An Invitation on our Journey
ImmediatelyafterhisarrivalasourcurrentPastor,FatherJosefNorys,Can.Reg.,invitedthepeople ofSt.BonifaceMartyrparishtoa“MeetthePastor”receptionafterMasstomeeteachother “as we begin this faith journey together.”
AsaparishunderthepatronageofSt.BonifaceMartyr,astoriedmissionarywhotraveledfarfrom hometospreadthefaithandserveGod’speople,thefactthatweareapilgrimpeopleonajourney totheKingdomofGod,haslongbeenonewe,thepeopleofSt.Boniface,haveheldclosetoour hearts.
Assuch,Father’sreferencetothelife-longjourneyallChristiansundertakestruckachordwithus andprovideduswiththeinspirationforthetitleofthispublication,whichendeavorstoprovidea shortoutlineofthecontinuingjourneyofthePeopleofGodattheParishofSt.BonifaceMartyr, whichbegan125yearsagothisyear.
Thissmallbookcontinuesalovelytraditionfollowedthroughtheyearsbyparishionerswhotook milestonessuchasthe50th,75thand100thanniversariesoftheparish,andothermomentswhere theSpiritmovedvariousparishioner/scribes,asoccasionstochroniclethestoryofourparish.
Thislongstandingpracticemadeourjobrelativelyeasy,aswetookthelibertyofcastingafresheye upontheircompilations,andreworkingandupdatingthoseearlierchronicles.
Wehavebeen,respectively,theBulletinEditor(JulieByrne)andSocialMediaCoordinator(Robert P.Lynch)fortheparishover25yearsandweverymuchenjoycuratingparishhistory,preservingit andmakingitavailabletothefamiliesandfriendsofSt.BonifaceParish. Weareintheprocessof digitalizingthemanypublicationsandphotosdetailingparishlifewhicharepreservedinourparish archives,aprojectwestartedinpreparationforour125thJubileeCelebrations,andwehopeto continuehelpingtomakethemavailabletothoseinterestedinthehistoryofourparishandits continuingjourney.
Julie Byrne Robert P. LynchA Parish is Born
In1668,JosephCarpenterandafewassociatespurchasedalargetractoflandontheNorthShoreofLong IslandfromtheMatinecockIndians.Thisarearemainedaquiet,ruralsettlementuntilapost-CivilWarsurge religiousfervorspreadalongtheAtlanticseaboard.
In1871,agroupofMethodistsfromManhattanandBrooklynorganizedtheSeaCliffGroveandCamp GroundAssociationandbought147acresofpropertyfromtheheirsofJosephCarpenter.Overthenextthree decades,religioussummercampmeetingsandcrowdsofvisitorstransformedtheareaintoabustlingresort town,repletewithhotels,aferryservice,steamboatcruisesandlovelyVictorianhomes.
OnOctober12,1883,thatSeaCliffbecameanincorporated villagecomposedofthirteenfamiliesandthePastorofthe MethodistChurch.Asthevillagecontinuedtogrow,a numberofCatholicfamiliesmovedtothearea.
OnJuly18,1897,thefirstCatholicserviceswereheldin theOldChapelon14thAvenue,justwestofCentral Avenue,(picturedleft),avenueusedbyclergyvisitingSea Clifftoconductcampmeetings.
FatherJamesMcEnroepresidedatthefirstMasses, assistedbyFatherFrederickLund.Throughoutthe followingyearthispairtraveledfromGlenCoveto celebrateMassattheChapeluntilplansforCatholicparish wererealized.
In1898,BishopCharlesE.McDonnell,thesecondBishopof theDioceseofBrooklynfoundedtheParishof
St. Boniface Martyr inSeaCliff,appointing Father James J. Donohoe asitsfirstPastor.FatherDonohoe celebratedhisfirstMassonJuly3,1898intheOldChapel.
TheSeaCliffNewsofJuly9,1898 correctlypredicted:
“AsFatherDonohoeisahustler,itwill notbelongbeforeahandsomenew churchwillbeerected.”
