Carmelite Heritage: A Moving Story

Carmelite Heritage: A Moving Story

The Carmelite Heritage Room has a new home at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. After nearly two decades, the Carmelite Heritage Room, once part of the Edith Stein Conference Center, is now conveniently located in the main section of the Shrine. The move was made to make the Carmelite Heritage Room more accessible to the growing number of visitors who visit the Shrine every year.

The new Carmelite Heritage Room was the brainchild of Fr. Mario Espositio, O. Carm, Prior Provincial of the Province of Saint Elias, and Fr. Mark Zittle, O.Carm, the Provincial Procurator. As part of the multi-faceted transition of the Shrine, Carol Bezak, the Shrine Director, facilitated and coordinated the effort. A former Lay Carmelite office was transformed into the new Heritage Room under the skillful direction… and hard work of Tim Conklin, the Director of Operations and Maintenance.

The Carmelite Heritage Room at the Shrine will showcase material found in the Provincial Archives, where thousands of historical documents, records of Provincial events, photographs, works of art, and religious objects are cataloged and maintained.

The display cases in the new Heritage room will allow visitors to get an up-close look at material that tells the story of the Province that began at Our Lady of the Scapular Church of Mt. Carmel at 28th Street in Manhattan in 1889.

The exhibits, which will be themed, will be changed on a regular basis.

Currently, the Rev. Alfred Isacsson, O. Carm. Provincial Archives is under the direction of Vincent Begley.

Visitors to the Carmelite Heritage Room are heartily welcome.

News and Photos from the SEL Provincial Archives