Thursday, June 3, 2010

Holy Cross, Flatbush

Holy Cross parish is located at 2530 Church Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11226, telephone 718-469-5900. Its website is linked here. The diocese of New York established this parish in the Village of Flatbush in 1845, before the creation of the diocese of Brooklyn and before the city of Brooklyn absorbed Flatbush.
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The parish has a religious education program, telephone 347-406-6333.  Also, St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy (linked here) instructs about 232 elementary students at 2520 Church Avenue. The academy uses the building pictured above.



Several parish buildings front on important Church Avenue: the church, rectory, a school building, and this chapel and parish hall. The property extends from Veronica Place on the east to Woods Place on the west. Brooklyn has been called "The Borough of Churches," and this stretch of Church Avenue from Nostrand to Bedford Avenues bears witness.



Thanks to Bob Boeri for sharing this photo of his kindergarten class in 1947.


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45 comments:

  1. I attended Holy Cross School from first through eighth grades. I also had my first communion and confirmation at Holy Cross Church. Good memories.

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    1. I attended Holy Cross Boy's School from Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
      Very found memories, especially of Brother Gabriel in 8th Grade. Also, had
      Brother Nicholas, who used to fall asleep during class. I remember the weekly
      Dance Lessons. Later we attended the dances in the Auditorium. I remember the
      Nuns in church on Sundays, better be on good behavior or they appeared from nowhere and "smack!"

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  2. Genealogical Search going on in our family. My mother Joan Ketzner attended Holy Crosse School She would have been 5 years old in 1932. Looking for a Paul Ketzner and a John Ketzner.

    We didn'teven know either Paul or John existed until a family member realized it after viewing the 1940census.

    Any information about John or Paul would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

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  3. I left the state in 1950 but attended Holy Cross elementry school from 1939 to 1947. Mostly all of my friends went to the same school and I often think about them and how their lives turn out. It would be nice catch up with them again.

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    1. Hi did you know the Dooleys? My mother was Peggy Dooley

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    2. Hi did you know the Dooleys? My mother was Peggy Dooley

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  4. This comment is from Orlyn Ericson, orlyne@yahoo.com
    Hi Joe, I was looking at your pictures and the one of the red brick school was used for many years. The top three windows on the left side was grade 8B. My last class there in 1947.

    It's a very nice site and brought back a lot of memories. I wish some of my old friends saw it and left a post. I'm 81 now and it would be nice to hear from them.

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  5. I also attended Holy Cross from 1963-1971.. I received my Holy Communion and Confirmation here too.. Many fond memories.. Im just not happy about Monsignor Woods statue being sold.. That was an icon

    Deborah Sullivan Dalton

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    1. I can't believe they sold the statue.
      Graduated 1961

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    2. I attended Holy Cross from first grade and graduated from the eight grade around 1972 my homeroom teacher was Sister Rene. My name is Nancy Brown

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    3. Hi Nancy, I graduated 1965. Also w S.Renee. Check Holy Cross School on Facebook. Xo

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    4. I also went to Holy Cross from 1962 to 1971 I wonder were we in any classes together

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  6. I attended Holy Cross from 1970-1976. Like most, I too had my Holy Communion in the Chapel. I'm so grateful that I had this Christian foundation.

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  7. I attended 1941 & 1942, the 7th & 8th grades under Brother Neri(sp) who was quick to punish using wooden ruler. Principal was brother Claude. Wonderful memories. Haven't been able find or contact anyone from thatr time and as I age I am forgetting the names. Billy Masterson, Johnny Curry are two I recall. My Dad was Superintendent for 100 Linden Blvd between Bedford and Rogers avenues.
    Live in California with my beautiful bride on 62+ years, Rita StLaurent of Ave. H & E. 16th Street (Midwood). John Quinn

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  8. I am using this church on Church Avenue as the setting for a funeral in a novel I am writing about Brooklyn in the 1930's. My grandmother lived across the street and I remember the church well. I cannot find any photos of hte Interior but want to know if there is a side altar where a small mass could be said, say the funeral of a child?

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    1. One hopes you were able to move on with your novel in the absence of a reply. There were a couple of side/front altars but they were not really suitable for a mass. Much too small. I never saw a mass at either of them.