Groundwasbrokenforachurch buildingonJanuary11,1899,and volunteers(includingmanynonCatholics)cartedbricksandfieldstone fromtheGlenwoodLandingdockand fromtheLongIslandRailroadstation inGlenHead.OnJune11,1899,the cornerstoneforthechurchbuilding waslaid.
Our first church (circa 1900), without the bell or covered entrance added later. The church seated 300.
The Early Years
As thechurchbuildingwasbeingerected,theworkof buildingaparishalsoproceeded.FatherDonohoeset upaSundaySchool,organizedaJuniorChoir,formed anApostleshipofPrayer,arrangedforamission, establishedtheHolyNameSocietyandSt.Aloysiusand HolyAngelsSodalities,tookthefirstparishcensus, celebratedthefirstconfirmation,andtrainedthefirst altarservers.HesetuptheSt.BonifaceGuardsfor youthaged9through15.Heboughtanoldboarding house,turneditintoarectory,andheldaspecial collectiontofurnishit.Insteadofchargingpewrent,as wasthecustom,an“admissionfee”oftencentswas takenatthedoorasoneenteredforMass.
Thesociallifeofthechurchblossomed,including fundraisingeventsforthenewparish.Anewspaper accountofthetimetellsof“lectures,balls,stereopticon views,picnics,minstrelshows,fairs(onein1897 netted$1,200.00),concerts...lawnparties,open-air dancing,euchre(card)partiesandsuppers…”
Themomentthebasementofthechurchwas completed,FatherDonohoeagainappealedforthe parishionerstoharnesstheirhorseteamstocarry chairs,benchesandanaltartothesite,whereMass wascelebratedonJuly9,1899.Thechurchbuilding wasdedicatedbyBishopCharlesE.McDonnell,D.D.,on April22,1900.
ATemperanceSocietywasbeguninApril1901and lastedforonlyfiveyears(recordsindicateayearly decreaseinnumbers).In1902,thefirstSt.Patrick’s DaySupperwascelebrated,andnetted$142.40.It soonbecametheparisheventoftheyear,attracting peoplefromthewholeOysterBaypeninsula.Itseat-all -you-likemeal,preparedandservedbytheLadies Guildinanatmosphereofcarefreejoy,wasfinally discontinuedinthe1950’sforlackofabilitytohandle thecrowds.
FatherDonohoewastransferredin1906toSt.Martin ofToursinBrooklyn,andReverendWilliamL.O’Hara becamethesecondPastoratSt.BonifaceMartyr(1906 -1909).Hesoonbecameknownforhiscivicinterest, hisinstructionofnon-Catholics,andhisgenerosity.In Juneof1906,hegavethecommencementaddressat theSeaCliffHighSchoolgraduationexercises.
ItwasFatherDonohoehewhourgedhisparishioners andothersinSeaClifftosendmoneytoaidthose sufferingfromtheSanFranciscoearthquakeand,later, tocollectforvictimsofanearthquakeinItaly.
SeaCliffandintheJewishSynagoguesofGlenCove.
Father O’Hara
Father Sloane
Our Community Grows: c. 1900 - 1950
ByOctober,1923,aparishcensusshowed140 familieswherebothspouseswereCatholic,and260 familieswhereonlyonespousewasCatholic.There werethen859Catholicsintheparish.ASunday Schoolheldatthetimeaveraged135youngstersin attendance.Fiftywerebaptizedthatyear;26received theirfirstHolyCommunion;13couplesweremarried; andtherewere16deaths.
The“diamond-in-the SloaneasPastorwas (1926-1937).Irish-born,withatoughexterior,hewas thesortofPastorwhovisitedhisflock,familyby family.CarryingforwardahopeofFatherSloane,the constructionofaschoolbecamehisgreateffort,andit wasbroughttorealityatacostofaquarter dollars. St. Boniface Martyr School
September,1928,withaninitialenrollmentof150 pupils. TheSistersofMercyofDallas,Pennsylvania wereenlistedtoteachattheschool.
WhentheGreat Depressionhitthe country,itseriously affectedSt.Boniface MartyrParish.Few couldmeetpledges madeingoodfaith, andthechurchwas burdenedwithdebt.
