Parish History

From the beginning of time, men and women have always felt the need of worshipping God. This was particularly true of the early Christians, who were blessed with a superior understanding of who and what God is; of a triune God; of a God who came nigh unto his people in the Person of His only-begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Recognizing God’s supreme dominion over them, their total dependence on Him, their need for expiating their sins and begging Him for help, spiritual and material, natural and supernatural, Christians have always thankfully offered private prayers to God from the depths of their hearts. Conscious, moreover, of being members of human society as well, with God as the ruler of that society, they have also realized their duty of manifesting their love and adoration of God externally and corporately. As a consequence, we see temples of worship raised to God’s honor and glory from the earliest centuries of Christianity — a practice which reached its peak of perfection in the erection of all those still-standing magnificent cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

The Catholic people of Canarsie have never lacked the religious instinct just described. Thus it was that, long before our Holy Family Parish ever had its first resident pastor, Catholic Canarsiens were experiencing the need for priestly aid in witnessing their zeal to the decency of divine worship. Their prayerful hopes for such assistance were favorably answered, first by the Fathers of Mercy, next by the clergy of Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Flatlands, and finally by the priests of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in the Parkville section of Brooklyn. (What a debt of gratitude we of the present owe to God and all those pioneers of the past, priests and people alike!)

At long last, however, in the providence of God the day dawned for the Catholics of Canarsie to be blessed with a spiritual shepherd all their own. Accordingly, in the year of our Lord 1895, Bishop Charles E. McDonnell, of happy memory, appointed the Reverend Thomas Horan as the first resident pastor of our then still very young community of Catholic believers in Christ. Occupying an old rectory for ten years, and ministering to souls, not only in Canarsie, but even as far away as Barren Island, Father Horan recorded his first christening in Holy Family’s Baptismal Register on December 15, 1895; his last, on October 29, 1905. At that time he was named the pastor of Saint Ann’s Church in downtown Brooklyn. Upon leaving Holy Family, Father Horan told the people that he had spent ten happy years, almost to the day, in serving the needs of those pioneer parishioners of our wonderful parish.

The Reverend John Reynolds, who succeeded Father Horan, did his first baptizing in Holy Family on January 4, 1906. During his pastorate here in Canarsie, the building which older members of our present congregation affectionately call the Old Church, was erected. Counting the original 1880 church, it was actually the third of our Holy Family Parish churches, and was constructed to the greater honor and glory of God in the autumn of 1910. Additionally, and with splendid foresight, Father Reynolds purchased property piece by piece until the whole large block became parish property. All this, in anticipation of satisfying the future requirements of people like ourselves whenever those needs would arise. (Again, what a debt of gratitude we owe to God and those early Canarsien Catholics, priests and people alike!)

Next, during the year 1925, Father Reynolds was summoned elsewhere and his place here was taken by the Reverend John Vogel, Holy Family’s third resident pastor. Like his predecessors, Father Vogel continued to care for the progress of the flock entrusted to him as its spiritual shepherd. But he also found the time, the talent, the energy and the money to attend to providing a sorely needed new rectory — the one which present parishioners knew as the Scout House on Conklin Avenue, until it burned down a few years ago on Saint Patrick’s Day. Father Vogel retired in 1926; made his residence in Rome and in 1937 was privileged to celebrate his Golden Jubilee in the priesthood of Christ.

In 1926 the Reverend Locksley Appo was sent pastor upon Father Vogel’s retirement from that post. that time in the history of Holy Family Parish, there occurred a substantial growth in the number of parishioners, a growth that necessitated building an addition to the parish church. That extension brought our church to size it had right up to the day of dedication of our new house of God on April 19, 1953. Through Father Appo example and interest in the youth of his time, several his charges entered the priesthood, and to this day Holy Family Parish has always been blessed with a truly significant number of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. Not only priests, but religious Sisters and Brothers as well, have sprung in substantial numbers fro the spiritually fertile soil of Canarsie. (Yet again, what debt of gratitude we owe to God and those who can before us!)

