LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Church
of St. James the Apostle

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
50th Anniversary of the Church of St. James the Apostle of Carmel, New
York; and
WHEREAS, This momentous occasion will be celebrated with several
events throughout 2014; festivities kicked off in January with Bonanza
2014 Begins and has included a Parish Mission with Fr. Bruce Nieli, CSP
from March 17 to March 19, 2014, and a Golden Anniversary Gala Dinner
Dance at Villa Barone Manor on March 21, 2014, to name a few; and
WHEREAS, The first influx of Catholic families in the Carmel, New York
community came in the post-Civil War era, but it was not until the 1880s
that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered; the pioneer Catholics
of Carmel attended Mass in the private homes of the McCarthy and Burke
families, and within a few years, rented space in the present site of
Memorial Hall; and
WHEREAS, In 1902 the first funds for a new church were collected and
five years later the dreams of dedicated ancestors became a reality with
the cornerstone laying of the little green Church of St. James the Apos-
tle on Brewster Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The church was blessed and opened in 1909 and His Excellency,
Bishop Thomas F. Cusack administered the Sacrament of Confirmation for
the first time; for the next 50 years, the church served as a focal
point of Catholic activity in Carmel; and
WHEREAS, The end of the second World War brought the growth of the
Catholic population in Carmel; returning servicemen and renewed prosper-
ity brought many new families to the area; and
WHEREAS, In January of 1947, the parishioners of the Church of St.
James the Apostle greeted Reverend Edward M. McQuade as their first
pastor; during these early days of the church, an estimated 300 to 400
people attended Sunday Mass; and
WHEREAS, A modern new school was built in 1954 to provide for the
spiritual and educational needs of the children of the church; the
Sisters of the Dominican Order came to St. James to assume the teaching
duties and the school's first class of 28 students graduated in 1957;
and
WHEREAS, Soon after the completion of the school, Father McQuade's
efforts were recognized by Rome and he was elected to the rank of Domes-
tic Prelate; in January of 1957 he was transferred, and Father William
E. Sweeney, who studied at St. Joseph's Seminary, was named the second
pastor; and
WHEREAS, During the years of expansion it was becoming increasingly
evident a new church would be needed, and in July of 1960 plans were
submitted for a new building; the building plans for St. James the Apos-
tle Church, designed to seat 600 people, were completed in the spring of
1962; and
WHEREAS, On September 2, 1962, Father Sweeney announced the ground-
breaking ceremony and construction of the new church began the very next
day; by the end of 1962, St. James the Apostle Parish included more than
1,100 families with more than 3,500 parishioners; and

WHEREAS, St. James the Apostle Church was consecrated by Cardinal
Spellman in 1964 and under the third and fourth pastors, Msgr. James
McDonnell (1971) and Father Frederick Sullivan (1980), many new commit-
tees and clubs were formed; and
WHEREAS, Father Joseph Faraone became the fifth pastor of the church
in 1992 and under his luminous direction, the Religious Education and
Cultural Center was built; on July 28, 1996, the Education Center was
dedicated by Bishop Patrick Sheridan, vicar general of the Archdiocese,
whose first assignment nearly 50 years ago was in the little green
church of St. James the Apostle; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Church of St. James the Apostle has a congregation
of 3,500 families and 40 committees, organizations and ministries; the
parochial school has nearly 400 students attending grades Kindergarten
through eight, and more than 70 students in the Pre-Kindergarten
program; and
WHEREAS, In addition, 90 parent volunteers dedicate their time and
energies to teaching the 1,600 students enrolled in the Church of St.
James the Apostle religious education classes; and
WHEREAS, The Church of St. James the Apostle 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 50th Anniversary of the Church of St. James the Apostle,
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 St. James the Apostle, Carmel, New York.