FatherFord,in1932, organizeda “conference”oftheSt. VincentdePaul Societyasone bulwarkagainst personalneedsufferedbytheparishionersandothers inSeaCliffduringthosestarkdays.Tomakematters worse,in1936,an“SeaCliffFirebug”,anarsonistwho terrorizedthearea,setfiretothechurch,causing heavydamageandaddingtothefinancialdebtofthe parish. Thefiredamagedthechoirloftandorganand theresultantrepairsforcedMasstoberelocatedto theschoolauditoriumforanumberofmonths.
WhenFatherFordwasmovedtoSt.Sylvester’s inBrooklyn,hewassucceededby Reverend Charles B. Garvey (1937-46),anativeofCutchogue,Long Island,whowasoneofthefirstvocationsfromSuffolk County.
parishionersknittedscarves,heldblood
fromMitchellFieldandRoslynAirBase.They whisperedaboutthestrangeboatsquarteredatFyfe ShipyardinGlenwoodLandingthatweretestedup anddowntheharbor(theylaterlearnedthesewere ofPacificfame).Parishionerswrotea Maillettersandalsoheldspecialprayer
lotofpraying!Duringthewar,morethan400men andwomenofSt.Bonifaceservedinthearmedforces andofthese,15madethesupremesacrificeoftheir
Catholicfamiliesmovedtothesuburbsandintothe parish.Despitethereturntobettertimes,manystill feltthepinchofthelongDepression.Toaidthemin adjustingfinancially,whilehelpingthemavoidthe
amongparishioners. Smallloansatvery lowinterestrates wereofuntoldvalue.
FatherGarveydiedas Pastorin1946,and wassucceededwithin amonthbythe Reverend William J. Gately
UnderFatherGately leadership,theparish debtwaspaidoff,andthechurch,school,conventand rectorywererepairedandredecorated.
Father Ford
Father Garvey
Father Gately
Golden Jubilee 1948
How the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper reported the parish’s planning for its 50th Anniversary in 1948.
St. Boniface Martyr School
ataceremonyattendedbymorethan1,000people.In June1931,thefirst8thgradeclass(14students) graduated,leadingthewayforthe59graduating classesthatfolloweditintotheworld.
Overthesubsequentdecades,enrollmentatSt. Bonifacegrew(tonearly600students,atonepoint) andthebuildingwasexpandedtoaccommodatethe students.In1962,alibraryandgymnasiumwere addedand8newclassroomswereopened.In1963, studentserviceswereexpandedtoincludea5-dayhot lunchprogramstaffedbyvolunteersfromtheMothers’ Club(latertheHomeSchoolAssociation).
For36years,St.Bonifaceprovideditsstudentswitha freeeducationbut,in1964,economicfactorsforcedthe schoolcontinuedtoevolve.In1969,aplaygroundwas
celebratedits60thanniversarywithareuniondinner
servedasasuperbexampleofacademicexcellencein Catholiceducation.
In1990,theparishschoolsofSt.Boniface,St.Maryin Roslyn,St.PatrickinGlenCoveandSt.HyacinthinGlen HeadregionalizedtoformAllSaintsRegionalCatholic School,anewentitydesignedtosupportedbythose fourparishes,joinedbySt.RoccoParishofGlen Cove. Thedecisiontoregionalizetheschoolsandclose theSt.BonifaceSchoolbuildingmadeforaverypainful timeintheparish,especiallyforthefamilieswhose childrenattendedtheschool.Spacemadeavailableby theclosingoftheSt.BonifaceSchoolbuildinghasbeen puttootheruse.
St. Boniface Martyr Parish Expands
AboutayearafterFatherFeesarrival,animportant changeoccurred.TheDioceseofBrooklynDiocese had,from1853,encompassedtheentirelengthof LongIsland.InMay1957,NassauandSuffolk countieswereseparatedfromthatdioceseand designatedasanewdiocesewithitsseatatRockville Centre.
justover300;the school,builtin1928,neededmoreclassrooms;the greaternumberofclassroomswoulddemandmore teachersand,hence,moreconventspace;andthe rectory,whichhadneverbeenlargeenough,wouldin havetobedemolishedifalargerchurchweretobe built.