The year 1935 brought the Reverend VincentGenova to Canarsie as the new pastor of Holy Family Parish. Father Appo having been transferred to Saint Brigid Church in Westbury, Long Island. Father Genova had completed his studies for the priesthood at the Sulpician Seminary in our nation’s capital, and had been ordained on June 12, 1928, at that illustrious shrine of Marian devotion, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Thus, he had been a priest only seven short years when Archbishop Molloy, of happy memory entrusted the whole of Canarsie to the spiritual ministrations of young Father Genova - a commission that sure bespoke the sanctity, the courage, the industry and the intellectual capacity of the then youthful priest.

The rest is modern history, as far as our parish is concerned. Under the inspired leadership of Monsignor Genova, Holy Family continued its phenomenal expansion to the point where it became necessary to divide the parish, not once but twice. Thus it happened that Our Lady of Miracles, begun in 1934, built and dedicated its own church in 1938. Even this, however, did not solve the problem of the need for additional church space for the parishioners of Holy Family. Accordingly, in January 1941, a drive for $50,000 was started to raise funds for a new church. The goal was not only achieved, but comfortably oversubscribed by that generation of loyal and generous contributors to Holy Family. Providentially, however, World War II years intervened, thus effectively postponing the construction of the new church during the war years and those immediately subsequent. Finally, however, in October 1949, the dramatic announcement was made that plans had been formulated to build both a NEW CHURCH and a NEW SCHOOL, and that $200,000 would be the minimum goal which had to be reached. Within a month, the "300 MEN OF CANARSIE", a committee of twenty-seven teams, had visited every Catholic home in Canarsie and all the merchants of the area for subscriptions to the worthy and popular cause. The zealous spirit of the committee members, coupled with the enthusiastic response of the parishioners, business people and friends inside and outside the parish, easily carried the day. The happy result: substantially more than the originally stipulated sum of $200,000 was donated.

Meanwhile, as far back as 1941, the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood, New Jersey, had been heartily welcomed to Holy Family by Monsignor Genova, his fellow priests and the people of the parish. The Sisters came to carry on urgently called for catechetical work. Religious instruction was specially needed for the rapidly increasing number of Catholic youngsters in the parish. Easy to appreciate, then, was the legitimate pride taken by the Sisters and everyone else connected with Holy Family when our splendid school officially opened its doors for the first time on September 17, 1951. For virtually ten years, the good Franciscan Sisters had long labored without the benefit of a parochial school facility. Now, however, it is conservatively estimated that some two thousand graduates have enjoyed the fruits of the excellent education afforded them through the Sisters and lay teachers in Holy Family School. So superb was the training being offered in the school, that a third floor had to be added, with the enrollment then peaking at more than fifteen hundred boys and girls. Still, the parish grew, and in 1961 Archbishop McEntegart, of happy memory, deemed it imperative once again to divide Holy Family Parish, and so was born neighboring Saint Jude’s Parish, later to have its own school, as does likewise Our Lady of Miracles. All this construction and expansion never, of course, had any other purpose than to provide maximum spiritual service for all the Catholics of Canarsie.

Such unceasing and indefatigable effort on behalf of all the sheep inevitably took its toll of the shepherd. Monsignor Genova was called to his everlasting reward on November 23, 1973. Hard to list, indeed, would be the many civic and community projects which he spearheaded in Canarsie and elsewhere; the numerous Diocesan undertakings on which his counsel and help were sought by one Bishop of Brooklyn after the other. Add to all that, the genuinely friendly relationships which he was able to promote between Jews and Christians, between Catholics and non-Catholics of varying religious persuasions, and we readily realize that, even before ecumenism became the major movement towards unity that it has become in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, Monsignor Genova, in his own inimitable way, was filling the role of one of the premier ecumenists of the Brooklyn Diocese. So successful were his efforts along the lines of inter-religious harmony, that the Jewish-Catholic Committee of Canarsie became the proto-type of similar committees which have since sprung up all over the nation. What is almost completely incredible is that Monsignor Genova, under God, accomplished all that he did, even though the finger of serious illness had touched him as early as 1947, in the form of an initial heart attack. May his noble soul rest in peace, as Monsignor Genova, in company with untold millions of other Christians, awaits the great Day of Resurrection.

