LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 140th Anniversary of the Church
of Saint Mary, Newburgh, New York, to be celebrated on March 15, 2015

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
140th Anniversary of the Church of Saint Mary, Newburgh, New York, to be
celebrated at a Dinner Reception to be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015,
at the Meadowbrook Lodge, New Windsor, New York; and
WHEREAS, Led by the Reverend Michael J. Phelan, The Church of St. Mary
was founded on March 19, 1875; on Easter Sunday of the same year, the
first Mass was held in the Opera House on Second Street; and
WHEREAS, Later that year, Father Michael J. Phelan purchased a house
on South Street and transformed it into the Rectory and a permanent
residence; and
WHEREAS, In 1876, the St. Mary Literary Society was founded with James
J. Dougherty acting as its first President; and
WHEREAS, The Church of St. Mary's congregation continued to grow;
realizing a larger church needed to be built, Father Michael J. Phelan
planned and directed all the arrangements for a more accommodating
establishment; in 1879, Bishop Lynch of Charleston, South Carolina, laid
the cornerstone; and
WHEREAS, In October of 1880, along with Father Michael J. Phelan and
fellow Priests, Archbishop McCloskey dedicated the Church at a Solemn
High Mass; and
WHEREAS, Upon Reverend Michael J. Phelan's transfer, the Reverend John
C. Henry was appointed to the Church of Saint Mary in September of 1884;
during that same year, the first Mission was given by the Redemptorist
Fathers and the St. Mary Rosary Society was organized; and
WHEREAS, In 1885, St. Aloysius Society and the Sodality of the Chil-
dren of Mary were established and two confessionals were erected at the
south end of the Church; and
WHEREAS, A year later, 20 men joined the newly formed Holy Names Soci-
ety and St. Mary's Parochial School, led by four Dominican Sisters, was
opened in September; and
WHEREAS, On January 7, 1888, Reverend John C. Henry contracted to have
a steam heating system installed in both the Church and the Rectory; a
month later, during Lenten Devotions, the Church was heated by steam for
the first time; and
WHEREAS, The Vicar General laid the cornerstone of the new parochial
school for the eight regular grades, on Sunday, July 15, 1894; all the
societies of St. Patrick's and St. Mary's witnessed this auspicious
event; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the years, The Church of St. Mary hosted both Boy
Scout and Girl Scout Troops, formed talented choral groups, and devel-
oped a splendid Ushers Society; and
WHEREAS, The Church of Saint Mary stands on the threshold of tomorrow,
prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining
that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 140th Anniversary of the Church of Saint Mary of
Newburgh, New York, to be celebrated on March 15, 2015, fully confident
that this commemoration reflects the belief in those values which
enhance the dignity and purpose of life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Church of Saint Mary, Newburgh, New York.