Dominican Sisters Arrive

The month of September, 1965, found the new school and auditorium near completion.  With the opening day of school imminent, the Dominican Sisters arrived on September 1^st, and took up residence at 984 Suburban Road.

Sister Lucille Marie was appointed principal and assisting her were Sister Catherine James, Anne Marie and Kathleen Mary.  Five lay teachers constituted the balance of the teaching staff and, although the opening of school was delayed one week, on September 15, 1965, the school doors opened, admitting 359 children from grades one through eight.  This, in itself, was unusual, in the most new parishes begin their school with only the first four grades.  A Federal lunch program was instituted in the school in October 1965 under the direction of Mrs. Eleanor Howard, Cafeteria Manager.

Since the auditorium had been completed in September, Sunday Mass could for the first time be celebrated on church property.  Father Drexler blessed the new Parish Hall, and on September 26, 1965, the first Masses were celebrated, almost one year from the day that ground had been broken to begin construction.  About the same time, it was learned that, due to construction delays, the church would not be completed for Christmas Midnight Mass, as had been hoped.

Attention now focused on the youth of the parish.  While the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was actively holding Sunday School classes in the school after Mass and classes for public high school students on Monday evenings, nevertheless, the social side was to be considered.  Under the direction of Father Smolen, the Catholic Youth Organization was formed in October of 1965, with some 300 young people registered as members.  A boy scout troop, too was formed in February, 1966, with nearly 20 boys attending.