HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH

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.