THE HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.
The Order has been called “the strong right arm of the Church,” and his been praised by Popes, Presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need.
Father McGivney’s founding vision for the Order also included a life insurance program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased members.
The Order’s insurance program has expanded substantially to serve more effectively the Knights growing membership. Year after year, the Knights of Columbus has earned the highest possible quality ratings for financial soundness from A.M. Best and Standards & Poor’s. The Knights of Columbus provides the highest quality insurance, annuity and long-term care products to its members, along with many other fraternal benefits.
MORE ABOUT VENERABLE FATHER McGIVNEY…
THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNCIL
The Knights of Columbus Monsignor James S. Conlan Council #5329 was founded on August 9, 1962 as the Knights of Columbus Pine Bush Council #5329. On April 6, 2017 the Council members voted to change the name to its current iteration of Knights of Columbus Monsignor James S. Conlan Council #5329. This was in honor of former Church of the Infant Saviour Pastor Monsignor James S. Conlan. The name change was officially approved by Knights of Columbus Supreme in June 2017.
THE HISTORY OF OUR PARISH
Our Catholic community in Pine Bush first gathered on the porch of a local parishioner to attend mass in 1926. Sunday Mass was celebrated outside at Mrs. Hugh Kelly’s house. An altar was arranged on the porch and all those who came to worship sat on chairs or stood in the yard while Rev. Joseph Holland, pastor of the Most Precious Blood Church in Walden, NY, celebrated mass.
In August, 1926, he sent out cards to all businesses and residents of Pine Bush requesting donations to pay for a church. His campaign was successful and early in 1927 a Catholic Chapel was built. The chapel was built on land that was donated by Mr. Hugh Kelly and dedicated on May 28th 1929 by His Eminence Patrick Cardinal Hayes. The Church remained a mission church to Most Precious Blood in Walden under the leadership of Rev. Cornelius Norris and then by Fr. Steuer.
Since 1951, the Catholic Church in Pine Bush has been established as an independent parish. Rev. Francis Doersam became the first pastor and for a short time he lived about one half mile down the road from the church on Route 52 until a rectory was built in 1954. Then, in 1955, the parish expanded again to accommodate the worshipping community by building, on land donated by a parishioner, a Church in Walker Valley. Hence, Our Lady of Valley was built as a mission church. As a result of a rapidly increasing number of people attending mass, a new larger church was needed. In July 1961, the Most Rev. John McGuire broke ground for our present church. The parish raised $300,000 to build the present church.
The Church of Infant Saviour and the Church Hall was dedicated by His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman on Sunday, September 16th, 1962. Once again to address the needs of the parishioners and our Religious Education Program, the former rectory was redesigned and added to and became the Religious Education Building.
Since 1962, the Church of Infant Saviour has grown from a small gathering of people outside to a beautiful independent parish where we are worshipping today. Most recently a barn, which we had used as a pre-school was repurposed as a more suitable rectory. We are grateful to God for His care and guidance. In Christ all things are possible.
Past Pastors of Infant Saviour:
- 1926 – Fr. Holland -began worship services in Pine Bush – Pastor of Most Precious Blood, Walden, NY
- 1929 -Fr. Cornelius Norris, Fr. Steuer
- 1951 – 1957 – Fr. Doersam – First Pastor
- 1957-1965 – Fr. Bernard Quinn
- 1968-1978 – Fr. David Hordern
- 1979-1988 – Fr. William Boldt
- 1990- 1998 – Msgr. James Conlan
- 1998-2002 – Fr. Alfred Galante,
- 2002-2004 – Fr William Young
- 2004-2006 – Fr. William Damroth
- 2006-2014 – Fr. Kevin Gallagher
- 2015 – Fr. George
- 2015 – Present – Fr Niranjan Rodrigo
MORE ABOUT THE CHURCH OF THE INFANT SAVIOUR…
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