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History
St.
Catharine’s Parish originally
served the town of Pelham from
1896. As the number of Catholics
grew, need for a second parish
emerged. On May 27, 1939, Mr.
William T. Grant, who owned the
chain of five-and-ten cent
stores deeded six acres of
property in Pelham Manor
including a large manor house
and two smaller homes to St.
Catharine’s to serve as a
‘Mission’ for the parish.
In December 1939 the remaining
property of the Grant estate,
which included the parking area
near the present school and two
additional houses was deeded to
St. Catharine’s. For the next
fifteen years this small chapel
served the needs of the Catholic
population of Pelham Manor.
On July 6,1954 Francis Cardinal
Spellman approved the erection
of a new parish in the village
of Pelham Manor under the
patronage of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help. Monsignor Robert
McCormick was appointed the
first pastor and on November 24,
1954 the mission’s property was
transferred to the new parish
and the priests moved into the
Manor house.
In 1955, Mr. and Mrs. Abdala
Barsa donated the half block on
Fowler Avenue facing Boston Post
Rd and this property eventually
became a much needed parking
area. In 1956 the parish
purchased Evans Dawson’s home at
545 Fowler Ave and it became the
first convent housing the
Franciscan Sisters who staffed
the parish school.
The first parish priority was to
construct a school and in 1957
the cornerstone of the school
was laid. On March 24, 1958 the
school opened with grades 1
through 4 and in 1962 the first
class graduated.
After Monsignor McCormick’s
death in 1960, Monsignor Vincent
Jeffers was appointed the new
pastor and he would serve for
two decades. Although Mass was
celebrated both in the small
chapel and the school auditorium
(Bahner Hall) the growing
population needed larger space.
In 1964 Cardinal Spellman gave
permission for a new church to
be built and a campaign was
begun in February 1965 raising
$1,050,000.
In April, 1966 construction of
the new church with seating for
850 began guided by the norms of
the Second Vatican Council. The
cornerstone for the new building
was laid on April 30, 1967 in a
ceremony conducted by Archbishop
John Maguire. On September 8th
Monsignor Jeffers celebrated the
first Mass and the consecration
of the altar took place on April
21, 1968 by Archbishop Terence
Cooke.
During the next ten years the
liturgical renewal mandated by
the Second Vatican Council would
be implemented in Our Lady of
Perpetual Help and the new
church building facilitated
these changes very well.
The parish celebrated its 25th
anniversary in 1978 with a Mass
of Thanksgiving celebrated by
Monsignor Jeffers and a family
picnic. Following these events
Monsignor Jeffers retired and
was succeeded by Rev. (later
Monsignor) Francis Boyle. Parish
organizations and the
involvement of parishioners in
various new forms of lay
ministry increased. Many new
committees and programs were
begun and the parish community
grew rapidly.
In June 1991 Monsignor Hugh
Curran became the fourth pastor.
Underway at this time was a
Capital Improvement Fund to
enhance parish facilities and
over $724,00 was raised to
complete much-needed repairs and
renovations.
1993 marked the 25th anniversary
of the solemn dedication of the
church. Monsignor Curran was the
principal celebrant and
Monsignor Boyle and Monsignor
Jeffers who preached joined him.
The parish continued to grow
offering new activities that
were both for the parish and
outreach to others. As part of
this the landscape of the parish
was modified to provide
extensive parking for the
elderly and handicapped.
In celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the parish Bishop
Timothy McDonnell celebrated a
Mass of Thanksgiving on April
25, 2004. A Gala Dinner Dance
was held at Glen Island Harbour
Club and a comprehensive Parish
History was prepared. Monsignor
Curran celebrated his 50th
anniversary of ordination and
retired in June, 2004 taking up
residence in St. Catharine’s
Rectory.
Father Robert DeJulio was
appointed as the fifth pastor of
Our Lady of Perpetual Help on
July 1, 2004. |
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