For nearly 150 years, the annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has served as the heartbeat of the Williamsburg community. This year, the 11-day celebration — which draws thousands back to North Brooklyn each July — continues to honor tradition while embracing change.
Leading the charge is the church’s pastor, Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello.
“Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the few parish feasts left in the country that still included the Giglio and the boat,” Gigantiello said. “It has been going on for 138 years, and even though many of the old timers have moved away, they always come back. It’s part of their heritage. It’s part of their faith.”
Rooted in Catholic faith and Italian heritage, the feast commemorates the parish’s patroness and the cultural legacy brought by immigrants from Nola, Italy, in the early 1900s. The Giglio, a 72-foot tower carried through the streets by more than 100 men, remains the centerpiece of the event.
But this year’s celebration, which runs from July 9-20, brings something new to the table — literally.
Gigantiello, a former chef with a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America, will unveil a line of artisanal products and debut his third book, “Mount Carmel, Brooklyn: The Heart and Soul of America’s Feast.”
“The book highlights the early days of the feast with pictures and captions of people, many of whom have passed on,” the pastor said. “But if it wasn’t for dedication and willingness to keep this alive, the feast would have died like so many other traditions have in this country.”
The book, available for purchase at the feast and later on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, is a tribute to generations of parishioners who have preserved the tradition, even as the neighborhood has changed.
“We have people involved today whose great-grandparents carried the Giglio when they first came here,” Gigantiello said. “It’s important to recognize them.”
In addition to the book, attendees can sample the pastor’s growing line of artisanal goods, including his popular tomato sauce, which launched last year. New additions include olive oil made in partnership with Colavita and wine crafted on Staten Island. Proceeds will go to charity, he said.
“These products are part of my ministry,” he explained. “And they spark interest, especially among the new people moving into the neighborhood.”
That blend of old and new is intentional. Since his arrival eight years ago, Msgr. Jamie has worked to connect generations. His long-running TV show, “Breaking Bread,” celebrates shared meals across New York City. Now, his culinary background is helping bring more people into the church.
He said the number of millennials and young people attending his parish has “gone up five times” during his tenure — something he’s especially proud of.
“Many of them come alone, looking for community,” he said. “They’re taken up by the priest who has the tomato sauce and has a book. And when they see the priest is just like them — cooking, sharing meals — it helps.”
Still, the feast remains the anchor. Each night features live music, cafés, a beer garden and a bustling bazaar. But for the pastor, two moments stand above the rest: the street procession of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel statue and the lifting of the illuminated Giglio.
“I really enjoy every night,” he said. “We dance, we eat, we drink; it’s a great time to welcome everyone back, old and new, to celebrate our families and faith.”
And for those who’ve never experienced the feast?
“Like many things in life,” he said, “you can read about them, you can look at pictures. But the best way to enjoy the feast is to experience it.”
