The Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Feast, the oldest, continuous religious celebration in the long and proud history of the Diocese of Providence, is on Thursday to Sunday, July 11 to 14, and be led by Chief Marshals William and Debbie Henrich.

In the eyes of Deb Henrich, being named co-chief marshal of the Mt. Carmel Church Feast is a dream come true.

“It’s a great honor and pleasure to be this year’s Chief Marshals,” she noted. “Bill and I are devoted to this church and it certainly means a lot to both of us.”

“We are humbled and excited to have been selected as chief marshals for the 126th feast of OLMC,” added Bill. “We are looking forward to the festivities of the 126th celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”

Recently, the couple celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary, and got a special blessing on the inside front steps of the church by the Rev. Henry P. Zinno Jr., pastor of Mt. Carmel Church.

“Bill and Debbie have been wonderful and faithful parishioners for so many years and have contributed to the parish is so many ways,” Father Zinno said.

Bill is a member of the finance committee, Knights of Columbus, Men of Saint Joseph, and Nocturnal Adoration Society. He is also a former choir member, Confirmation teacher, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist to the sick of the parish, and Special Olympic ski coach And volunteer in a number of capacities.

“Debbie volunteers weekly pressing the altar linens for the celebration of Mass, and helps count money on a monthly basis,” said Father Zinno. “She is a former OLMC second-grade Faith Formation teacher for many years preparing students to receive First Penance and First Communion.”

In addition, Debbie was a SPRED teacher for special needs young adults at Holy Ghost Church, disability awareness coordinator in the fourth grade at Colt Andrews School and OLMC, volunteered at Beacon Hospice, and was a chaperone on the Missions Trips to Jamaica and Tennessee.

“Together, they volunteered as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, Meals on Wheels, and the Loaves and Fishers program through St. Mary’s Church in Bristol,” Father Zinno said. “Their daughter, Amy, was also the third recipient of the Thomas Vendituoli Youth Faith in Action Award.”

This year’s Tom Vendituoli Youth Faith in Action Award winners are Alex Sienkiewicz and his sister, Sarah Carroll.

“They have been wonderful and faithful parishioners all their lives,” Father Zinno said. “Both were baptized here at Mt. Carmel Church.”

Sarah graduated from Portsmouth Abbey in 2013 and Northeastern University in 2018 with a degree in marketing. She assisted in an Appalachia volunteer service project in 2012 and taught First Communion class at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel with Amy Henrich in 2011-12.

“Sarah went on our Youth Mission trip to the Mustard Seed Community in 2018 and she married Tim Carroll in June 2022 here at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church,” Father Zinno said. “Currently, she works in the family business, Gil’s Appliances.”

Alex graduated from Portsmouth Abbey in 2018 and from High Point University in 2023. He went on the World Youth Day Pilgrimage in 2016 and studied abroad in his sophomore year in Central Europe.

“Alex went on our Youth Mission trip to Jamaica in 2018 with his sister and cousin,” Father Zinno said. “He is currently living in Charleston, S.C., where he works as a sales manager at Luonto Furniture, where he manages 32 sales representatives.”