LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Dedi-
cation of St. Joseph Catholic Church on June 4, 2016

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 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 is justly proud to commemorate the 50th
Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Joseph Catholic Church to be cele-
brated on Saturday, June 4, 2016; and
WHEREAS, St. Joseph Catholic Church had its beginnings in 1880 in the
Town of Gardiner in upstate New York; during the early 1850s, the few
Catholic residents of the area were served by a priest who came only
occasionally from Rondout in Ulster County; and
WHEREAS, The coming of the railroad spurred Gardiner's growth, and by
1875, a large number of businesses were established in the area; some of
the leaders of these enterprises and their families moved from the
Tuthilltown area into Gardiner, and Catholic services were held in a
barn owned by James Clinton; and
WHEREAS, Father Charles Browne, the first resident priest in Gardiner,
tore down the Clinton barn in 1880, and used the wood from the barn in
the construction of St. Charles Church at Ireland Corners in Gardiner;
and
WHEREAS, In 1885, while Father Browne was still pastor of St. Charles
in Gardiner, the cornerstone was laid for a church in New Paltz, and in
1891, it was moved to what was to become the site of St. Joseph Catholic
Church; Father Joseph Hoey, then pastor of St. Charles, was authorized
to begin construction of the new church to serve the needs of the New
Paltz residents and the Catholic students of what is now known as the
State University of New York at New Paltz; and
WHEREAS, Construction of St. Joseph Catholic Church was completed in
1893, and dedicated just one year later under Father B. F. Duffy; and
WHEREAS, Father John McGrath was named pastor on October 4, 1894, and
by the time Father John Morris was appointed pastor in June of 1899, the
church was well established; during the early 1900s, the parish contin-
ued to grow and vast improvements were made to the church; and
WHEREAS, Father William Hopkins was pastor during World War I, and he
was replaced by the Reverend Harry Curtin who was pastor until 1924,
during which time St. Joseph Catholic Church doubled in size; the Rever-
end William Humphrey replaced Father Curtin and purchased what would
become Newman Hall, a large residence for Catholic students at the
college; and
WHEREAS, After Father Humphrey's transfer in 1934, Father Christopher
McCann took over the pastorate and undertook the renovation of both the
St. Charles and St. Joseph churches; and
WHEREAS, In 1948, Newman Hall was renovated and in 1949, St. Joseph's
School was officially opened under the direction of the Benedictine
Sisters from Elizabeth, New Jersey; the school served approximately 250
Catholic students from grades one through eight until it closed in 1970;
and
WHEREAS, The 1950s saw another period of substantial growth in St.
Joseph Catholic Church, and with the parish's increased membership, the
existing church became too small; construction of the Butler Building
addition was completed at St. Joseph's School in the late 1950s, and

under Msgr. Edward Monckton, who became pastor in June of 1960, ground
was broken for the new church on February 7, 1965; and
WHEREAS, The cornerstone was laid upon completion of the church in
late 1965, and the First Mass was offered on Christmas Eve of the same
year; the new Church was officially dedicated on June 5, 1966, and a new
parish center was completed under the pastorate of Father Bill Shannon
in 1997; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the church hall was renovated in 2005, and
continues to be the site of numerous activities including social
outreach programs, meeting space, Religious Education, social events,
and community events; and
WHEREAS, St. Joseph Catholic Church stands on the threshold of tomor-
row, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retain-
ing 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 Dedication of St. Joseph Cathol-
ic Church on June 4, 2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to St. Joseph Catholic Church.