LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Church
of the Assumption of Peekskill, New York

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in celebrating the 150th
Anniversary of the Church of the Assumption of Peekskill, New York, to
be celebrated at a Gala on Friday, May 1, 2009, at Colonial Terrace,
Cortlandt Manor, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Church of Assumption was founded in 1859, seventy-four
years after the first Catholic church in New York State; at this time,
Peekskill was becoming a thriving manufacturing center, and the Cathol-
ics of the region wanted a parish and resident priest of their own; and
WHEREAS, They received assistance from Fr. Nicholas O'Donnell, O.S.A.,
the Pastor of Verplanck, under whom the enterprise was launched;
collection for the new Church began in 1860, and in the interim Mass was
said in a rented room; the Church was opened in 1865, under the title of
the Assumption, during the pastorate of Father Patrick L. Madden, who
succeeded Father O'Donnell in 1863; and
WHEREAS, The congregation now had a Church but still no rectory, and
therefore their desire for a resident priest was still unsatisfied; it
was to be fulfilled by their new Pastor, Father James Hassan; due to his
efforts of in-depth magnitude he was able to construct a rectory and in
September 1868, he became the first resident Pastor; and
WHEREAS, Father Hassan left Peekskill in November of 1870; it was also
at this time that the Franciscan Sisters, who had come to Peekskill in
1869, undertook the religious instruction of the children, a task
fulfilled with loving care until 1907, when the Assumption Parochial
School was opened under their charge; and
WHEREAS, The next 25 years were a period of peaceful consolidation and
of slow but steady growth; between Fathers Hassan and James T. Curran
there were six devoted Pastors: The Reverend Patrick F. McSweeney
(1871-1872); The Reverend Jeremiah Griffin (1872-1873); The Reverend
William Flannelly (1873-1879); The Reverend Michael Callaghan
(1879-1888); The Reverend John F. McElhinney (1889-1890); and The Rever-
end James Fitzsimmons (1890-1891); and
WHEREAS, When it was announced in October 1891 that Father James T.
Curran had been appointed to succeed Father Fitzsimmons as Pastor, no
one could have known what a mark he was to make on the parish and on the
town; and
WHEREAS, A man of great faith and unwavering optimism, Father Curran
was taking an active part not only in his congregation but throughout
the community as well; he was confident that a period of spectacular
development lay immediately ahead; and
WHEREAS, With this in mind, Father James T. Curran made plans for a
building that would serve multiple purposes; it would accommodate the
school population of the parish for years to come, it would also provide
ample space for the crowds at Sunday Mass, as well as serve as the
center of the social, cultural, and recreational life of the town and
parish; such were the circumstances in which he developed the plans for
the building with which his name will always be associated, the Guardi-
an; and

WHEREAS, On July 25, 1904, the ground for the new building, located
across the street from the Church, was broken by Father Curran and on
April 9, 1905, the cornerstone was solemnly blessed and laid by Arch-
bishop Farley; construction was completed on October 31, 1909, the
fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Church, the Archbishop
performed the official blessing and dedication of the building; and
WHEREAS, The finished building housed a completely equipped stage and
theatre with a seating capacity of 1,100; a recreation hall seating 700,
which also had a stage of its own, a balcony and mirror-lined walls; a
dining room to accommodate 150; and a roof garden that could hold 500;
it also included four bowling alleys; a four-wall handball court; two
meeting rooms and 16 classrooms; the theatre had its inaugural perform-
ance on October 1, 1906, and the school graduated its first class in
1913; and
WHEREAS, Guiding the congregation throughout the 21st Century and
beyond were: The Reverend Richard H. Tobin (1916-1920); The Reverend
Michael A. Walsh (1920-1924); The Reverend Edward J. Higgins
(1924-1928); The Reverend John A. Harris (1928-1932); The Right Reverend
Monsignor Francis W. Walsh (1932-1939); The Reverend Monsignor Joseph
Stuhr (1939-1968); The Reverend Monsignor Charles Walsh (1968-1970); The
Reverend Charles Wilson (1970-1984); The Reverend Robert Brennan (1984-
1988); and The Reverend Monsignor Francis J. Ansbro (1988-2006); and
WHEREAS, Today, under the leadership of The Reverend John J. Higgins,
the Church of the Assumption stands on the threshold of tomorrow,
prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining
that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Church of the Assumption of
Peekskill, New York, to be observed on Friday, May 1, 2009, fully confi-
dent that this commemoration reflects the belief in those values which
enhance the dignity and purpose of life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend John J. Higgins, Pastor of the Church of the Assump-
tion, Peekskill, New York.