St. Mary Roman Catholic Church celebrated the 125th year of its founding in the heart of Greenwich Avenue on Saturday, September 28th with a high Mass concelebrated by the Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, St. Mary Pastor the Reverend Michael K. Jones, Reverend Carl McIntosh, Reverend Miguel Bernal and area clergy. The 30-member St. Mary choir, under the direction of Marjorie Donalds and organist Joseph Mennona, performed sacred and joyous hymns. Following the Mass, a celebratory dinner took place in the Parish Hall with hundreds of parishioners participating, along with clergy throughout the region.
In his homily, Fr. Jones spoke to the congregation of St. Mary’s history as a vital part of the Greenwich community. First built as a colonial style white-frame church dedicated in 1879, it burned to the ground in 1900 in a devastating fire that tore through the church and nearby structures. In just four months, the cornerstone of the current structure was laid from Greenwich quarries fueled by the passion and dedication of parishioners. Designed by Henry C. Pelton, the classically designed stone church and adjacent rectory sit within the Greenwich Avenue historic district and remain an important cultural landmark.
Fr. Jones cited the faith of St. Mary’s parishioners as unchanged in its 125 years: “We honor those who have gone before us in building our Catholic faith community. They have left us an outstanding spiritual legacy of devotion and courage in the face of change, a foundation that guides us toward the future with hope and confidence.”
Since its dedication, St. Mary has conducted 5,280 marriages and some 13,000 baptisms.
First Selectman Fred Camillo presented a Proclamation to Fr. Jones designating St. Mary Church 125 Anniversary Week from September 28 – October 5th. The week concludes with an Anniversary breakfast in Parish Hall after the 9 am and 10:30 am Masses.
