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In the midst of the fog of the Westerleigh
Meadow, the Field Mass, instituting the new
Parish "Holy Family" took place. The
Field Mass was at the corner of Watchogue Road
and Wooley Ave. on September 25th 1966.
Rev. Francis J. Glynn celebrated the Mass at 4
p.m., inauguarating Staten Island's newest
Roman Catholic Parish, and so began the
historic legacy of Holy Family.
In
the words of our founding pastor, Rev. Glynn:
"On May 17th, 1966 I was surprised and
thrilled when the late Cardinal Spellman asked
me to found this new Parish on Staten Island.
The people in this area were at the time,
parishioners of Blessed Sacrament, St. Rita's.
St. Roch's, Our Lady of Pity and a number of
other parishes. How do I begin? In
a situation like this the Holy Spirit comes to
one's rescue. People rallied around.
A census was taken; property was acquired; a
rectory and convent were purchased.
Masses were begun in The All Saints Episcopal
Church and the Rectory. Sisters of
Charity of Mt. St. Vincent joined us."
Many
problems were encountered in founding the new
parish. One of them was the fact that
the people were accustomed to attending many
different churches on S.I. However, a
great many people generously and at much
self-sacrifice assisted in building the new
parish. The name of the parish was aptly
selected. Father explained, "I
chose Holy Family because the area is
residential and because the families receive
inspiration for the Holy Family."
Cardinal Spellman agreed to his request, and
the parish was officially named, "Church
of the Holy Family".
In
September a house and property were purchased
at 366 Watchogue Road. Here was a
building suitable for conversion into a
Rectory and a temporary chapel for daily use.
It was a well-built house and quite large.
Some essential repairs were needed, including
plumbing and electrical work. Many
parishioners and men of the Assumption and
Christ the King Councils, Knights of Columbus,
assisted in this work. The original
trustees were Joseph Sullivan and Walter L.
Christie.
At
the Field Mass, Fr. Glynn announced that plans
were being made for the construction of a
parish building. In the meantime, All
Saints Episcopal Church had offered us the use
of their facilities for a schedule of masses,
which was started on November 13, 1966.
Confessions, Weddings and weekday
Masses were held at Holy Family Rectory.
The first Christmas Mass was celebrated
with a Special Midnight Mass on a very snowy
Christmas Eve.
Despite the problems entailed in the starting
of a new parish, there was a great spirit
among the people.
During that first founding year, many
milestones were accomplished and many events
took place.
March 17th, 1967, found us
with the first parish function, a St.
Patrick’s Day Dance at the Columbia-Lyceum,
with about 500 in attendance.
The Altar Rosary Society organized and
met in March 1967.
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