By Father Matthew Guckin • Posted June 3, 2026

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown will be combining love of freedom with love of faith.

Among the most precious freedoms Americans enjoy is the very first one named in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights: freedom of religion. Our Lady of Mount Carmel will take advantage of this freedom with their beloved Summer Novena in honor of the parish patroness. This year’s novena will begin on Wednesday, July 8 and continue through the parish feast day on July 16.

During these sacred days, parishioners, families, and visitors will gather together in prayer, asking the intercession of the Blessed Mother and renewing our trust in God’s providence.

Seasoned priests such as Father Joe Bongard, Father Steve Leva, Father Jim Olson and Father Chris Walsh will be preaching on various nights. Younger priests such as Father Dominic Mirenda, Father Declan Cole, and Father Andrew Auletta will be sharing their love for Our Lady on other nights.

Deacon Lyle Benner of Saint Agnes Parish in Sellersville and his daughter, Sister Angela of the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth, will be speaking at the novena on Night Seven.

Father David O’Brien will be the homilist for the closing Mass of the novena on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m.

“I’m humbled,” he said about the honor of preaching the closing Mass. “I’ve been to the Novena many times and it’s such a great, holy event.  I’m nervous but, at the same time, I can’t wait to go back to Mount Carmel and share my love for our Lord and His mother.”

As America marks 250 years of independence, the novena is meant to remind us that true freedom is not simply the ability to do whatever we want. Authentic freedom is found in knowing God, worshiping Him freely, and living according to His truth.

For more information on the novena, please call Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish at 215-348-4190.

***

Father Matthew Guckin is pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown.