Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church

Our Parish History

In The Beginning...

In the summer of 1920, a local farmer, George Hild, donated a tract of land, 50x175 feet on Ridgedale Avenue, to the Cedar Knolls Catholic Association.

On August 15th one of the parishioners, Michael Beresh, broke ground for the chapel with his horse and scoop. On November 17, 1920, Monsignor Ellard of Assumption Church in Morristown laid the cornerstone. The dedication ceremonies were held on July 5, 1925.

The new chapel served as a mission. The deed was transferred from the Cedar Knolls Catholic Association and incorporated into the Diocese of Newark on September 7, 1926.

The Benedictine Fathers took over the spiritual care of the parish on September 12, 1926. Rev. Norbert Hinck, O.S.B. became pastor. Fr. Norbert led the life of a pioneer—he slept in the unfinished attic and was his own housekeeper, cook, sexton, janitor and sacristan.

With the permission of Abbot Ernest Helmstetter, Fr. Norbert drew plans for the enlargement of the church and hall and living quarters for the pastor in the rear section of the building. The foundation was laid on Passion Sunday, 1927 and was completed in a year.

The finished building contained a basement hall, large sanctuary and sacristy, three small rooms for living quarters for the pastor and two unfinished rooms in the attic.

In 1939, Fr. Hugh Duffy then Pastor of Notre Dame, added to the living quarters. Total cost—$6500. In 1944 a lot adjoining the church was purchased for $500 with the intent of building a school.

With the summer colony in Lake Parsippany growing, Fr. Hugh established a mission church named St. Christopher’s. On July 1, 1960, St. Christopher’s became an independent parish.

^ Return to Top

The Journey Continues...

As the parish continued to grow, the following organizations were started:
· Rosary Altar Society—December 8, 1926
· Holy Name Society—January, 1927
· Young Ladies Sodality—1928
· First Lenten Mission—1929
· Boy Scout Troop 29 became the first troop in Hanover Township
· CYO—1938
· Parish Choir—1939
· Girl Scout Troup—1944

Are you sure that’s Joe Harris and not his son Luke? Absolutely—Luke would never wear that tie!

Pictured in the photo along with Joe, who was one of the first students in the three grade school, are Sharon Kanary and Lori Jean Clemente.

The new school building, opened in 1965, included an
auditorium which was also used for religious services,
an all purpose room that seated 250 people and was
also used for school lunches, meetings and socials.

The men of the parish renovated a small summer bungalow
used as a convent.

Some of our little angels...

At the same time Notre Dame’s school opened, Fr. Jude was an altar server in St. Elizabeth’s in Linden. (Fr. Jude is on the right in the photo; Fr. Regis on the left.)

^ Return to Top

Growing Pains...

Shortly after Fr. Regis arrived at Notre Dame in July, 1980, he began meeting with parish family members to get to know the parish members and their needs and dreams. An overall consensus was the desire for a new church.

Feasibility studies, sub-committee findings and parish meetings resulted in the choice of the same site as the original church as the best place for our new parish family home.

A fund-raising committee rose over $475,000, an amount that exceeded all expectations. Additional expenses were offset by the sale of the school building and property.

Renderings of the new church gave a face to the dream...