Msgr. Baldwin
Father Canning
Father Fee
A New Church for a Growing Parish
WithFatherFee’sleadershipandwithmuchworkand sacrificeonthepartofthepeopleofSt.Boniface,afundraisingcampaignbeganin1960.Thegoalofaquartermilliondollarswasquicklyoversubscribed.Six additionalclassroomswerecompletedwithinthe originalschoolbuilding,anextensionprovidingroomfor thirteenReligiousSisterswasaddedtotheconvent,and anadjacenthousewasboughtandmadeintoarectory.A newandlargerchurchbuildingwasdesignedand constructed.Allofthistookuntil1964tocomplete.
Asouvenirprogramforthedayexplainedverywell therationaleforthenewchurchbuilding,and permittedthearchitectstodescribewhattheyhad soughttoaccomplish:
The new church building we dedicate today replaced the old St. Boniface Martyr Church which stood for more than sixty years on the same site. Much local affection was held for the old church which had become a landmark in town…. Parish growth demanded an enlarged, more up-todate church. In the demolition of the old church, Father Fee had hoped that something of the original building might be incorporated in the new design. The original church bell atop the front facade of the old church was in excellent condition and would provide auditory as well as visual memories of the former place of worship. To bridge this old and new, the old bell has been placed in a freestanding bell tower, and has been made automatic, with clock and manual controls inside the new church.
Thearchitectsdescribedtheiruseofoak,asymbol traditionallyconnectedwiththeparish’spatronsaint, inthenaveandinthechurchdoors,andoftheoak leafandacorndesigninthealtarrail,votivestands, lecternandspeakergrilles.Ingreatdetailthey describetheeightstained-glasswindowsinthe transeptswhichdepict“historicallyaccurateevents fromthelifeofthepatronoftheparish.”Thefour windowsinthenaveillustratetheGloriousMysteries oftheRosaryandthelargeentrancewindowdepicts theCoronationoftheBlessedMotherasQueenof HeavenandEarth.
Dedication of the new church building, 1964
Finally,onMay3,1964,theSolemnDedicationofthe newedificetookplace.TheMostReverendWalter P.Kellenberg,D.D.,BishopoftheDioceseofRockville Centre,presided.
TheMostReverendVincentJ.Baldwin,S.T.D.,V.G., AuxiliaryBishopoftheDioceseofRockvilleCentre, whohadservedasPastorinSeaCliff(1953-56), preachedthehomily.
TherewereotherfamiliarfacesservingasOfficersof thePontificalMassthatday:RightReverend MonsignorWilliamJ.Gately,AssistantPriest;Very ReverendMonsignorThomasW.Smiddyand ReverendJamesF.Bradley,DeaconsofHonor; ReverendGeorgeF.O’Mara,Deacon;ReverendJoseph F.X.Canning,Subdeacon.TheMastersofCeremonies weretheVeryReverendMonsignorsFrancisJ. WilliamsandJohnR.McGann.
Thecostoftheexpansionandofthenewbuildings andofthepurchaseofthetwoadjacentparcelsof landlefttheparishwithadebtof$440,000.00.
The original Church building being torn down in 1964. An early view of the exterior of the new church.1980’s: Change and Renewal
Hewashonoredbythe NorthShoreKiwanisClub as“CitizenoftheYear”in 1980and,whenhe reachedtheageof obligatoryretirement, continuedtoresideatthe parishasPastorEmeritus. Itwasthenthatthe Reverend Donald F. Diederich wasinstalled asPastor.
Inthefallof1982,thepriestsmovedtothenewly renovatedParishCenter,abuildingthatsince1928 hadbeentheconventfortheSistersofMercy.The formerrectorywasrentedtotheSistersofSt.Joseph.
