Historic Pelham: Celebrations of St. Catharine's 35th and 40th Anniversaries

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On December 8, 1932, St. Catharine's Roman Catholic Church in the Village of North Pelham celebrated its "35th Anniversary." On December 4, 1936, four years later, The Pelham Sun noted the Church would celebrate its "40th Birthday" on the following Tuesday (December 8, 1936). What might explain these date discrepancies?

Unless The Pelham Sun (oddly) considered December 8, 1897, the day the Church was made a separate parish, a "birth day" with the one-year anniversary of its founding its second birthday, it would seem The Pelham Sun simply got it wrong. Nothing would seem to explain the discrepancy.

December 8, 1932 was, indeed, the 35th anniversary of the day the Church was made a separate parish. The celebration that day was nearly as much about Monsignor Francis P. McNichol as it was about the establishment of the Church as a separate parish. Monsignor McNichol had been the only pastor the church congregation ever had had since the creation of the parish.

Rev. Francis P. McNichol was born in Kingston, N. Y. and received his elementary education there. He graduated from St. Vincent's College in Pennsylvania and the Grand Seminary at Montreal. After ordination his first post was assistant director of Mount Loretto, a Catholic orphanage and school for children on Staten Island.

After thirteen years at the Mount Loretto orphanage and school, Rev. McNichol suffered "a breakdown." He was transferred to the tiny parish in North Pelham for a "rest." For nearly the rest of his life one of his favorite jokes was to tell how that "rest" turned out to be a harder job than his previous post.

Two local newspaper articles detailing the 35th Anniversary celebration and the supposed 40th Birthday of the Church in 1936 are transcribed below. Each contains interesting and colorful historical facts about St. Catharine's and make for interesting reading for students of Pelham History.

"MONSIGNOR FRANCIS P. McNICHOL" Source: ST. CATHERINE'S

CHURCH OBSERVES 35TH ANNIVERSARY -- Roman Catholic Church

in North Pelham Was Founded December 8, 1907; Monsignor McNichol

First Pastor, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 9, 1932, Vol. 23, No. 38. p. 1, col. 3.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

* * * * *

"ST. CATHERINE'S CHURCH OBSERVES 35TH ANNIVERSARY
-----
Roman Catholic Church in North Pelham Was Founded December 8, 1907; Monsignor McNichol First Pastor.

The thirty-fifth anniversary of the founding of St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church in North Pelham was observed at Mass in the church yesterday. The church, which was founded on December 8, 1907, has had but one pastor since its inception, the Very Rev. Francis P. McNichol, who is still active in its affairs. Monsignor McNichol was congratulated on the anniversary by members of the parish.

Monsignor McNichol was born in Kingston, N. Y., and received his elementary education there. He is a graduate of St. Vincent's College in Pennsylvania and the Grand Seminary at Montreal. After ordination his first post was assistant director of Mount Loretto, a Catholic orphanage and school for children on Staten Island.

After thirteen years at the school he suffered a breakdown and was assigned to a small parish in Pelham for a rest. One of his favorite hobbies is to tell how that 'rest' proved to be a harder job than his previous post.

Pelham was originally part of St. Gabriel's Parish of New Rochelle. The first Catholic church in Pelham was built in 1896 by the Rev. John Kellner. On December 8, 1897, Pelham was made a parish and Father McNichol became its priest.

In 1899 land was purchased and the present rectory was built. The convent was erected in 1906. On December 8, 1906, the Sisters of St. Francis assumed the new building and in February, 1907, St. Catherine's School was opened.

The present church building was erected in 1908 and on November 8, 1909, it was dedicated by his Excellency Archbishop Aversa, Papal Delegate to Cuba and Porto Rico.

In 1912 Father McNichol received the title of Monsignor from Pope Pius X 'in recognition of distinguished service.'"

Source:  ST. CATHERINE'S CHURCH OBSERVES 35TH ANNIVERSARY -- Roman Catholic Church in North Pelham Was Founded December 8, 1907; Monsignor McNichol First Pastor, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 9, 1932, Vol. 23, No. 38. p. 1, col. 3.

"40th Birthday Of St. Catherine's Parish In North Pelham On Tuesday
-----

St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Parish in North Pelham will be 40 years old on Tuesday. The church has grown from a small parish to one of the largest in this vicinity. No official observance of the anniversary has been planned. The Rev. Francis P. McNichol is pastor. The Rev. Vincent De Paul Mulry and The Rev. Arthur A. Campbell are assistants.

Pelham was originally included in the parish of Saint Gabriel's Church of New Rochelle. In 1896 the local church was built under the direction of the Rev. John Kellner. On December 8, 1897, Pelham was made a parish and the Rev. Francis P. McNichol was appointed pastor. When he came to Pelham it was a small edifice, capable of seating only a small number of people. There was no school, no rectory nor convent. He proceeded to build up the parish and the result can be seen in the present collection of buildings.

In 1899 land was purchased and the present rectory was built. In 1903, the school building situated alongside the church was erected. The convent was erected in 1906 and the sisters of St. Francis took possession on December 8, 1906. In February 1907, Saint Catherine's School was opened. It consists of eight grades usual in elementary school and its graduates are entitled to admission to any high school. It is conducted under the program of the State Board of Regents. The Sisters are regularly graduated teachers with state diplomas.

In 1908 the present church was erected and on November 8, 1909 it was dedicated by His Excellency Archbishop Aversa, Papal Delegate to Cuba and Porto Rico. Two archbishops and many prominent clergymen and laymen were present.

In 1912 Father McNichol received the title of Monsignor from the Holy Father, Pope Pius X in recog-" [NOTE: Article erroneously ends at this point with no continuation in the paper.]

Source:  40th Birthday Of St. Catherine's Parish In North Pelham On Tuesday, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 4, 1936, Vol. 27, No. 35, p. 1, cols. 7-8.