Holy Innocents Parish at 431 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570-3002 US - HISTORY OF HOLY INNOCENTS CHURCH

 

As the Archdiocese celebrates its 200^th anniversary, we do well to reflect on the past history of our own parish. We began as a mission of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Mt. Kisco. Mass was first celebrated in 1875 at Sunset Hall on Wheeler Avenue. The present property at Bedford and Tompkins was generously donated by Samuel Schapter on the condition that it be named “Church of the Holy Innocents”. To this day we are beneficiaries of this gift. The first church building was dedicated as a mission church of St. Francis until a permanent pastor, Fr. Michael Reinhart, was installed on July 1, 1894. The archdiocese received several Dominican priests from France who had suffered there due to widespread anti-clericalism at the time. These Dominicans served in several locales in Westchester. Fr. Regis Gerest, O.P. became the first Dominican pastor of Holy Innocents in 1897.

 

 In 1912, a fire destroyed the church and rectory. Immediately, the parishioners began erecting new buildings on the same site. A larger church in Tudor style with stained glass windows remained in use until the present church was built in 1986 to accommodate the increasing Catholic population. All three churches are depicted by the large painting in the present Social Hall. Our Lady of Pompeii, a mission church built mainly by the congregation in 1918, was incorporated into the parish in 1929 and remains a vital part of our parish.

 

As the Catholic population grew, Dominican sisters came to Pleasantville to teach the children, first in private homes, then at a new building at Manville Road and Tompkins Avenue in 1909. Following the Second World War and the following wave of immigration, the parish outgrew the school. A new one was built on Bedford at Great Oak and it operated until 1972. Sadly, the financial stress on the parish was such that it forced its closing. It was sold to the Girl Scouts with the funds used to help build the present Church, Social Hall, and Religious Education classrooms.

 

Of course, a parish is not defined by its buildings. The generosity and dedication of its parishioners, its service to the community, the preaching and teaching by word and example, the celebration of the sacraments, these are the life of the parish. We are grateful to our predecessors who gave us this solid foundation to build upon. It really is all about building up the Kingdom of God.

OUR PARISH TODAY

 

In the First Letter of Peter, Ch. 4, we find: “Thus may the individual, according to the gifts each has received, minister one to one another” and become “good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. Our parish is indeed graced by the dedication and involvement of its members. Lay parishioners take part in all of the activities and functions of the parish. Their help is welcomed in the Liturgy as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Hospitality Ministers, and the Music Ministry. Many parents and youth volunteer in the Religious Education program for our children, who number over 700 each year. We have a Bereavement Ministry to serve those who are suffering from the loss of a loved one. There is a Youth Ministry to invite our young people to responsible participation in the mission of our faith community, as well as foster the spiritual growth of each young person. Our CYO sports activities promote interaction among the young as they learn new skills in a Christian environment. We have an RCIA program to welcome and form new members of the Catholic Church. The Social Action Committee includes several outreaches to the wider community: Interfaith food pantry, Midnight Runs to NYC to feed and clothe street people, Alzheimer’s Home in Hawthorne where parties and conversation are offered, a Giving Tree at Christmas for needy families. The PRO (parish reach out) group prepares a luncheon for seniors once a month for seniors following a 12:15 Mass. The parish also provides Bible sharing, Lectures, Lenten suppers. We take part in an Ecumenical Vacation Bible School which is offered each year at our neighboring interfaith communities.