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  9. Does anyone remember having the Nuti twins in their class from Kindergarten through 8A or from 1942 through 1949. We are now 80 and this site has brought back fond memories of our pastor, Father Rickard.

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  10. He didn't hear very well. Thank God!
    Walter J. Wagner and clan....there were 7 of us. Remember Brother Baylon anyone????
    1943-1944

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    1. Yes, I remember Brother Baylon. In fact its because I was attempting to find information on him that I arrived at this site. He was quite a memorable character. He was my 6th grade teacher in the mid 60s. He had been my father's teacher 30 years before that. When my father saw that he was my teacher, he just grinned.

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    2. I also had Brother Baylon for 6th grade in the mid-sixties, specifically, 1966-1967, AND my father had him 25 years earlier. He was first and foremost a disciplinarian.

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    3. My mom used to say she grew up with a Wagner family in her building on Nostrand between Lenox and Linden..Her last name was Soldner

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  11. I attended Holy Cross girls school in the late 50s..I remember our dance classes with the boys school and having to wear white gloves..the nuns were strict, but we got an excellent education..

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  12. What exactly happened to Monsg. Wood's statue?

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    1. The pastor sold the Msgr. Woods statue to put a new roof on the school.

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  13. I (John Feeney) attended 1949-57. Still in occasional touch with several of my classmates (Herzman, O'Connor, Bennett, Seidel, Sabatos). Often wonder what became of the rest; we were 47 to 53 at various points. "Abair, Almskog, Anselmo, Basil, Bennett, Budney, Clinton, Cosenzo, Crumlish..."

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    1. Hi John, I was in your class. I went to high school with Budney, but haven't seen him since graduation. I am a close friend with Almskog's brother.

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    2. I attended in 1950-51. I remember Brother Cuthbert (Principle) all too well.

      Tom Tillander

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    3. JMG, who are you? What ever happened to Freddy Almskog? I have had occasional contact over the years -- but probably not in about two years -- with Bill Bennett, who's still on the (far right) radio and sometimes television. He was my best friend at HC. I saw Budney in the late sixties when he was working at A&S, where I later worked, before I became a U.S. diplomat.

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    4. I am John Griffin and I was in your class, Marcel Sierra was my best friend. Did you go to Ireland with your father when you graduated? I went to Erasmus Hall. High School with Ronald Budney and then to Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. I taught History in NYC public schools for 37 years, 9 years as an administrator. I also taught Accounting I & II and Business Law in college at night.

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    5. Good to hear from you, John. As I recall, you were one of the few from our class at that general reunion one Saturday more than twenty years ago. (The one Bill Bennett urged Ronald Herzman, John O'Connor, and me to go to, but then was himself a no-show in typical fashion.) Before that, I had seen you during senior year in high school, again on a Saturday, when we were both taking the exam for the AoH college scholarship. (Who at Holy Cross had any inkling that you had a father in the AoH? My nephew led the Manhattan AoH for several years until this year. No, I never traveled to Ireland with my father, but met up there a couple of times with my mother after he died and my wife and I were serving overseas.) Marcel Sierra was a friend of mine as well. Last saw him in front of Erasmus on Flatbush Avenue. Must have been at some point in freshman year in high school. Sierra was telling us how he was running cross country at St. Francis Prep (after they had taped his ankles). I have often wondered what became of him. In May, my wife and I attended Herzman's massive retirement celebration at SUNY Geneseo. Folks had come in hundreds from all over to hear the beloved professor's Dante lecture. (Herzman is not only one of academia's leading Dante scholars, he was also twice the university's commencement speaker.) Most years I see Herzman. Have occasional email contact with O'Connor. (Last saw him in NY a few years back when my wife was doing some nonproliferation stuff at the UN.) Very occasional email contact with Bennett, who has turned into a cross between Rush Limbaugh and Brother Gabriel. About eight or ten years ago, had a mini reunion at O'Connor's house in NJ with Sabatos and Seidel plus Herzman.

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  14. I heard that the statue of the Monsignor was stolen in the 80's and sold for scrap. The Diocese paid for the roof. I saw the financial statements when I was involved with trying to keep the school open around 2005.
    I was in the last kindergarten in the annex across Erasmus Street. Years later before it was demolished, I swiped the sign off of the annex and have it to this day. G. Campolo class of 1973

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  15. Does anyone know where I could get class pictures,my sister graduated in1960,n would like to find some ( with the nuns would be nice!! Thx!

