LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 80th Anniversary of The Church
of Saint Clare of Staten Island, 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 commemorating the
80th Anniversary of The Church of Saint Clare of Staten Island, New
York; and
WHEREAS, On July 7, 1918, a rented frame building at 105 Giffords Lane
was established as the Mission of Saint Clare of Assisi; this temporary
arrangement led to long-range plans for an established parish with a
larger church; and
WHEREAS, In May of 1920, the cornerstone for The Church of Saint Clare
was laid and construction began; a dedication ceremony was held on Octo-
ber 30, 1921, and Archbishop Patrick Hayes formally blessed the new
Church; and
WHEREAS, Religious instruction for the children began in 1922, with
the arrival of the Presentation Sisters; the pioneers: Mother Vincent,
Mother Dominic and Mother Aloysius, held classes every Wednesday after-
noon, and again after the 9:00 A.M. Mass on Sunday; and
WHEREAS, Father Charles J. Parks oversaw the youthful stages of growth
in Saint Clare until his death in October of 1922; he was replaced as
Pastor of Saint Patrick and Rector of Saint Clare by Father David C.
O'Connor, who eventually became the first pastor of Saint Clare when it
became an independent parish on January 5, 1925; and
WHEREAS, In November of 1931, Father Daniel Dougherty became the new
pastor of Saint Clare and wasted no time in meeting the needs of the
growing parish; almost immediately, he commissioned parishioner Daniel
P. Higgins to design a school; and
WHEREAS, On July 1, 1935, Monsignor Joseph Farrell, Dean of Catholic
Clergy for Staten Island, blessed the school grounds and assisted Father
Dougherty in removing the first shovelful of dirt; the school opened its
doors on September 14, 1936; and
WHEREAS, By the end of the 1930s, Saint Clare's parish hall was being
utilized by Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Cheerleaders, the Saint Clare
Catholic Club, and other parish sponsored groups for meetings and activ-
ities, while the school played host to CYO Basketball and a Weekly Games
Party held on Monday nights; and
WHEREAS, Other activities included the Annual Society Circus Bazaar
and Carnival as well as the Annual Winter Dance; and
WHEREAS, The Fathers' Club, founded in 1950, sponsored two plays,
three dances, and two picnics every year to benefit the school's text-
book supplies; they also organized a sports program that included Little
League Baseball and a CYO Swim Team; and
WHEREAS, The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, donated by parishioners,
was blessed and dedicated by Father William J. Farricker in 1953; and
WHEREAS, In February of 1956, the Mansfield House and property, adja-
cent to the church, was purchased to serve as the site for the new
church; and
WHEREAS, On October 25, 1958, the Most Reverend Joseph F. Flannell
D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of New York, presided over the new Church's
Cornerstone Dedication Ceremony; the Church and School were officially
blessed and dedicated on May 22, 1960 by Francis Cardinal Spellman; and

WHEREAS, In November of 1961, Saint Clare purchased a house and prop-
erty on Lindenwood Road for the Sisters, who had been commuting every
day since 1936; by autumn of 1963, construction on a sixteen room
convent was complete; and
WHEREAS, During the last week of October, 1973, Saint Clare welcomed
Monsignor John P. Keogh as its new pastor; and
WHEREAS, In a short time, events like Irish Night, the Italian
Festival, and the Polish Festival became annual affairs; the new pastor
helped to establish Pre-School, Bingo, the Varsity Club, Girls Basket-
ball, Soccer, Track, and many other social and athletic groups that
enticed many parishioners into getting involved; and
WHEREAS, It was the visionary gift of Monsignor Keogh that initiated a
campaign in November of 1976 for a Parish Center, a sports and social
facility for the entire Parish; and
WHEREAS, Construction on the Parish Center was completed within two
years and in June of 1979, Terence Cardinal Cooke dedicated the Center
that bears his name; today, the Center is used for everything from Pre-
School to Track; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Keogh's leadership continued until he was named
Pastor Emeritus during the summer of 1985; he was succeeded by Monsignor
Joseph P. Murphy, the seventh and present pastor of Saint Clare; and
WHEREAS, The Church of Saint Clare stands on the threshold of tomor-
row, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retain-
ing 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 80th Anniversary of The Church of Saint Clare of Staten
Island, New York, fully confident 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 The Church of Saint Clare, Staten Island, New York.