In a sense, the sadness of all at Holy Family was quickly assuaged, and thus proved to be short-lived, because Bishop Mugavero, only the fifth Ordinary of our wonderful Diocese of Brooklyn, as if in direct response to the prayers, hopes and aspirations of the overwhelming majority ofCanarsiens, appointed the Reverend Raphael A. Florido to follow MonsignorGenova as pastor at Holy Family. Born on the west side of Manhattan, his family moved to Brooklyn in 1928. He attended Public School 155 and our Lady of Loreto Parish School. He then went on to Cathedral College and to the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, Long Island. Father Florido was ordained to the priesthood of Christ on April 3, 1945, in Saint James Cathedral by Archbishop Molloy, of happy memory. After serving a long and distinguished apprenticeship of twenty-eight years as an associate pastor in various parishes, twenty-three of those years right here in Holy Family Parish as MonsignorGenova’s loyal and efficient right-hand man, to the joy of practically everyone, Father Florido was canonically installed as the new pastor of Holy Family on January 6, 1974.

Although a favored beneficiary of a rich heritage, in the sense that no parish building dates back even as far as 1950, nevertheless, like his predecessors in the pastorate of Holy Family, Father Florido has of necessity, and in a relatively brief time, already had a goodly taste of coping with brick and mortar work. For example, when the Scout House burned down a few years ago, Father Florido, exhibiting characteristic energy in coming to grips with problems of any and all kinds, had it replaced with a fine new brick building, one that admirably serves the impor tant utilitarian purpose for which it was erected; namely, to house under one roof the bulk of the equipment required to maintain properly a parochial plant the size of ours. In having the structure built, Father Florido was careful to have the brick material used match as closely as possible the brickwork of all our pre-exisiing buildings —Church, School, Rectory and Convent. In this way, far from being marred. the beauty of the whole was actually enhanced. Then, in 1978, Father Florido and his advisors deemed it wise to refurbish completely our magnificent church, which had been dedicated on Sunday, April 19, 1953, with the late Archbishop Molloy officiating. On that same day, our still new Holy Family School had been blessed by the same presiding prelate. Father Florido chose the time for our church’s cleaning and redecorating because twenty-five years had elapsed, and our temple of worship needed its renovation at the time of its Silver Jubilee of construction. Moreover, looking ahead to Holy Family’s Centenary in March of 1980, Father Florido was intent on having all the parish buildings, but especially the church, in as perfect condition as possible. At the same time, the necessary work on the church provided a timely opportunity for our pastor to introduce virtually all the important adaptations recommended for all Catholic churches after the Second Vatican Council. Thus the sanctuary area was opened to embrace at Mass and other functions both priest and people. The baptistery was introduced into the sanctuary area, the better to emphasize the social and community aspects of the sacrament of initiation into the Christian life. New rooms of reconciliation with God and Church were provided at minimal expense to meet the requirements for the updated manner of administering the age-old sacrament of Penance. All these worthy innovations were painlessly introduced by our pastor with impeccable taste, yet at minimal expense to our people, who gladly gave more than the modest amount of $25,000, for which Father Florido had asked them by way of small but extraordinary pledges to be fulfilled over a period of months. In responding generously to this comparatively minor appeal for funds, the good people of Holy Family were living up to a proud tradition of nearly a hundred years.

