1949

• July 5. Announcement of new St. Cecilia Parish and appointment of Rev. Bernard C. Newcomb as Pastor. A native of Auburn, New York (USA), Father Newcomb was ordained on June 9, 1934. His first assignments were as assistant pastor at St. Patrick's Church in Corning (NY), followed by a similar position at St. Francis Assisi Church in Auburn (NY). He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Air Force for three years.

• September 20. The Parish, consisting of six acres of land on the corner of Culver and Brower Roads, was incorporated after an initial meeting with 25 parishioners at the residence of George B. McAvoy.

1950

• March. Groundbreaking for the present Church and School complex begins. Work was delayed when water repeatedly filled up excavation. Later, labor-management quarrels further slowed construction.

• August 17. The house and property opposite St. Cecilia Church was purchased for $25,000 from Sterling Dining Co., Inc. It becomes St. Cecilia's convent.

• November 22. The cornerstone of the Church was laid on the Feast of St. Cecilia. Msgr. William M. Hart, V.G., set the stone on place assisted by Father Newcomb, Mr. George B. McAvoy and Mr. Edmund Costich, both lay trustees. The Church-School complex was designed by Edward M. Lorscheider and constructed by Joseph R. Vasile and Son for $194,000. The old farmhouse to the south of the new Church was remodeled for use as a rectory.

• December 16. Dedication of the Church and School was at 10:30 a.m. by Bishop James E. Kearney prior to the first solemn Pontifical Mass. Father Newcomb served as deacon and Rev. Emmett Murphy, sub deacon. Attendants were Revs. Francis Mason and Frank Hoefen. Daily Mass was begun the next morning at 8 a.m., and was attended by seven people: Mrs. Albert Blum and her three children; Mrs. Dettleff, Mrs. McAvoy and Mrs. Kavney.

• December 24. First regular schedule of Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9, 10 and 11 a.m.

1951

• February 3. The first evening services were held in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. The Blessing of Throats took place afterward.

• February 6. Pre-Lenten Card Party was held in the Convent house. This was one of the best occasions for parishioners to meet and get acquainted with Father Newcomb. 42 card tables were used and about $124 cleared.

• February 7. First Lenten Devotions were observed. The newly installed, hand-carved Stations of the Cross made Lent especially meaningful to the parishioners. They were a gift to the Church from Anthony Wentis.

• May 6. The first First Communion Class of St. Cecilia's consisted of 28 girls and 22 boys.

• May 27. The first Confirmation Class is held.

• September. The School opened with six Sisters of Mercy taking charge. Sister Mary David was principal from 1951 - 1956. The enrollment figures for the first five years of the School were:

  • 280 in 1952

  • 360 in 1953

  • 380 in 1954

  • 467 in 1956.

• September 22. Grounds of St. Cecilia's were graded and seeded by volunteer crew of 35 parishioners.

1953

• May 20. Based on the growing needs of the Parish, the Financial Need Appeal began to construct four new classrooms and to add a second floor to the Convent. Cost of the convent was $78,000, while the School enhancements totaled $89,000.

• June 17. First appointment of an assistant to Father Newcomb is made, Rev. John E. Duffy. Rev. Valentine Jankowiak and Rev. Edwin R. Wedow succeeded him. Later appointments for assistants included: Rev. Eugene G. Emo, Rev. Daniel Hogan, Rev. John Cavanaugh, Rev. Winfried Kellner and Rev. Richard J. Beligotti.

1956

• March 2. The second enlargement of the School is made. The cost to add four new classrooms is $125,000.

1967

• October 1. Construction on a new Rectory begins; it was completed in February of the following year. Designed by Rev. Bernard Casper, construction was provided by the men of the Parish, making the complete and final cost (including furnishings) of $68,000.

1970

• September. School opens with a staff of five teaching sisters and 11 lay teachers, as well as assisting staff.

1972

• With the opening of the new rectory and the school expansion completed, all current buildings on St. Cecilia's Culver Road grounds are complete. The parish flourishes under the leadership of Father Newcomb.

1975

• St. Cecilia's School has an enrollment of over 700 students.

1979

• Father Walter Cushing is appointed pastor after serving as Chaplain of St. Agnes High School.

1985

• Sister Marie Therese, SSND, is hired as Pastoral Associate. Sister's dedication to her Faith and cheerful disposition win her many friends at the parish during her 15 years at the Parish.

1990

• St. Cecilia's School junior-high students move to Northeastern Catholic Junior High School as part of a Diocesan reorganization plan. The plan was developed in response to decreasing enrollment rates at Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Rochester.

1992

• St. Cecilia's School closes it doors. Children transfer to neighboring Catholic schools.

1993

• December 5. The parish is saddened by the death of Father Bernard Newcomb, St. Cecilia's founding pastor, at the age of 84.

1998

• St. Cecilia's Parish participates in the Pastoral Planning for the New Millennium (PPNM) process. The parish is joined by neighboring Irondequoit faith communities including Christ the King, St. Margaret Mary, St. Salome, St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Ann's.

2000

• June. Father Cushing retires as Pastor of St. Cecilia's after many long years of devoted service. He continues serving the needs of parishioner as Pastor Emeritus.

• June. Father Kevin McKenna, the Diocesan Canon Lawyer, becomes the third Pastor of St. Cecilia's Church. A die-hard fan of Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays, Father McKenna is helping guide the parish in the New Millennium.

• Sister Marie Therese, SSND, retires after 15 years of service as Pastoral Associate at St. Cecilia's.

2001

• March. St. Cecilia's joins the information age with its new Web site, "St. Cecilia's Online."

• Go to Photo Archives page

• Back to Parish History page

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