This weekend the Catholic community of Our Lady of Mount Carmel joined together at a Mass of Thanksgiving commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of Ordination of former pastor, Reverend Ashley Harrington, O.Carm. and fellow Carmelite, Reverend Michael Mulhall, O.Carm. On Sunday, July 16, 2017 at the 12 Noon Mass the Church was packed as was a reception that followed in the Parish Auditorium (Odyssey Theatre). Check out the photos from the event and learn a little bit about our honorees.
Meet Fr. Ashley Harrington and Fr. Michael Mulhall
Fr. Ashley Harrington, O.Carm.
Fr. Ashley Harrington, O.Carm.
Father Ashley Harrington grew up on Hudson Avenue in Englewood and attended St. Cecilia’s grammar school. He spent his high school years at the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts, finished his Carmelite novitiate in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania, and took his First Vows in 1961.
Fr. Ashley attended college at Mount Carmel Seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and at St. Bonaventure in Olean, New York. His four years of theology took place at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, D.C. and he earned a Master’s Degree in English at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Ordained a priest at St. Cecilia Church on May 30, 1967, his first assignment was to Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois where he was the English Department Chairman. While in Chicago, Fr. Ashley was heavily involved with the community, working on housing in the inner city neighborhood known as Woodlawn.
In 1975, Fr. Ashley was appointed rector of the Junior Prep Seminary at Niagara Falls. His next assignment was teacher and prior at Carmel School for Boys in Mundelein, Illinois.
In 1980, Fr. Ashley returned to New Jersey as co-pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Leonia and in 1981 he was elected to be the first Commissary Provincial for the Eastern Region of the Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. After two terms, Fr. Ashley became pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Norwood before moving to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Tenafly.
Fr. Ashley spent sixteen years in Tenafly, twelve of which he served as pastor. After a sabbatical spent in Manhattan, Fr. Ashley now lives at St. Cecilia Church in Englewood and is actively engaged in hosting retreats and days of reflection. Fr. Ashley is also currently working on creating a Carmelite center, a unique opportunity for adult education and spirituality to be located at the former convent in Englewood.
Fr. Ashley still enjoys giving private tours of New York City.
Fr. Michael Mulhall, O.Carm.
Fr. Michael Mulhall, O.Carm.
Father Michael Mulhall was born in Teaneck and lived on West Clinton Avenue. He was baptized at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (the old church) on July 20, 1940 by Fr. Aloysius Bandola and ordained in St. Cecilia Church, Englewood on May 30, 1967.
Fr. Michael has had many assignments, most of which were outside of New Jersey. During his career, he has worked as a pastor, retreat director and seminary professor. He holds a doctorate in Scripture as well as a doctorate in Sacred Theology. Since he entered the Carmelite minor seminary at the age of 14, Father Michael Mulhall’s vocation has taken him around the world, working in Canada, Rome and cities across the United States.
Fr. Michael shares words of wisdom with us: “Want less than you have and you will always have more than you want.”
