St. Helen Church at 2085 Tallahassee Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960 US - History of St. Helen Parish

Established as the first Catholic Church in Indian River County, our newly created parish celebrated its first Mass in June of 1919 at the home of Louis Schlitt on 22nd Avenue with approximately twenty people in attendance. Until that time parishioners had traveled to Fort Pierce for Sunday Mass. This meant catching the 6 a.m. train to arrive for the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Anastasia Church.

Rev. Rupert Gabriel, O.S.B. was assigned as the first pastor of St. Helen Church. Although, he resided in Fort Pierce, Father Gabriel regularly traveled to Vero Beach to care for the spiritual needs of St. Helen's and also covered parishes from Rockledge to Okeechobee. He carried out these ministries while suffering from arthritis, which required him to use crutches.

The celebration of Mass continued at the Schlitt home until 1919, at which time Father Gabriel acquired a donation of $600.00 from the Catholic Extension Society of Chicago. Construction on a new church began immediately. The generosity of many parishioners in donating their trade skills, time and labor made the construction of the new church progress quickly and smoothly. Finally, in December of 1919, a wood frame Chapel was dedicated. This very same building is still part of the parish complex and is located at the corner of 21st St. and 20th Ave. north of the Christian Living Center. Presently the old church building is used as the Kindergarten classroom for the parish parochial school, but it has also functioned as a parish hall, school lunchroom, youth room, bingo hall, temporary home of Temple Beth Shalom, and scout hall over the last seventy-five years.

In 1925, Father Rupert, due to declining health, was succeeded by Monsignor Michael Beerhalter. Monsignor Beerhalter continued to divide time between the two communities. With the establishment of the new church building, the small community busied itself with dinners, bingo, and other fund raisers to continually improve and expand its new home, and became, more difficult for Father Beerhalter to serve the needs of both communities.

Growth came very quickly to this community by the sea, and in the 1929 Rev. Michael Mullaly was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Helen's. One of Father Mullaly's first priorities was to recruit three Sisters of St. Dominic from Adrian, Michigan, and together the four of them established St Helen School. The original school building was actually a church in Fellsmere that had to be moved to our grounds. With help from parishioners, the building was disassembled, transported, reassembled and ready for school on September 16, 1940 with an enrollment of 27 students.

 Parish leadership changed again in 1950. Rev. Patrick D. O'Brien was appointed to succeed Father Mullaly as pastor of St. Helen Parish. It was under the guidance of Father O'Brien that plans were initiated and completed for the present church structure. The parish also purchased a nearby home to serve as a rectory. The old rectory, located on the present parking lot/playground, was used as the maintenance supervisor's home until the early 70's when it was demolished to make way for parish improvement. 

The home purchased in 1950, with numerous additions throughout the years, would serve as the rectory until 1995 when it was replaced by the new church rectory. Father John McKeown followed Father O'Brien as pastor in 1954. Under Father McKeown's administration the stained glass windows, the lights, and the beautiful Italian statues were added to the new church. Also, a building with four new classrooms joined the two older structures. The construction of a new convent for the sisters (present Christian Living Center) also became a reality. Considering the fast growth of the community, the diocese soon purchased a small tract of land in Sebastian on which Father McKeown built the mission church of St. William's (now St. Sebastian's).

From 1964-1969 Rev. Hugh J. Flynn served as pastor. Known throughout the parish, county, and diocese for his simplicity of life, generosity, and willingness to assist those in need, Father Flynn developed a special place in the heart of members of this community. Many parishioners fondly remember Father Flynn hammering nails, setting up basketball poles, or lifting and dragging around large objects. Under his direction the first Parish Council was formed, the St. Vincent de Paul Variety Store was started, the St. Helen Harvest Festival began, a parish Credit Union initiated, as was St. Helen Bingo, and St. Helen Service Center - a multi-purpose facility constructed in Gifford. Though the center in Gifford was originally funded through the Diocese of Orlando and St. Helen Parish, it is now operated and funded by the State and Federal government.

Father Flynn was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Daytona Beach in 1969 and was succeeded by Rev. John B. O'Hare. Coming from Titusville, Father O'Hare brought to the center the dreams of many to provide additional recreation for young and old, more badly needed classrooms, and facilities for the elderly, through the construction of a new Parish Center in 1973. Father O'Hare was also instrumental in expanding the role of the laity in various aspects of church ministry

The Diocese of Orlando, soon recognized Father O’Hare’s excellent administrative skills, and in April of 1976 he assumed the duties of Comptroller for that diocese. Monsignor Irvine Nugent, Rector of the Cathedral of St. Charles Borromeo, in Orlando, and Vicar General of the Diocese of Orlando, replaced Father O'Hare as pastor. Under Monsignor's leadership, the parish has continued to grow and meet the ever-expanding needs of this community. During his stay, the parish has increased the scope and variety of religious instruction for parishioners of all ages; remodeled the old convent into the Christian Living Center for the purpose of enriching parish ministries; established a plan to improve parish grounds; started the Neighborhood Apostolate Office to improve parish life and serve the needy; developed an excellent Ministries program for the sick, and in general, has done much to improve the quality of parish life. Msgr. Irvine Nugent served our parish from 1976 to 1999 when he retired.