Plans For A New Building

Father Drexler resided at Christ the King Rectory in neighboring Hillside for four months until mid-November when he moved into the newly-acquired home, which was to be the Holy Spirit Rectory, at 971 Suburban Road just opposite the site of the proposed church plant.  A small room to the rear of the rectory was converted to house a small chapel and bapistry, where daily Mass could now be celebrated.  The architectural firm of Homlish and Haas in South Orange, was commissioned to draw up the plans for the proposed three-building complex of modified Georgian-Colonial design, that would be in keeping with the architectural design of the larger township buildings.  The completed plans were submitted to the Archbishop and final approval was received on February 5, 1964.  It was hoped there would be an early Spring ground-breaking but negotiations on a small parcel of land delayed the longed-for proceedings.

The parish began to grow  spiritually and socially when the Rosary-Altar Society and Holy Name Society was held on December 9, 1963, in the basement of the rectory with a charter membership roster of 130 women.  The Holy Name Society also organized and held their first meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Union, on January 21, 1964, with 75 men in attendance.  The year of 1963 also saw Midnight Mass being celebrated for the first time in the parish, on December 25^th at Kawameeh Junior High School Auditorium.