Sociallifeintheparish wasencouragedforthe youthby Father Thomas Mulvanerty and,later,paid youthministerswereadded.Parish-wideactivities suchastheFamilyLuncheon,CountryFairand ServiceAuctionaddedvitalitytoSt.Boniface’ssocial lifeandtoparishfunds.Aparishcensusdonein1982, reported1,447homesintheparishwith3,902 Catholics.
A New Pastor, Donald F. Diederich
Theparishcontinuedtoprosperandtogrow,andas oneobserverfromoutsidetheparishnoted, FatherFeeplayed“adignifiedandimportantrolein SeaCliff,”aswellasintheSt.Bonifacecommunity.
May31,1983,wasthe25thAnniversaryofFather Diederich’sordination.Quitesecretly,theparish determinedtosendFatheronapilgrimagetothe HolyLand,whichhehadnevervisited.Arrangements weremadeforhimtodepartonMay22,sohecould celebrateaspecialMassinthatmostsacredplace,on hisactualanniversary.OnMay15,FatherDiederich washonoredataMassandafterwardareceptionwas heldintheschoolauditoriumtowishhimwell.
The Death of Father Fee
FatherFee’ssuddendeathfromaheartattackon November19,1983,cameasagreatshock.Sadly, membersoftheparishsaidgood-byetotheirformer Pastorof25years.ThefuneralMassforthePastor EmerituswascelebratedwithBishopJohnMcGannas theprincipalcelebrant.
Father Tom Mulvanerty
Diamond Jubilee, 1973
ToopenthecelebrationofitsDiamondJubilee,the parishbegan1973withaNewYear’sParty.Two dinnerplatesweredesignedtocommemoratethe occasionofthe75thAnniversary.
AMassofThanksgivingwascelebratedonSunday, June24,1973,with Bishop Kellenberg asthe principalcelebrant,andwith Fathers James Bradley, George O’Mara, Joseph Canning, Hubert Spinner, Thaddeus Semla,and,ofcourse, Father Fee,asconcelebrants.FatherGeorge O’Mara,whohadbeenassociatePastorat St.Bonifacefrom1935to1961,gavethehomily.
Therecordshows reflectingVaticanII that Joseph Vulpis wasthecantorand Robert Bolger wastheLector.
Bishop Kellenberg celebrated the 75th Anniversary Mass in 1973
senseofactiveparticipation intheliturgy.Further involvementwithmusic wasencouraged,anda musicaldirectorwashired. Theinvolvementofscores ofEucharisticMinistersand lectorswasalsoenlisted.
Changesinthechurch, building,whichwas constructedinamodern stylebuttoaccommodate thepre-VaticanIIliturgy wasbuiltandopened duringtheCouncilincludedremovalofthe altarrail,creationofa permanentaltarfacingthe people,additionofawidebutshallowsanctuaryanda re-positioningofthepewstobringthecongregation andcelebrantclosertogether.
Mrs. Ita Levesque
Father Jay Madacsi
The sanctuary and nave of the church after reconfiguration in 1985
Approaching A New Century
InSeptemberof1987, Father Reginald Camilleri arrivedattheparishfrom Malta.
Julie Byrne
Father David
The Turn of the New Century
DuringthetimethatFatherMikeTorpeywasPastor, hemadeliturgyamajorfocusofhisministry. Nowherewasthatmoreevidentthanatthefamily liturgycelebratedeachSunday.Ateasewithchildren, hefosteredliturgywherechildrenwereboth comfortableandinvolved.
“Ifwefocusonkids,itcreatesafocusonthefamily,”
in1993,withanelegantdinnerdanceatthe ManhassetBayYachtClub,whereparishioners, Ceil Herbert and Robert Bolger,werehonored.Itwasthe firstofmanyCentennialcelebrations.Reflectingon theCentennial,FatherTorpeypraisedtheworkofthe previouspastors.HepointedoutFatherDiederich’s workwithliturgyandFatherFee’sstrongsenseof Churchandhowtheyhaveprovidedafoundationto presentcelebrations,involvingsomeofthesame peoplewhoworkedwiththesepreviouspastors. Sinceabout2002,AHRChasleasedandrenovatedthe lowestleveloftheschoolbuilding,wheretheyruna privateschool. Thethreeclassroomlevelsofthe buildingnowprovidesclassroomspaceforchildren whoattendtheparish’sreligiouseducation program. TheGymhasbeenrenovatedandprovides bothpracticeandgamespacefortheparish’sCYO programandavenuefortheparish’ssocialevents.
