Our Lady of Mt. Carmel procession returns in full
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - A donation is pinned to the statue at Gilbert and Lloyd Streets.
SHENANDOAH – After a year abridged, “Our Lady” was carried through the streets of Shenandoah, continuing a 107-year tradition.
Tom Talerico welcomed attendees outside Divine Mercy Parish, Chestnut and Cherry Streets.
“Who would’ve thought that we’d still be here doing this,” Talerico said. “Our grandparents, and great grandparents started this. Hopefully the young of today will keep it going after we’re gone, and we can look down and say we started something good.”
The procession returned in full this year after last year’s half-block procession from the church to the rectory next door.
Led by Shenandoah Police and the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band, a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as homemade “cintas,” or small shrines, some of which have passed from generation to generation, were carried through town.
The procession began at Divine Mercy and proceeded towards the Glover’s Hill section of town via West and Lloyd Streets.
Shenandoah Ambulance had personnel staged at different sections of the route as a precaution, though temperatures were cooler than usual for the procession.
Along the way, residents pinned donations to the statue.
This year’s procession marked the 7th year it’s been held by Divine Mercy Parish. For the century prior, it was held by the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Washington and Diamond Streets.
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