LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Church
of Saint Mary, Manhasset, New York, to be celebrated on June 7, 2014

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
160th Anniversary of the Church of Saint Mary, Manhasset, New York, to
be celebrated at a gala held on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at North Hills
Country Club in Manhasset, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Church of Saint Mary is a sprawling, prosperous parish
whose history spans the years from the dedication of the first church
building, to the dedication of the present church building; and
WHEREAS, On July 29, 1853, Reverend John J. McMahon, pastor of St.
Michael's Church in Flushing, New York, wrote to Bishop John Hughes
asking permission to establish a mission church at Manhasset for the few
German and Irish Catholic farmers in the area; soon after, Reverend
James O'Beirne, the new pastor at St. Michael's continued to promote the
mission Church of Saint Mary's at Manhasset; and
WHEREAS, Reverend James O'Beirne built a new church at Flushing, and
as soon as the new church was ready for occupancy, he had the old church
moved to Manhasset; and
WHEREAS, Despite its new, hand-me-down church building, Saint Mary's
remained a mission church of Flushing until May 1863 when its first
resident pastor, Father James A. Strain, arrived from Ireland; and
WHEREAS, In November of 1875, Saint Mary's was incorporated as Saint
Mary's R.C. Church at Manhasset in Queens County, and it still remains
this old legal title; in June 1871, it became the mission church of
Saint Mary's, Roslyn, and remained in that status until 1901; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Saint Mary's has been appointed numer-
ous pastors, and in March 1912, Reverend William K. Dwyer became the
pastor of the newly released church and the growth and blossoming of
Saint Mary's Manhasset began; he built the rectory and occupied it by
1916, after which he started building the new church, and is responsible
for its Spanish mission style architecture; and
WHEREAS, On October 17, 1917, Saint Mary's opened for service, which
also served for meetings and socials; eighty-five years later, the pres-
ent pastor, Monsignor John McCann, has overseen the renovation of the
same area; and
WHEREAS, In May of 1925, the Saint Mary's parochial school began, laid
its cornerstone in September of that year, and opened for classes one
year later; and
WHEREAS, The land that was bought for the parochial school also had a
farm house, which served as the first home for the nuns, Sisters of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, who were the first teachers in the elementary
school; many years later, after the convent was built, this house served
as the first residence for the Marist Brothers who taught at the boys'
high school; and
WHEREAS, The Church of Saint Mary underwent many improvements by
fundraising campaigns, and finally in 1950, the high school was
completed; in 1952, permission was granted to expand the church, double
its size, expand the convent, and improve the Brothers' house; and

WHEREAS, The Church of Saint Mary 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 160th Anniversary of the Church of Saint Mary of Manhas-
set, New York, to be celebrated on June 7, 2014, 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 Mary, Manhasset, New York.