Thepriests’residencewasmovedbacktotheold rectorybuilding,nowrenovated,andthebuilding directlyacrossthestreetfromthechurch,whichhad servedasaconventorrectoryatvarioustimeshas alsobeenrenovatedandnowhousestheparish offices,achapel,andmeetingroomsfortheparish.
Untilherrecentretirementto hernativeIreland, Josie Harte volunteeredtorunHospitality afterSundayMassanddevoted muchtimetotendingthe gardeninfrontofthechurch.
becamethe firstSt.Bonifaceparishionerto beordainedasapermanent Deaconandcontinuestoserve hisparishinthatcapacity. He wasjoinedinhisearlyyears servingbythelateDeacon Ted
Josie Harte
Tom Fox
giftsalreadysharedwithintheparishcommunityhas grownamongparishioners.
Our Parish at the start of the New Millennium
ThedawnofSt.BonifaceMartyrParish’ssecond centurybegannotlongbeforetheendofthe 20thCentury,astheChurchpreparedfortheJubilee Yeardeclaredfor2000byPopeJohnPaulII. On ChristmasEve,1998,thefrontdoorsofthechurch wereclosedanddrapedwithaJubileeBannerbyour thenPastor,FatherMichaelJ.Torpey,toremainclosed untilChristmasEve1999. Onthatdaytheywere ceremoniouslyreopened,justasthePopeopenedthe HolyDooratSt.Peter’sBasilicainRome,tosymbolize theChurch’s“OpeningWidetheDoorstoChrist”atthe dawnoftheThirdMillennium.
The Internet Age
Ourparishalsomarkedthecomingofthenew millenniumbybecomingoneofthefirstparisheson LongIslandtoestablishapresenceontheinternet, launchingawebsiteatwww.saintboniface.org,on October15,1999. Withtheriseof“socialmedia”,the parishalsodevelopedFacebookpagesandusedsuch toolsasTwitter,Instagram,andYouTube. Theweekly parishbulletinandnewslettersweredistributed digitallyontheseplatformsandalsosentbyemailto onlinesubscribers. Theparish’shead-startinthe worldofdigitalcommunicationprovedablessing someyearslaterwiththecomingoftheCOVIDcrisis.
Father Robert A. Romeo.St. BonifacewasFatherBob’sfirst assignmentasPastorofaparish,buthesoonprovedto bemorethanequaltothejobandtobeagreat blessingtotheparish,usheringinarenewedspiritand aneraofgreatgrowth,highlightedbyanextensive renovationofthechurchbuilding.Heisalso rememberedfondlyforhavingconceivedtheideaof transformingoursmallparishfestivalintheannual FeastbytheShorewhichattractsthousandseachMay tojoinusontheshoresofHempsteadHarborforthe firstFeastofeverySummerseasonFatherBobserved asPastorofSt.BonifaceParishfromJune21,2007to June24,2015,whenhewasassignedasthenew PastoroftheParishofSt.Mary,Manhasset.
Sr. Kathleen
Father Bob
In 2013, the parish expressed its joy at the election of Pope Francis by draping the front doors in Papal colors
Church Renovation 2011-2015
Athree-yeareffortaimedat”RenewingandRestoring theHouseofGod”cametojoyfulfruitiononApril12, 2015,whenBishopMurphydedicatedand consecratedtheparish’srenovatedchurchandnew altar.
OnthesamedaytheParishCenterwasrenamed afterfoundingPastor,FatherDonohoe,andthe Chapeltherewasrenamedinhonorofthereligious SisterswhotaughtattheformerSt.BonifaceSchool. Itallbeganin2011when Father Bob Romeo led theparishinadiscussionastohowtorenew, restoreandupdatethechurchbuilding.After positivediscussionwithparishioners,thefirst phase,aCapitalCampaignbegan.Thisphasewas designedtoconfirmthattheideaplanhadsufficient supporttomoveforward.Anoverwhelming responsetotheCapitalCampaignsawpledgesof over$1,230,000.00.
