Author: redpenguinweb

There was a reported massive influx of Catholics into the Wantagh area during 1950 and 1951, which made the need for a church more acute. The swelling of the Catholic population in the area gained Diocesan notice, and on January 1, 1952, the Wantagh Mission was formally inaugurated and Bishop Molloy gave the community their own Pastor, Fr. Stanislaus Smulski, and the mandate to build a church. By February of that year, the assembly became too large for the Firehouse Hall, so the celebration of Mass was moved to the Beech Street School. Three Masses were celebrated each Sunday, and by March, a fourth Mass was added.

 The community was ready to move to the next stage of its development, and on March 20th, 1952, the groundbreaking ceremony was performed for the construction of a permanent church. With enthusiasm and generous donations by the members of the community, the Church was built in record time. It took only twelve weeks to accomplish it. The first Mass was celebrated in the new Church, on June 15th, and the building was formally dedicated for divine worship on June 29, 1952, by Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy. By that time, the assembly swelled to about 2,000 members, and five Masses were celebrated every Sunday.

 Dear Parishioners,

I believe many of you would be familiar with the above short paragraphs. They are excerpts from a brief description of the early beginnings of the Church of Saint Frances de Chantal.

We are in the 70^th year of the establishment of the parish that we have come to love and work hard to maintain, to continue the great works that our forebears had done.

On Sunday, June 19^th, 2022, the Most Reverend Bishop John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre Diocese, will preside at the 12:00 Noon Mass here, to commemorate our 70^th Birthday as a parish.

YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT MASS!

We have not planned any party or refreshment after the Mass, due to covid, and that day also being “Father’s Day.” However, we want to use the occasion to launch the 75^th Anniversary and the writing of the history book of the parish.

I trust that each member of the parish would take part in the research and gathering of materials that would help to compose a memorable account of the parish’s life.

Happy Easter! Many Blessings!

Fr. Seth