Pictured to the left are the three founding members of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society; A. Capelli, E. Persico and L. Vuotto
The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has a history that is almost as old as the Town of Hammonton, NJ itself. This year's Feast will mark the 134th annual pilgrimage of the faithful in honor of the Blessed Mother.
It all began in 1875 at 232 Pine Road, at the home of Antonio Capelli. There, he, along with a small group of fellow immigrants, prayed in front of a painting of the Virgin Mary. They also formed a procession in front of the home. They prayed in thanks--- for their safe journey to America, for a successful farming season, and for the blessings and good fortune found in their new home of Hammonton.
From this humble beginning the Feast has gone on to become one of the longest continuous celebrations of its kind. Many of the faithful make an annual pilgrimage as an act of faith --- as thanks for their own blessings, or as an act of devotion to the Blessed Mother. To some, it is known as the "Italian Thanksgiving." But at the beginning, there was Antonio Capelli, in his modest home, with some friends who first started this traditional act of faith. Some of the other original families who participated include the Campanellas, the Vuottos and the Persicos.
The Feast, as did the Town itself, grew very quickly. This, in large part, due to the large influx of Italian immigrants to the area. By 1886, the Feast was moved to the Hammonton Lake Park. St. Joseph Church--- the first Catholic Church to be built in Hammonton, became a focal point for the celebration. In 1905, the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society was chartered as an independent organization. It remains as such today, with its membership encompassing members of all three parish churches in Hammonton. In 1955, the Society built their meeting hall at the present location on Tilton St. Several years ago, the portion of Tilton Street where the hall stands was renamed Mt. Carmel Lane in honor of the Feast and the Society.
The Festival continues to this day, as always, centered around the procession on the Feast day of July 16th. Masses are held all day. St Joseph Church has a shrine to the Blessed Mother where the faithful can come to worship. Italian themed treats are consumed in abundance from a variety of food stands during the week. Amusements of America, one of the nation's largest carnival operations, has provided entertainment for over 60 years at the Festival.
The Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society continues on as well. While names may change over the years--(though several families, such as the Longo, Pantalone, Jacobs and Tomasello, amongst others, have long histories within the Society), the commitment of the Society will always remain the same; to continue to work to preserve the tradition of the Feast.