Withmoniespledgedwemovedontothedesign stageoftheproject.Thirty-fivepeoplejoineda committeewhichworkedveryhardwithliturgical designer,LawrenceHoy,todevelopfivealternative designswhichwerepresentedtotheparishafter Massontwoweekends.Inaddition,groupsofour youngerparishionersfromamongourYouthGroup, AltarServersandFirstCommunionfamilieswere askedfortheirinput.
Thesedesignsgaverisetosomewonderful discussionsandexcitementamongtheparishioners. Thecommitteeusedtheirsuggestions,ideasand commentstodevelopadesignproposal incorporatingthethreedesignswhichhadreceived thestrongestsupport,andthenpresented thatdesigntotheParish.
WecelebratedMassforthelasttimeinthe“old” ChurchontheSundayafterChristmas. Following Mass,anumberofparishioners,youngandold, pitchedintomovesacramentalelementsand furniturenextdoortotheSt.BonifaceGymwhere wecelebratedMassonNewYear’sDayand followingweekendswhilethechurchwasbeing renovated.
Enoughoftheworkwascompletedtoallowthefirst Massinthenewlyrenovatedchurchtotakeplaceon HolyThursdayandweareabletocelebratethe TriduumandEasterintherenovatedbuilding. DuringEasterWeek,thenewaltar,amboandmany ofthefinaldesignelementswerecompletedby aconstructioncrewworkingdayandnightsothat everythingwasinplacewhenBishopMurphy arrivedforthere-dedicationandconsecrationofthe churchat10:15amMassonSunday,April12,2015.
Thiswasawonderfultimeforourparishwhich continuestogenerateexcitementandrenewed devotiontoourworshipofJesusChristasLord!
Rededication of Church and Altar: April 12, 2015Praying and Staying Together During the Pandemic
Our Parish During COVID
Theyear2020broughthardtimestoourParishand theworldwiththeonsetoftheCOVID-19pandemic. Neartheonsetofthecrisis,Lent,HolyWeek,and EasteratSt.Bonifacewerecelebratedininnovative andmovingwaysinordertokeepourparishand communitysafe.
Theparish’sannualSt.Patrick’sDayPartywas,by chance,celebratedratherearlyin2020,onMarch1, afewdaysafterAshWednesday.Few,ifany,present thatdayforesawthatitwouldbethelastsocial occasiontheywouldbeabletocelebrateinphysical proximitytoeachotherforanumberofmonths. EarlyinLenttheDioceseofRockvilleCentrehad announcedthatitwasjoiningsurroundingDioceses insuspendingthepubliccelebrationoftheliturgyand allotherpublicgatherings.Withinaweek,most religiousentitiesintheUnitedStateshadtakenthe samestep.
Safe Together at Home for Lent and Easter
ThebalanceofLentandEasterwascelebratedbythe parishfromthesafetyofhomebyparishionerslucky enoughtobeabletoshelterthere,prayingforthe safetyoffriendsandrelativeswhoamongthose groupsespeciallyendangeredbythevirusandthe “front-line”heroesservingthecommunity. The Parishremindedtheneighborhoodaboutthese specialpeoplebyringingthechurchbellsevery afternoonat3pm.
St.Bonifacealreadyhadinplacea“virtual”online infrastructurewhichparishioners,staff,andclergy nowpushedintohighgearinordertocelebrateLent andEasterwhileunabletocongregatephysically together.Parishioner Robert P. Lynch had establishedawebsitefortheparishsoonafterthe dawnoftheinternetageandhadhelpedtheparish embraceotherelementsofsocialmediaasthey developed. Thesetoolswereinvaluableinallowing theparishtogatheraswellasitcouldunderthe unprecedentedcircumstancesthrustuponitby COVID.MeetingsandRetreatswereheldvia“Zoom” conferences,allowingparticipantstoseeandshare directlywitheachotheronline.Zoomalsoallowed parishionersandfriendstoprayLentenStationsof theCrossasiftheywerepresentinthechurch building.SundayMasswasalsolive-streamed. Parishionersnotpreviouslycalledtoembracesocial media,particularlyseniorcitizens,nowappreciated thesemblanceofcommunityitprovided,particularly fortheobservanceoftheEasterTriduumandrelated devotions.