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  16. I have a class photo from 1972 with William Boss as my teacher when I was in 7th grade Id like to share.How?Sal Vallario

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  17. Does any one remember a Kindergarten teach 1962 Miss McMann or 1st or 2nd grade Nun Sister Joseph alfonse

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  18. Attended Holy Cross from 1950 to 1975. Passed by recently and was amazed the Woods statue is gone and the flag pole in front of the school has no flag. Very disappointing. Why does our proud past have to wiped out as neighborhoods change. Dennis Farrell

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  19. Freddy Almskog died in 2001 and is buried in Calverton National Cemetery. I’m sure you knew his was a Vietnam Nam Veteran. His brother Doug is five years younger and his wife and mine are friends since they were young children.

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  20. I graduated Holy Cross in 1956. I remember Brother Stephanos and Brother Gabriel. Anybody out there coincide with my attendance time? Jim Brown

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  21. I went to Holy Cross from kindergarten through 8th grade .I remember carrying the books for Sr.Rene to the convent.graduated 1966

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  22. Yes I attended the multi-class reunion a number of years ago and distinctly remember the pastor tell us that he sold the statue of Msgr. Woods to pay for a new roof. I was with my cousin GLORIA Noonan O’Sullivan (Mike went to H.C. .. he retired out of 75th PCT & died not too many years later, I was also with Bill Carroll & his wife MargeryAnn Haran Carroll. My grandfather, father, older brother Tom & I were all members of AIH Div. 35, it later moved to Ave. D near Little Flower Church ... my second Parish and I married Elizabeth Mulcahy from St. Vincent Ferrer and our 1st house was 890 E. 38th St. between Glenwood & Ave. H. We owned a bungalow in Breezy and moved to a house there from 1974-1978 before moving to Long Island. We had a second home in Windham for 20 years. I remember you, Herzman, Bennett, Great memories! In high school, Marcel, Bill Carroll & all dated the same girl. My time in a small Quaker College was the complete opposite of the years in Holy Cross. I found in general that Quakers are truly the most loving, non-judgmental people to walk this earth. I couldn’t convince either of my sons to go there. I hope you enjoy a long healthy life. JohnG

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  23. If anyone from class of 1957 knows how I could reconnect with Marcel Sierra I would be very grateful.

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    1. I graduated from Holy Crossi in 1959. I knew a Marcel Sierra, but it may be a different Marcel. He lived in my building on New York Avenue and had a sister, Elisa. Is he the same Marcel you knew?

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    2. Yes, Marcel, his younger sister Elisa, and their parents lived on New York Avenue between Beverly Rd. but closer to Tilden Ave. They lived in two different apartments in the same building. He & I graduated in June of 1957. He went to St. Francis Prep & I went to Erasmus Hall High School on Flatbush Ave. off Church Ave.

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  24. I graduated in 1967, attended Holy Cross for 8 years. I also had Sister Rene. Anyone remember Sister Marcella? Sister Mercita? I also recall hearing many stories about Brother Baylon. The principal was Sister Thomas Aquin for five of my eight years.

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  25. Hello, I graduated in 1970. I attended Holy Cross school from kindergarten to eighth grade. It felt like my second home, great friends lisa, Colleen, janey,kathleen,Denise,Pierre, and Sam ..the list goes on. I remember going to Fultons ice cream parlor at the corner of Flatbush Ave.which was a treat after confirmation. I can't remember the name of that great priest who took all of us to Washington in the fifth grade. Darlene B.

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  26. I attended Holy Cross from 3rd to 8th grade and graduated in 1969. I remember all off my teachers so well , Mrs. Adrian, Mrs Powers,
    Br. Dacian , Br. Baylon, Br Lloyd, Br. Rogers, and the principals Brother John and later Brother Williams. Sister Thomas Aquin was the Principal of the girls school which my sisters attended. I had Brother Dacian for both 5th and 7th grade. He was amazing . He would play guitar and sing in class, took us on many field trips including the United Nations. He would also take us to Prospect Park to go Ice skating. One classmate, William Forsythe, was Julius Ceasar in a class play and went on to become a successful Hollywood actor .At Holy Cross I learned when to shut up and when to fight , two very important lessons for growing up in Brooklyn. Great memories all.... a different time indeed.

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