennial in July 2021.

Many pastors have served Mt. Carmel over the years: Fathers Henry. J. Heimbucher, John Kempker, Theodore Wegmann, John B. Ferderich, John Anler, Ignalius Rottler, Gerhard H. Luehsmann, Frederich W. Huesmann, Albert J. Schaefer, John B. Bauemler, Edward J. Jungblutt, Simon P. Roth, Bernard Loeffelholz, Peter M. Sturm, Otmar W. Koester, Dale F. Koster, Leroy Seuntjens, Jerome Cosgrove, Michael Larkin, Msgr. A. W. Behrens and Robert Brown.

Pastors after 2006

Rev. James McAlpin                   2004-2008
Rev. Joseph A. Dillinger             2008-2011
Rev. Gary B. Snyder                  2011-July 31, 2016
Rev. Mark J. Stoll, JCL                August 1, 2016-June 10, 2017
Rev. Kevin M. Richter                 June 10, 2017-July 10, 2018
Very Rev. Mark J. Stoll, JCL, VF   July 10, 2018-July 2, 2019
Rev. Dr. Timothy A. Friedrichsen  July 2, 2019-present

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel,
fruitful vine,
splendor of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin,

assist me in this my necessity…
O Star of the Sea,
help me and show me herein
you are my Mother.
 
O holy Mary, Mother of God,

Queen of Heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you
from the bottom of my heart,
to aid me in my need;
there are none who can withstand your power.

O show me herein you are my Mother.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
Pray for us who have recourse to thee.
(three times)
 
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.
(three times)