TheweeklyCharismaticPrayerGroup,Scripture StudyGroup,WomenofFaithBookClubandtheSt. BonifaceYouthGroupallmetviaZoom. Theyounger peoplewerealreadyfamiliarwithitsinceallmiddle, highschoolandcollegeclasseswerebeingheldusing thosetoolsduetothecrisis.
Fathers Kevin Dillon, Chinthaka Perera and Azubuike Igwegbe,concelebratedHolyWeekand EasterMasses,ofteninthepresenceofmembers
Fathers Kevin Dillon, Chinthaka Perera and Azubuike Igwegbe visited parishioners outside their homes and conducted drive-by blessings in front of the church.
Amulti-lingualinterfaithservice,hostedby St.Bonifaceandtheothereight-memberchurchesof theCommitteefortheCommunityEasterDawn Service,was streamedonlineon EasterSunday 2020.
St. Boniface Church began to gradually reopen in the late Spring, albeit with strict social distancing rules in effect.
Our Most Recent Pastors
Father Kevin Dillon
St.Bonifacewelcomedanew PastortoSeaCliffin2015with thearrivalofFatherKevin Dillon.
Anenergeticmanwitha passionforfitnessand exercise,FatherKevinfit somewhatthesamemoldas
FatherBobbeforehim:agoodassociatePastorwho developedintoagreatPastorwhenassignedtohis ownparishatSt.Boniface.
TheparishcametoknowFatherKevinasaspirited homilistwithaflairforconnectingwithhis congregationbyweavingrelatabletalesofhisown day-to-dayexperiencesintohistalks.
ThehighlightsofFatherKevin’sstaywithuswerehis inspiredguidanceduringtheCOVIDcrisisandhis assistancetotheparishduringthe“listeningprocess” stageofthecurrentSynod. FatherKevinhelpedus formulateaprocessforcompilingandpassingalong theinformationrequestedfromlocalChurches aroundtheworldforconsiderationbythose attendingtheSynodcalledtomeetinRomein October,2023.
Father Josef Norys, Can. Reg.
InadditiontohavinganewPastor,theappointment ofFatherJosefNorys,Can.Reg.toserveSt.Boniface broughtsomethingelsenewtotheparish,leadership byamemberofanorderofReligiouspriests.
FatherJosefisCanonRegular ofSt.Augustineandbelongs totheCanonryofSaint Leopold,afoundationof theAbbeyofKlosterneuburg, Austria. TheCanonrywas foundedin2011,andits Canonshave,sincethen, caredfortheparishesof SaintPatrick,SaintRocco andSt.Hyacinth,neighboringparishestoSt.Boniface.
Soonafter beingappointedPastorbyBishopBarres onJune29,2022,itbecamecleartothepeopleofSt. Bonifacethatheisagoodlistenerandacharismatic manofaction.
Followinghisappointment,Father.Josefmade appointmentswiththestaff,ministryheads,pastoral councilmembersandanyonewishingtomeetwith him.
Throughconsultationwithparishioners,FatherJosef revisedthemassschedule,helpedrevivetheBell ChoirandtheSundayFamilyProgram. Hehiredthe firstReligiousEducationAssistant,Catechist Lorraine O’Sullivan,toassistthebelovedand longtimeDirectorofReligiousEducation, Karen Croce.KarenretiredinJune2023andLorraineis nowSt.Boniface’sDRE. Inaddition,Fatherhired Cantor April Beisser Meier toreinstatetheYouth Group.
InFatherJosef’swords,heishere “to celebrate the sacraments, to preach the Gospel, and to be a part of this faith community, growing together in our love for Jesus Christ and His Church.”
Father Kevin Father Josef