Keenly aware that buildings, no matter how beautiful, are only means to ends, and that a Catholic parish is made up of people who must always be growing in their likeness to Christ, Father Florido has considered it wise in these times to rely heavily for support of every kind on various groups of parishioners and friends of Holy Family. Prominent among these groups are the men of the Holy Name Society; the ladies of the Women’s Guild; the fathers and mothers of the Home-School Association, working closely with the Sisters and lay teachers of Holy Family School; the young men and women who belong to the Holy Family Youth Council, either as advisors or participating members; the Golden Age Club for older parishioners. All of these Holy Family societies combine spiritual, social and fund-raising activities for the common good of the whole parish. Two excellent Bingo committees, one for Monday and Friday nights, respectively, provide evenings of wholesome sociability for Canarsiens of all races, creeds and nationalities, while simultaneously supplying the largest single source of requisite extraordinary parish income. Well organized Altar Boys, fine Choir and Lector personnel, an outstanding Folk Mass group comprised of young men and women under the expert supervision of a highly skilled musician, a faithful and competent corps of Ushers — all these and more contribute to the joy of our parishioners who participate in the sacred liturgy Sunday after Sunday, as well as on the other major days of our God-given religion. Thus has Holy Family Parish nearly arrived at its centenary. The Centennial Year itself was gloriously inaugurated on Sunday, March 25, 1979, with Bishop Francis J. Mugavero gracing the festive occasion as principal celebrant of a Mass of Thanksgiving. Among those con-celebrating the Eucharist with our Ordinary were Father Florido, pastor of Holy Family, Father Scott, Father Angles, Father DeLaura and Father Danna, who also delivered the homily. Many former associate pastors of our parish, with even more Franciscan Sisters who formerly served in Holy Family School, were on hand to celebrate joyously and gratefully.

What does the future hold in store for our Holy Family Parish? Considering the uncertainty of all the circumstances of life in this world, only God knows surely. But we, who pride ourselves on being living stones in the Church of Christ, with Jesus himself as the cornerstone of our spiritual edifice, feel very confident that almighty God will continue to bless Holy Family and its priests, sisters and lay parishioners, young and old, present and future, if they all but remain loyal to Christ and to each other, as have the majority of their forebears in the history of our dearly beloved Holy Family Parish.

Rev. Alfred E. Tumielewicz
Rev. Andrew Varano
Rev. Anthony Di Lorenzo
Rev. Anthony F. Lo Gatto
Rev. Anthony F. Manno
Rev. Anthony F. Vivona
Rev. Anthony Failla
Rev. Anthony S. Danna
Rev. Arthur W. Barry
Rev. Bernard J. McBride
Rev. C. H. Sennett
Rev. Charles DiRienzo
Rev. Cornelius D. Buckley
Rev. Dino Brisigotti
Rev. Domenic Puleo
Rev. Dominic Q. Sirajuddin
Rev. E. Giavina
Rev. Edward R. Kane
Rev. Felice DeLaura
Rev. Felice J. DeLaura
Rev. Francis J. Passenant
Rev. Frederick M. Lund
Rev. George A. Rubly
Rev. Giuseppe Buglino
Rev. Gregory Liucci
Rev. Henry A. Spengler
Rev. James E. Russo
Rev. James F. Higgins
Rev. James S. Scott
Rev. John A. McShane
Rev. John Brennan
Rev. John Casale
Rev. John Coehlo
Rev. John Ireland Reynolds
Rev. John J. Harris
Rev. John J. Salmon

Rev. John Porazzo
Rev. John Tinny
Rev. John Vogel
Rev. Joseph Cestaro
Rev. Joseph Pellegrin
Rev. Kenneth Hand
Rev. Locksley A. Appo
Rev. Mariano J. Pu]eo
Rev. Mario Silvestri
Rev. Matteo J. Rizzo
Rev. Michael J. Lynch
Rev. Monsignor Castellino
Rev. Monsignor Vincent O. Genova
Rev. Nicholas Spina
Rev. Pasquale T. Stratico
Rev. Patrick J. Cherry
Rev. Patrick J. O’Loughlin
Rev. Patrick Tuigg
Rev. Paul Vazhapilly
Rev. Percy D’Souza S.J
Rev. Raffaele Ressa
Rev. Raphael A. Florido
Rev. Raymond J. Donahue
Rev. Romano Ferraro
Rev. Rosario Pitrone
Rev. Scipio Lacini
Rev. Sebastian Angles
Rev. Sylvester A. McGee
Rev. Theodore A. Roman
Rev. Thomas F. Gillen
Rev. Thomas Horan
Rev. Victor Maritato
Rev. Vincent Aquirre
Rev. Walter A. Mitchell
Rev. Walter Budreckas