Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church Honored With New York State Legislative Resolution Commemorating 50th Anniversary.

Senator Owen H. Johnson (4th Senate District) joined Assemblymen Phil Boyle (8th Assembly District) and Joseph Saladino (12th Assembly District) in presenting a Legislative Resolution to the Rev. Msgr. Vincent Rush to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church in West Babylon.  The presentation took place at the church’s anniversary festivities on April 28, 2012.

Established on June 21, 1962, Our Lady of Grace Parish was one of five parishes created by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Center from what had been the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.

The 50th Anniversary festivities included the Our Lady of Grace Church’s Founders Day Tulip Parade recreating the tulip parades which took place in Babylon during the 1940s and 1950s.  The parade began at the West Babylon Junior High School on Old Farmingdale Road, and ended at Our Lady of Grace Church at 666 Albin Avenue. 

The St. Joseph’s Prayer Garden at Our Lady of Grace was dedicated, recognizing the church’s founders as part of their 50th Anniversary celebration.

Also, the Van Bourgondien House, once a 33 acre tulip farm next door to the church, was dedicated as a Museum and Historical Landmark honoring the community’s Dutch roots and the farmlands that once dominated the area. 


Photograph left to right:  Rev. Msgr. Vincent Rush, Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church, West Babylon; NY State Senator Owen H. Johnson (4th S.D.); NY State Assemblyman Phil Boyle (8th A.D.); and NY State Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (12th A.D.)