A three-day spiritual revival is scheduled for October at the Church of St. Mary/Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Mount Vernon. 

The Gospel Revival, organized by the parish, is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7; Thursday, Oct. 8; and Friday, Oct. 9, starting at 7 p.m. each evening and lasting about two hours each night. 

“The theme of this revival is apt for our time: ‘Fanning the Flame.’ The flames of faith, hope, and love are flagging, and so there is a need to turn on the engine of these theological virtues that will allow us to face the turbulent times in which we live,” Fr. Elveau Augustine, who will lead the revival, told The Good Newsroom in a Sept. 27 email. 

Island of Dominica 

Fr. Augustine is a prominent clergyman on the Caribbean island of Dominica. During his New York visit, he will also celebrate St. Mary’s annual Caribbean Mass at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11. Most attendees of the Mass are from the English/Creole-speaking Caribbean, parishioners of St. Mary and other churches.  

Fr. Augustine serves as the pastor of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Pointe Michel, Dominica, as well as pastor of St. Mark Parish in Soufrière, Dominica. He was assigned to the dual role in May by the Diocese of Roseau. He has also led spiritual revivals in the Diocese of Brooklyn. 

“Let us embrace our identity as children of God and hearken to the voice from heaven to fan the flame,” Fr. Augustine added in the email. He cited 2 Timothy 1:6-7, in which St. Paul says, “For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 

Words from the laity 

Maureen Webb, a lay leader helping to organize the revival, said, “Revivals refresh your soul; they give you more food for thought for your spiritual life … I think revivals renew, revitalize, and encourage our spiritual development and spiritual life in the Catholic Church.” 

Dominica is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea known as the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean.” It is mountainous with natural hot springs and tropical rainforests. Roseau is the capital and chief port. English is the official language, and French Creole is also widely spoken. The population is close to 75,000. 

St. Mary/Our Lady of Mount Carmel is located at 23 S. High St., Mount Vernon. The website is stmarys-ny.com.