LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of St.
Christopher's Parish

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 is justly proud to commemorate the
100th Anniversary of St. Christopher's Parish, to be celebrated with a
Dinner Dance on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Coral House, Baldwin, New
York; and
WHEREAS, For the past century, the Parish of Saint Christopher has
been the Catholic presence in the Village of Baldwin, New York; and
WHEREAS, The town of Baldwin, New York was established in the
mid-1800s, and was made up of 1,200 residents, only a few of whom were
Catholic; by 1912, the Catholic population grew to approximately 70
families who petitioned Bishop Charles McDonnell, the second Bishop of
Brooklyn, for a place to attend Mass; and
WHEREAS, During this time, the Bishop established a mission church in
Baldwin attached to Our Holy Redeemer; land was purchased on the corner
of Merrick Road and Gale Avenue, and based on its location, was named
for Saint Christopher, the patron of travelers; and
WHEREAS, On July 7, 1915, Bishop McDonnell appointed Father John
McGoldrick as the first Pastor of Saint Christopher's Parish, and later
the same month, a Mass was celebrated by Father John McGoldrick inaugu-
rating the Parish of Saint Christopher; and
WHEREAS, Construction on Saint Christopher's Parish began in June of
1917, with stones taken from the old Milburn Reservoir in Rockville
Centre; this first church, the Shrine Church of Saint Christopher, held
its first mass on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1918, and was formally dedi-
cated by Bishop McDonnell on April 28 of the same year; and
WHEREAS, In these early years of the parish, there came the need for
Catholic education, and Father McGoldrick set out to begin Saint
Christopher's School, which was completed in 1925; in addition, he
established a convent for the Sisters of Saint Joseph who arrived to
staff the new school; and
WHEREAS, By the time the Diocese of Rockville Centre was established
by Pope Pius XII in 1957, Baldwin had outgrown the little Shrine Church
of Saint Christopher; with the demolition of the old church, its desig-
nation as a shrine came to an end; and
WHEREAS, Ground was broken for the new church on December 13, 1959,
and was dedicated on Sunday, April 29, 1962, by Bishop Walter Kellen-
berg, the first Bishop of Rockville Centre; and
WHEREAS, From the 1960s to the present day, St. Christopher's Parish
has met the welcomed challenges presented by the Second Vatican Council;
Msgr. Joseph Lawlor became the fifth Pastor of the parish in 1967, where
he remained until 1986; he extended the church property by purchasing
several homes behind the school building, thus forming its North parking
lot and school playground; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Msgr. Lawlor completed the second extension of
the school and modernized its older buildings; his time as Pastor saw
the birth of many new ministries as well as the expansion and develop-
ment of the St. Christopher's catechetical ministry; and
WHEREAS, Father Dennis Whelan was appointed sixth pastor in 1986;
during his three years with the parish, the Religious Education Program

grew, and the first Kindergarten class came through the doors in 1988;
and
WHEREAS, In 1989, Msgr. John Bennett became the seventh pastor who
continued to enhance the school and religious education programs, and
further the growth and development of new ministries; during this time,
the church saw a much needed addition and an elevator was constructed on
the northwest corner of the church; and
WHEREAS, Sister Dolores McLaughlin, CSJ retired as school principal in
2004, after serving in the position since 1980, and as a member of its
faculty since 1969; Joan Hanlon, who had served as Assistant Principal,
became the first lay Principal of Saint Christopher's School; and
WHEREAS, Today, Rev. Msgr. Steven R. Camp serves as Pastor of St.
Christopher's Parish; under his able leadership, the parish has grown
immensely; from 70 families in 1915, to more than 3,000 families today,
the people of Saint Christopher's have successfully met the challenges
presented by the changing times; and
WHEREAS, St. Christopher's Parish 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. Christopher's Parish, 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. Christopher's Parish, Baldwin, New York.