LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of St.
Brigid's Catholic Church in Westbury, 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
100th Anniversary of St. Brigid's Catholic Church in Westbury, New York;
and
WHEREAS, In the middle of a busy Westbury street, set back by a green
lawn, sits a stone church with a rising gray steeple which has become a
landmark in the community, both in a physical and spiritual sense; St.
Brigid's Catholic Church is a serene, welcoming haven amidst the busy-
ness which surrounds it; and
WHEREAS, While the community around it has changed vastly over the
years, going from rural farmland to a developed suburbia, St. Brigid's
Catholic Church has remained true to its original mission of providing a
place of worship where people can feel loved and accepted; and
WHEREAS, Over the last hundred years, thousands upon thousands of
people have walked through the church doors; seeking solace after a
funeral, rejoicing at a wedding, celebrating a baptism, looking for
social services or finding guidance during Mass; and
WHEREAS, Currently, more than 2,000 people attend services at St.
Brigid's Catholic Church every week, and many more utilize its numerous
social services; the church's diverse population reflects the wide mix
of ethnicities in Westbury, and there are services offered in English,
Spanish, Italian and Creole; and
WHEREAS, St. Brigid's Catholic Church serves as a beacon in the commu-
nity and offers numerous outreach programs, including a food pantry and
immigration services through Casa Mary Johanna; and
WHEREAS, To celebrate this auspicious milestone, St. Brigid's Catholic
Church is launching a restoration project to help bring it up to date,
as well as to help them continue their outreach services; and
WHEREAS, The building has seen several restoration projects over the
last centennial; one of the more recent major transformations was in the
1950s, when the simple church was renovated to become more ornate with
additional statues, as many other churches were doing during that time
period; and
WHEREAS, In the mid-1980s, St. Brigid's Catholic Church decided to
revert back to its original simplicity, and took out some of the elabo-
rate elements that were added more than six decades ago; and
WHEREAS, Today, the parish is looking to repair and renovate window
panes, pews, doors, bathrooms and the roof; they also hope to move some
of the offices from the parish center to the St. Anthony's Hall, so they
can relocate the food pantry to the parish center; and
WHEREAS, St. Brigid's Catholic Church in Westbury, New York 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 St. Brigid's Catholic Church in

Westbury, 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 St. Brigid's Catholic Church in Westbury, New York.