Imagine stepping back in time to the early 1900s. Around 7000 Italians called Quebec home then. Many resided within the boundaries of what was known as the parish of Mont Carmel. This area stretched from Dorchester Boulevard now René-Lévesque to St-Laurent Boulevard and St-Denis Street.
Today we stand before Mont Carmel Parish. It serves the Italian community in St Leonard and its surroundings. The church’s address is 7645 du Mans Street.
Mont Carmel Parish holds a special place in Montreal’s history. It was the first parish established here to serve the Italian community back in 1905. A second Italian parish was created five years later. It was named La Madonna Della Difesa Church or Our Lady of Protection.
For over 100 years, Mont Carmel Parish has been devoted to serving the Italian community. It also embraces all other cultural groups. It is a bilingual and multicultural community within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Montreal.
Initially the religious exercises were held in the chapel of the blind of the Nazareth Institute on St Catherine Street.
In 1907, a first church, Madonna di Monte-Carmelo, was erected between Saint-Timothée and Saint-André streets along Dorchester Street on land donated by the Molson Brewery. It was a converted building that once served as the residence of Governor Lord Guy Carleton. From 1905 to 1913, the church was served by the Jesuits. Since then, the Servites of Mary have been responsible. In 1911, the church was enlarged to accommodate the growing number of faithful. At that time, the Italian community numbered almost 6,000 people.
In 1966, the Madonna di Monte-Carmelo church was demolished. This was to make way for the expansion of Dorchester Boulevard now René-Lévesque. The parish then moved to the Saint-Léonard district. There, it purchased an existing commercial building and converted it into a church in 1967.
The current church was inaugurated in 1985. Architects Desmarais, Tornay, and Pilon designed the modern building. It features a three-vessel nave. The former church building was transformed into office spaces.
Let’s talk about the organ. Its history is somewhat unclear. Casavant Frères rebuilt an older organ in 1907. The plate on the instrument bears the inscription “Rebuilt by”. The original organ was in St Ann Church. It was the second English-speaking Irish church in Montreal. The instrument had 50 stops over three manuals and pedal. The organ reappeared in the 1990s in the Madonna di Monte-Carmelo church.
The organ facade is imposing. It stretches across the entire width of the church. However, the pipes are only decorative. The actual instrument sits behind this facade.
The instrument owns a lot of ancient, but completely reworked material.
The city of Saint-Leonard organized a competition for the construction of the Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel church. Five firms were invited to participate. NEUF architect(e)s was one of them. Following a Sunday mass, the project was presented to the congregation. The artist Marcelle Ferron created the custom-made stained glass windows. The priest even composed a poem as a tribute to its beauty.
Mont Carmel Parish stands as a testament to faith and community. It is a place where tradition meets the present. It is also where the Italian heritage is celebrated. As you leave, remember the journey of this parish. It reflects the story of Montreal’s vibrant Italian community.