The parish of Holy Family was established in 1880 for German Catholics, the same year that another Holy Family parish was established on Flatlands Avenue, Canarsie! A third Holy Family parish was established for Slovaks in 1905 in Greenpoint. The parish school here closed in 1978. The church in the photo was built in 1928.
Please click on the word Comments above the photo for interesting memories.
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Holy Family parish, 14th Street, has been merged with that of St. Thomas Aquinas, 9th Street, under one pastor. The website for the merged parish is linked here and a parish blog is linked here. Neither location offers a parish elementary school. It seems that Mass is offered at Holy Family once a week, 9 a.m. Sundays.
This was my wife's parish in the 1940s-60s. Her family lived a blook up the street above 5th Avenue. She attended the parish school, as did her three brothers, as did her grandfather! A lifetime later she is a grandparent herself here in Texas.
ReplyDeleteJoe, thanks for posting this entry and photo. It's the only photo we have of my wife's old family parish church. Are there any photos of the beautiful interior?
ReplyDeleteDoes your wife remember Father Fannon, Father Kelly and Father Benotz ?? Wow, I think I'm going way back....
ReplyDeleteYes I remember Father Fannon, I was at Holy Family School from 1964 until 1971 when my family moved.
DeleteI remember them.Is this the Jim Finley from the flats on 12th street.My name is Richie Auletti,my family lived at 160-12th street
ReplyDeleteYes My cousins and brother went there. Kowalewski, MUTKOWSKI, and Janice. Also my Husbands whole family went there Bill Kearns. Mak430@aol.com many good memories.
DeleteRichie, I was a classmate of your brother Tommy. until we moved to Flatbush in 1958-59. Had many friends on 12 ST below 3rd / 2nd ave. Silky Sullivan,12 St; Bob Fazio, Joey Luciano... O'Donnels on 11 ST. My name is Steve Farrell 617.699.7163. Give me a ring if you like. Kind regards,
DeleteI attended Holy Family school, 1st thru 8th grade and Holy Family Church
ReplyDeleteI do remember Father Benotz and Father Fannon
Me too.
DeleteI attended Holy Family 1960-68. First experience with priests was Father Fannon and Father Bednarz. Fannon was the archetypal grumpy old man, Bednarz the kindly old educator ... he spent a lot of time in the classrooms. Later memories were Father Courtney, a “cool” priest who took us on endurance bike hikes, and Father Devlin, who could often be found sitting on the stoop of the rectory, talking with passers-by. They also broke with Catholic doctrine in telling us kids that Protestants weren’t all evil and going to hell.
ReplyDeleteFond memories.
John Vanore, I enjoyed your post, thank you for the memories. I remember Father Fannon as the same, lol.
DeleteI went there from first grade to third grade 69-73. My mother, Dorothy O'Brien and her brother Harold both attended as well. My name is Donna Colandrea
ReplyDeleteCatherine Woods Torregrossa. I went all 8 years at Holy Family I graduated in 1961
ReplyDelete
DeleteI attended for 8 years.
It also appears that we were both in the same class.
I also attended for 8 years.
DeleteIt appears we were both in the same class.
Ed
Catherine Woods Torregrossa. I graduated in 1961. Father Bednarz officiated T my wedding in 1967.
ReplyDeleteCatherine (Woods) Torregrossa went to Holy Family for all 8 years of elementary school, graduated 1961
ReplyDeleteI attended Holy Family Parish School from 68 to 72. My sister's and brothers also, who were there at the same time and before me❤️ I have good memories of school there😊
ReplyDeleteI went to Holy Family school all 8 years graduated 1964 I remember Sr St Joseph, Sr William Thomas (my favorite) and for a brief time there was a Dr Ennis who left to become an army Chaplin (he met up with my uncle at Ft Hood Texas). Having 13th street being closed so we could jump rope, play jacks, hop scotch, and watch the boys play (and a few of the nuns) play stick ball. GREAT MEMORIES
ReplyDeleteOoops I ment 14th street was closed (type o)
ReplyDeleteI went to Holy Family School, grades 1 - 7. Was in Seventh Grade in 1959 when my parents moved to NJ, where I finished catholic elementary school. I Remember Sister Mary Eucharia, Sister John Michael, Sister Ann Jocum, Sister Claire Frances, Sister Irmangard, Sister Imeldine, Father Kelly and Father Bednartz. Not sure of the spellings. Having to move away from Brooklyn at age 13 wasn't good. Lost all the friends and kids I knew and was growing up with.
ReplyDeleteThere at the same time. Grades one through six, then parents moved to Syracuse. Wrenching, but made new friends. I remember Sister Claire Frances (SP?) as very pretty and kind. Sister John Michael as a fierce Irish disciplinarian. Bathrooms were outside in a courtyard. Students managed to learn on a small fraction of the per pupil cost today. The churches shown on this site are so beautiful and were financed by poor immigrants -- a testimonial to their faith. -- Brian McCormack
DeleteHello Brian, This is Steve Farrell , could not believe getting your Holy Family blog post today. Been a long time since we played together in your yard on 11 St. I remember following you to Camilus (SP ?) NY for a brief couple of years and corresponding via mail. I have vivid memories growing up on 11 ST in the fifties and have returned there many times. There is a great Bistro on the corner where Ralphie's Italian grocery once stood...diagonally across from the storefront where newspaper delivery boys picked up their NY World Telegrams. Great memories of Holy Family School, the nuns , priests , annual bazaar. If you get this note, give me a call on my cell if you'd like to test our collective memories of the old school and neighborhood. Kind regards, Steve 617.699.7163
Deletewow just saw this blog.
ReplyDeletefond memories seeing all the nuns and priests mentioned.
and can't forget Ms Mary and Mrs Dowler.
i remember didn't want to go into fr Fannon confessional - ha!
lived on 11th street with Kevin and Mary Alanna very good friends with Bobby and Eddy O'Donnell graduated 1961.sorry don't remember you Catherine Woods (been a long time).
I do remember Fazio and Lucianio and Sweeney and Perozi.
good time watching Fr Ennis dancing the cha-cha at confraternity. didn't have to but went to confraternity anyway just for fun.
They were the best on times.