Dear friends,
Until further notice, we will not be hosting a healing mass on the last Tuesday of every month. In place, we will be meeting for praise and worship at 7pm Tuesday and every Tuesday night moving forward. Please join us for a night of praise worship to the Lord every Tuesday at 7pm.
God bless,
the Hope Team
Dear friends,
As we continue to mourn the loss and give thanks for the life of Fr. Richard, we are pleased to share that our regular prayer meeting will take place this Tuesday, May 20th, 2025.
We are blessed to welcome Dion DiMucci—Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician and cherished friend of Fr. Richard—for a special presentation.
Join us for an uplifting evening of praise and worship as we lift our hearts to God, united in spirit with Fr. Richard and all the saints in heaven."He opened paradise to everyone!"
God bless,
The Hope Team
Father Richard F. Champigny, O.Carm., a member of the St. Elias Province of Carmelite Friars, passed away suddenly at St. Jude Priory in Boca Raton, Florida on Monday, May 12, 2025. He is survived by his sisters Annette (Paul) Stebbins, Lorraine (Jerry) Winters, his brother-in-law Lucien Dupont, nieces and nephews – and many friends. He was pre-deceased by his parents, and siblings Jane Dupont, Ronald and Armand Champigny.
Father Richard, the son of Ronald and Edith Marie (Dagg) Champigny was born on November 3, 1938 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He entered the formation program of the Carmelites in 1957, and was simply professed on September 15, 1958 at Mt. Carmel Priory in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He attended St. Bonaventure University from 1959-1961, earning a B.A. in Philosophy and English. From 1961-1965 Father Richard studied at San Alberto College in Rome, Italy, the international theological school of the Carmelite Order, and earned an STL theology degree. Father Richard also earned a Master’s Degree in French and Italian from Fordham University, which he attended from 1965-1969.
On September 17, 1961 Father Richard professed solemn vows of obedience, poverty and chastity at St. Albert’s Priory in Middletown, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 31, 1965 at St. Joseph Priory in Washington, DC.
Father Richard taught Latin, French and Religion at St. Albert’s from 1965-1969. He was the Novice Master for the St. Elias Province from 1969-1973 and during that same time he was also a High School teacher of Religion and Logic at St. Anthony’s High School in Washington, DC. From 1973-1979 Father Richard was a co-Pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Middletown, New York. He was the Director of the Spiritual Life Center at St. Albert’s from 1979-1982. Between the years of 1982-1992, Father Richard served as a member of the Parish Mission Team for the Archdiocese of New York (82-86); was a Fraternity of Priests Team member in Steubenville, Ohio (86-88), served in Parish Youth Ministry at Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown, New York (88-89) and as Director of the Fraternity of Priests in Steubenville, Ohio (89-92).
Father Richard was the Vocation Director for the St. Elias Province and Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middletown, New York from 1993-1994 and from 1994-1997 as a staff member and procurator at the Mount Carmel Retreat Center in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He served as the Director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel from 1997-2002. From 2002-2004 he was on the Mission Band at Transfiguration Priory in Tarrytown, New York. From 2004 until his retirement, Father Richard served as Parochial Vicar at St. Jude Parish in Boca Raton, Florida. In his retirement years, Father Richard kept busy assisting in various parishes and at the Carmelite Sisters Nursing Home in West Palm Beach. Fr. Richard visited and offered masses in various nursing homes in the Boca area, and guided a large and very active charismatic prayer group at St. Jude’s, and he was dedicated to the healing ministry of the Catholic Church. Father was a member of the Provincial Council on several occasions, and belonged to various commissions. Father was a great promotor of the Divine Mercy devotion, and remained active with the Kiwanis wherever he was stationed. He was always close to his family, and enjoyed karaoke and musical events with them throughout the years. Music was a big part of his life and ministry.
Father Richard will be greatly missed by many people. He lived a dedicated and active Carmelite and priestly life for many years and we pray that he will rest in peace.