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The most exciting event of the 1940's was the groundbreaking on October 3, 1949 for a new church and rectory. Two thousand parishioners attended the memorable ceremony conducted by Father Larkin. On January 12, 1950, a contract in the amount $690,000 was awarded for a new church to stand where the little wooden one had been, as well as a rectory for the parish priests. On November 26, 1950 Fr. Larkin laid the cornerstone in which were sealed a brief history of the parish; a list of contributors to the building fund; copies of The Shrine publication, The Catholic Review, the Sun newspaper, medals of the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Mother and the Little Flower, evergreen leaves from St. Therese's home in Lisieux, and a pressed flower from the Lourdes Garden. |
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A Rectory and a New Church |
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Designed in the form of the cross, the magnificent new church building was solemnly dedicated on January 20, 1952 by Archbishop Francis P. Keough. Even before the building's dedication, a number of memorable occasions were celebrated in the new church. On December 14, 1951, Fr. Larkin was appointed by Archbishop Keough to the Archdiocesan Board of Consultors. On Christmas 1951, parishioners attended the first Masses celebrated in the new church. |
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