LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Sacred
Heart Church of Newburgh, New York, to be celebrated on June 21, 2012

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
100th Anniversary of Sacred Heart Church of Newburgh, New York, to be
celebrated on June 21, 2012 with a very special 100th Anniversary Mass
with His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan officiating; and
WHEREAS, Sacred Heart Church had its official beginning on June 21,
1912, when the parish was incorporated; its real start came when Rever-
end John B. Gallo came to Newburgh to minister to the spiritual needs of
the Italian-speaking people who had been attending Mass at St. Patrick's
Church; and
WHEREAS, In April 1912, land was purchased on the southeast corner of
Robinson Avenue and Ann Street in Newburgh; a temporary chapel situated
in a vacant store at 286 Washington Street was used until the church was
completed; and
WHEREAS, The first Mass was celebrated in the new Sacred Heart Church
on December 8, 1913, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; in 1920
Father Gallo purchased land opposite the church with the intention of
erecting a school; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Cyrus Falco guided Sacred Heart Church through the
trying years of the Great Depression and, in 1933, he invited the
Sisters of St. Dominic to take charge of the Sacred Heart Church Sunday
School; and
WHEREAS, Reverend John B. Caldarola was the Pastor of Sacred Heart
Church during World War II; he launched the Parish Bulletin which was
instrumental in keeping up the morale of both those at home and those
away serving their country; and
WHEREAS, During the summer of 1945, returning veterans of Sacred Heart
Church formed Catholic War Veterans Sacred Heart Post 386; plans for a
parish school were begun and a fundraising drive was started; wartime
material shortages, however, prevented the start of construction; and
WHEREAS, When Reverend Salvatore Celauro became pastor in 1947, he
purchased land for a school adjacent to the original school property in
order to build a one-story structure; a groundbreaking ceremony was held
on April 23, 1950 and the school opened on September 9, 1951; and
WHEREAS, In the mid-1950s Monsignor Celauro decided a new church was
necessary when it became clear that it would be too expensive to repair
the old church; fundraising began in 1959, but with increasing
construction costs, it was not until May 12, 1963 that work on the new
church and rectory began; the cornerstone was laid on December 6, 1964
and the first Mass in the new church was said on Christmas Eve, 1964;
and
WHEREAS, In September 1967, Reverend Salvatore Cantatore was named
pastor of Sacred Heart Church; he had a great concern for the youth of
the parish and, on October 29, 1978, the Sacred Heart Church Parish
Center was opened to provide a place where wholesome, physical activity
could be encouraged under the guidance of dedicated men and women; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor George J. Valastro came to serve Sacred Heart
Church as its pastor in 1981; he led the celebration of the 75th Anni-
versary of the Sacred Heart Church which culminated with a Mass on

Friday, June 26, 1987, the Feast of the Sacred Heart; under Monsignor
Valastro's leadership, the church purchased the building at 319 Broadway
to use as an Activity Center for bingo games, meetings, and other activ-
ities; and
WHEREAS, In the interest of preserving the availability of Catholic
School education in the City of Newburgh, a merger of Sacred Heart
School and St. Francis of Assisi School was arranged between the two
parishes in 1991 which remained in place until 2004; and
WHEREAS, Sacred Heart School has continued to offer an outstanding
academic program for children in grades Pre-K to 8, regularly implement-
ing technological improvements, developing a Library-Media Center, and
gaining certification by the Middle States Association for Elementary
Schools; and
WHEREAS, Sacred Heart Church, since its founding, has been deeply
concerned for the moral and spiritual growth of its children and has
consistently supported and maintained a strong Religious Education
Program for children enrolled in public schools ensuring that they have
the opportunity to receive a well-founded base of knowledge of their
Christian faith and encouragement in their growth in moral values; and
WHEREAS, The faith community of Sacred Heart Church continues to
expand its outreach to the surrounding community, especially to those in
need; it has contributed to the growth of the New York Archdiocesan
Catholic Charities by providing office space in the Monsignor Valastro
Activities Center; Sacred Heart Church members are also deeply involved
in the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and, currently, Sacred
Heart Church, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, is planning the
completion of the first Catholic-sponsored Habitat House in the City of
Newburgh; and
WHEREAS, Sacred Heart Church 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 100th Anniversary of Sacred Heart Church of Newburgh,
New York, to be celebrated on June 21, 2012, 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 Reverend William A. Scafidi, Pastor, Sacred Heart Church,
Newburgh, New York.