ABOUT US
Our Parish History
The parish of St. Robert Bellarmine dates back to the 1930’s when the Bayside Hills community was just developing. Homes were being built on grounds that had once been a golf course, the Belleclaire Links, and many of the new homeowners were Catholics. Though able to worship at St. Kevin’s in Auburndale or at Sacred Heart in old Bayside, they decided to petition the Bishop for a parish of their own. The response was favorable, permission to found a new parish was granted, and a patron saint was chosen. He was a renowned scholar, St. Robert Bellarmine, who had been canonized in 1930 by Pope Pius XI.
While enthusiasm was high, the early founders, including the newly appointed pastor, Rev. Joseph J. Hyland, encountered more than a few roadblocks. A house was purchased and prepared to serve as both a rectory and church. But when the first Mass was celebrated on January 22, 1939, the turnout of 225 worshippers proved too much for the police, who deemed such a large number in the locale a hazard. Subsequent Masses were moved to larger quarters, often in vacant stores on 48th Avenue. As the number of attendees continued to grow, it was obvious that the parish needed its own permanent church. The Bayside Hills Catholics eagerly entered into fundraising activities and received a great deal of support from the nearby parishes that offered them the necessary space.
Meanwhile, Father Hyland had found and negotiated the purchase of a prime location, the block bounded by 213th and 214th Streets and 56th and 58th Avenues. The price of $36,500 secured the site of the parish holdings we use today. Our parish structures began with a church building and a recreation hall – with living quarters for the priests above it. Construction began in May, 1940, and the buildings were completed and formally dedicated by Bishop Molloy on May 18, 1941.
The growth of the parish continued through the war years, and by September, 1948, when St. Robert’s second pastor, Rev. Thomas H. Clarke, was appointed, it was clear that his task would be to expand the facilities. He and parishioners entered into long-term planning and fundraising – this time with the goal of constructing a new rectory, a school and a convent. The school was actually completed in September, 1954 and 475 children were enrolled. By the time of the first class graduation in 1958, the school enrollment nearly doubled to 900 students. The new rectory was also ready for occupancy in 1954, but the construction of the convent was not completed until 1959. Until that time, the teaching sisters had been occupying the upper floor of the school.
In 1961, the third pastor, Msgr. J. Emmett McDonald, was appointed, and he, along with parish members and organizations embarked on still another effort to enhance the school and library facilities and to refurbish the original parish church. However, the parish had grown to 8,800 members by the mid 1960’s, and it seemed apparent that a larger church was needed. Once again, a building campaign was launched, received strong support from the parish community, and resulted in the completion and dedication of our present church in 1969.
Subsequently, the old church was converted to a gym, and through the fundraising efforts of many young people and interested adults, the gym was provided with the proper equipment. Father Henry A. Lang was assigned as pastor of St. Robert’s in 1977 shortly before the 40th anniversary of the parish. He, too, would be involved in rehabilitating the physical plant and refurbishing areas of the church properties. But much of his effort was directed toward cultivating greater participation of the parishioners in the spiritual and social life of the parish.
In 1995, when Fr. Lang retired, Msgr. John B. Lavin was appointed as the fifth pastor of St. Robert’s. By this time, the demographics of our neighborhood had changed, bringing new populations of Catholics into our parish, particularly from the Philippines, China, and Korea. Efforts to welcome all were made by the parish community, but as the Korean population was sizeable, a Korean priest was assigned to care for their spiritual needs and to celebrate a Korean Sunday Mass.
Two fundraising campaigns were conducted under Msgr. Lavin’s guidance. The first was the Bishop’s 1995 Alive in Hope campaign, wherein the set goal of $514,000 was exceeded by the generous response of the parish members, leaving $400,000 for in-parish improvements to buildings and grounds and for expansion of our liturgy programs.
Another effort was launched in 2001 for further needed improvements at St. Robert’s. The support of the parishioners, as always, was outstanding and resulted in pledges of almost $1,000,000. The funds were directed toward some long desired enhancements, such as air conditioning of the church and the building of the parish reserves to assure financial stability.
After Msgr Lavin's untimely death in December 2005, Msgr. Martin Geraghty was appointed pastor of St. Roberts in March 2006 until his retirement at the end of 2015, where he will continue to be part of the parish as Senior Priest. Bishop DiMarzio appointed Rev. Gabriel Lee as the new Pastor, beginning on January 1, 2016.
Looking back at the efforts made in decades past, we sense a continuing commitment to the values of determination, sacrifice and spiritual fellowship that will carry St. Roberts’ parish well into the future.
