Our Lady of Mt Carmel

Father Dan is an amazing priest and always gives a great homily. Our organist and Secretary, Fran, has an amazing voice that brings peace to you.

What a beautiful smaller Catholic church and a warm welcoming group!

Grew. Up near this church had to come for a funneral nicely done

Beautiful daytime chapel in the parish center

Pass by the church daily a beautiful building

Love yard sale

They are in process of opening up the gravesite for my mother’s ashes. It seams straight forward and they didn’t ask for extra money. That’s a good thing. I must add that the bill did not include putting the headstone on the marble base. It added to the stress when grieving older men moved their mother’s /grandmother’s headstone to its final location. This detail should have been discussed with us prior.

Very nice church

This is in regards to the OLMC presence in Forestville -- the St. Rose of Lima "Fr Gerald Sheehan" parish hall.

It's September, 2022. Fr. Gerald Sheehan was, according to the Diocese of Buffalo, credibly accused on multiple occasions of abusing minors. The diocese has acknowledged this since 2018 at least.

It's been over four years, now, since the acknowledgement of his damnable behavior, yet the parish hall still bears his name. It's understandable that it's costly and time-consuming to remove or replace the sign -- but four years is truly several years too many.

What's worse: There are photos of Fr. Sheehan and copies of his advice to parents publicly posted behind glass inside the hall for all to see and read.

Really? It's true: A recognized perpetrator of sexual violence against children is lauded because he gave advice about how to treat the very same children he violated -- with this tainted advice posted publicly and with the apparent blessings of the parish community.

Unlike a difficult or costly exterior renovation, it takes but a minute and little effort to remove these offensive items from so prominent and featured display. What absolute and indefensible excrement that this parish, parish staff, and parishioners have themselves spread on their walls. All are guilty in this communal offense.

Full Disclosure: I knew Fr. Sheehan when he was pastor at St. John Bosco in Sheridan. He was repugnant then. He remains so now.

This parish -- St Rose of Lima, and the larger Our Lady of Mount Carmel community -- bears the shame of causing scandal, and participation in the stain of silence regarding his actions, by publicly lauding this scraped-from-a-shoe excuse for a man.

UPDATE: As of May, 2023 -- after nearly five years, the parish has finally removed the sign.