Nutley’s Little Church on the Hill blesses big addition 

It could be the home to the largest religious statue in the Nutley area. That’s what Father Alex Barbieto, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Nutley, says. 

On Saturday, Aug. 26, the church and its parishioners blessed its new addition — an eight- and half-foot-tall marble sculpture of Jesus.  

About 100 parishioners attended the event held on a sunny Saturday morning as Bishop John Flesey, auxiliary bishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Newark, blessed the statue. Nutley Mayor Joseph Scarpelli and former Mayor Alphonse Petracco helped Father Barbieto cut the ribbon as the church bells rang out across the town.  

“As everyone knows, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, or this ‘Little Church’ on a hill as some of the old parishioners often refer to, is always a very welcoming church,” Father Barbieto said.  

Now Jesus, in his larger-than-life glory, welcomes passersby on the corner of Harrison and Prospect streets.  

Built in the 1950s to serve Polish Catholics in Nutley, the church now guides a diverse group including parishioners of Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian, Hispanic, Italian, Irish, and Korean descent, said Father Barbieto, proudly declaring he is Filipino American. The church’s numbers have grown substantially since Father Barbieto became pastor five years ago, which he credits to the church being so welcoming. 

The parish now averages 40 to 60 people for daily Mass up from 10 to 15 parishioners five years ago.  

“Every week I see new faces of people attending our church Masses. I think this is a good sign, considering that some people nowadays are indifferent and even hateful with the Church,” he said. 

So, the project of erecting a statute of Jesus welcoming all quickly received approval and funding from parishioners. The idea was conceived just a year ago, with the statue procured from Fines Gallery in Bonita Springs, Fla. 

“It’s so fitting for Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish — a welcoming Jesus as this parish has welcomed everyone into its fold for years in Nutley,” Mayor Scarpelli said. 

Father Barbieto says the statue stands as a testament to what the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is.  

“True indeed, our parish welcomes everyone to our church without any discrimination,” he said. “The old and the young, the migrants and strangers, even those whom we often consider as ‘people who have no voice,’ including those who come from different cultures and orientations. They are all welcome to attend our services at our parish church.”