Hollis Parish Closes Celebration of Its 100th Year

Larry and Angela Gresser proudly attended the closing Mass of St. Gerard Majella Church’s 100th anniversary year Oct. 14. It was most appropriate that they, the great nephew and niece of Msgr. John S. Gresser, the founding pastor in 1907, were present.

At the turn of the 20th century, Catholics in Hollis had no local parish church. Families invited priests from nearby St. Monica’s Church, Jamaica, to celebrate Mass in their homes.

In 1907, Bishop Charles E. McDonnell appointed Father Gresser to establish a parish. Father Gresser took up residence with his father on 187th Pl. and celebrated Mass in his home on weekdays. On weekends, he used the parlor of Hollis Hook and Ladder Co. and later a catering hall.

Inspired by the life of St. Gerard Majella, he dedicated the new parish to this newly canonized saint.

Marie Elena Giossi Photos 

Pews were packed when the Shrine Church of St. Gerard Majella, Hollis, celebrated a Closing Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the parishÕs 100th anniversary year on Sunday morning, Oct. 14. Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros was the main celebrant of

the 11:30 a.m. Mass.

Filipino, Latino, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Haitian, Caucasian and Asian faces could be seen among the SRO crowd. From bottom top, over two dozen Sisters of Mercy, many of whom attended or taught at the parish school, filled the front pews of church. Mercy Sisters administered the school from 1923 until 2003. Knights of Columbus from Jamaica Council No. 337 provided an honor guard. School Principal Sue Roye attended along with students from the parish school and religious education program. Boys and girls held hands as they prayed. School alumnae Sister Eleanor Nishio, R.S.M., and Dolores C. Muenkel presented the offertory gifts to Bishop Cisneros, assisted by Deacons Joseph Dass and Guillermo Gomez. Father Edward Doran, pastor since 1999, right, thanked Bishop Cisneros, the parish family and the centennial committee: Linda S. Mitchell, Richard Persaud, Deacon Dass, Sister Patricia Walsh, O.P., Sister Loretta Murphy, C.S.J., Deacon Guillermo and Rosa Gomez, Geraldine V. Go, Carlos Acosta, Alberta Delatour, Maria Gonzalez, and Eugenia M. Rudmann, coordinator of activities. The Mercy Sisters and Deacon Guillermo Gomez and his wife, Rosa, were honored at the luncheon following Mass.

The first Mass was celebrated in the first church building, bounded by 188 St., 91st. Ave. and 189th St. on Easter Sunday, 1908. Father Edward Harley succeeded Father Gresser in 1914. A stone school building with an auditorium was erected in 1923. The school was administered by the Brooklyn Sisters of Mercy until 2003.

The growth of the parish necessitated a larger worship space. In 1927, the church was “temporarily” moved to the first floor of the school building. It has been there ever since. The original church was razed and eventually the present parish rectory was built in its place.

Father Harley was succeeded by Father James J. Kennedy, who served from 1924 until 1928. Father Patrick E. Hart served from 1929 through 1953 and was succeeded by Father Edward P. Curley, 1953 to 1961.

Challenges of Vatican II

Under Father Joseph Tschantz, pastor, 1961-72, extensive renovations were undertaken in the school and church. The Second Vatican Council brought about a period of transition under the pastorate of Father Charles Carmody, 1972-78.

The priesthood ordination of Father Fernando Ferrarese in 1977 and the diaconate ordination of Guillermo Gomez in 1981 helped focus parish attention on the responsibility of all Christians to answer God’s call to service.

Msgr. Joseph C. Pfeiffer, pastor, 1978-84, coordinated the parish’s 75th anniversary celebration in 1982. He was succeeeded by Msgr. Thomas F. Donovan, 1984-1991, and Msgr. James F. Spengler, 1991-1999.

Current pastor, Father Edward P. Doran, was installed on Oct. 16, 1999. It was a return to the parish he had lived in as a member of the Congregation of Marist Brothers. A devastating fire on March 16, 2002, necessitated the total renovation of the church. The renovation, completed in 2003, also included the addition of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The last and only remnant of the fire remaining in the new church is a scorched crucifix. The charred hands, torso and crown of Christ are a constant reminder of the tragedy that befell the church.

Father Doran’s Pastorate

During his pastorate, Father Doran has reinstated the Parish Pastoral Council and instituted the Alpha Course, a scriptural reading and discussion group aimed at evangelization.

Another response to God’s call to service was seen during this anniversary year as Joseph Dass was ordained a deacon.

Now the parish journey continues on, confident in the words of St. Gerard – “Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills.”

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