LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 125th Anniversary of St.
Patrick's Catholic Church, of Bay Shore, New York, to be celebrated on
April 24, 2009

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
125th Anniversary of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, of Bay Shore, New
York, to be celebrated at an Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance on Friday,
April 24, 2009, at the Water Mill Inn; and
WHEREAS, During the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s, Catholics began to arrive
in Bay Shore, New York, an area populated primarily by Protestants of
British descent; these new Catholics were part of the steady stream of
immigrants from Europe, mostly from Ireland in these decades; and
WHEREAS, On July 29, 1853, Pope Pius XI issued a decree creating Long
Island as a new diocese; Bishop John Loughlin, who was installed that
fall, immediately turned his attention to the rapid expansion of the
Catholic Church; and
WHEREAS, Five years after the creation of the new diocese, a small
group of people gathered at the home of Owen Drum, to celebrate the
first Mass in Bay Shore; Reverend Michael O'Neil, who traveled around
the island on horseback, had added this community of approximately 200
Catholics to his "rounds"; he was followed in 1860 by Reverend Jeremiah
Crowley of St. Patrick's, Huntington, who established Bay Shore as a
mission also dedicated to St. Patrick; and
WHEREAS, St. Patrick's in Bay Shore remained a mission of St.
Patrick's of Huntington until 1883, when Reverend James Bobier was
appointed the first pastor; during his 15 years at St. Patrick's, Father
Bobier built and expanded the Church, purchased a parsonage near it and
in 1894, purchased the cemetery land; and
WHEREAS, During the ensuing years, Bay Shore experienced much growth
and on September 7, 1919, St. Patrick's dedicated a new church; all five
pastors who served St. Patrick's after Father Bobier were in attendance;
the solemn Mass was celebrated by Father Jordan, assisted by Father
McGinley as deacon and Father McKenna as sub-deacon; Father Dillon was
the master of ceremonies for the occasion; the new pastor, Father Dono-
van, was celebrant at the evening Vesper Service; and
WHEREAS, Now that St. Patrick's had established its church and ceme-
tery, it turned its attention to the education of its young people; at
the invitation of Father Donovan, four Sisters of Mercy traveled from
Brooklyn to Bay Shore, in September of 1921, to staff the new St.
Patrick School; and
WHEREAS, Since "Elysian Views" was still being renovated, the 185
children in grades 1 to 4 were taught primarily in the old church build-
ing on Fifth Avenue; in November, the Sisters and children were able to
move into the school on Main and Clinton, the site of the present St.
Patrick School; and
WHEREAS, In 1928, Reverend Cornelius Duffy began a 20 year pastorate
at St. Patrick's; during his administration, the mortgage on the new
church was cleared and in 1938, a new modern school-convent building was
erected; and
WHEREAS, When Monsignor Myron J. Purick arrived as pastor in 1948,
there were 4,000 parishioners; when he retired in 1973, there were

approximately 12,000; during his pastorate, the parish school doubled in
size to accommodate the enrollment which reached more than 1,000 at its
peak; and
WHEREAS, Due to this extraordinary growth, Msgr. Purick purchased the
property next to St. Patrick's Church; the new hall built on this site
and dedicated in 1968, and later named in his honor, provided a worship
area for 1,000 on the upper level and room for courses and meetings on
the lower level; and
WHEREAS, Following the Second Vatican Council laymen served as lectors
at Mass and in 1972, laywomen joined them in this work; when Msgr.
Purick retired in 1973, at the age of 75, St. Patrick's had begun to
move into its Post-Vatican II life; Monsignor James F. Coffey arrived as
Pastor in 1973, and continued to help guide the faith community instill-
ing a sense of Stewardship as a way of life; and
WHEREAS, Msgr. Coffey was succeeded in 1983 by Monsignor Robert Emmet
Fagan who remained as Pastor until 2000; during his pastorate, Msgr.
Fagan led the parish through a beautiful restoration of the historic
church sanctuary; in the 1990s, his leadership guided the St. Patrick's
Parish family into more explicit appreciation for the theology and spir-
ituality of Stewardship; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, Bishop James McHugh assigned Monsignor John Nosser
to St. Patrick's; his pastorate was notable for the many improvements
and updates he made to the parish facilities; in 2000, he refurbished
the historic organ, with 1082 pipes, in the Church; he also began the
process of renovating the worship area of Msgr. Purick Hall; the work
was completed and rededicated by Bishop William Murphy on December 15,
2001; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the faithful guidance of Reverend Thomas M.
Coogan, St. Patrick's 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 125th Anniversary of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, to
be observed on April 24, 2009, 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 Thomas M. Coogan, Pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic
Church, Bay Shore, New York.