by Dr. Al Cresci
Holy Innocents is proof that you can go home to your roots.
The East Flatbush parish celebrated its homecoming weekend, Oct. 10-12, by welcoming back over 200 school alumni from 1941 to 2006. Other alumni events have proved to be successful, but this gathering was the most successful in recent history.
Beginning with a dream that Class of 1991 alumni Larry Waldorf and Jesus Linares had about rekindling the past with old friends, the two of them spent countless months and days assembling a list of alumni. Hundreds of people were contacted, and many attended a memorable weekend that started Friday, Oct. 10 at the church.
That evening, alumni learned about the history of the church and parish, as well as the grant writing that helped the parish stay open. With the blessing of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the parish was able to be placed on the National Historic Registry, the first Catholic church in the diocese to achieve such an honor.
It all started with a grant to restore our historic and beautiful E.M. Skinner pipe organ. That was the beginning of our receiving over $1 million in grants over a 12-year period.
Alumni toured the church and took pictures. Then under the direction of Waldorf, they boarded a bus for a tour of Brooklyn and had dinner at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island. Many alumni were pleased to see their old neighborhood celebrating a renaissance, given the boutiques, cafes and upscale shops that are available on nearby Cortelyou Road. It comes at an apropos time, as the church is undergoing a facelift while continuing to minister to its Spanish-, English- and Haitian-speaking members.
The next day, alumni were treated to a walking tour of the school, which is now P.S. 245. They traveled from as near as the city and Long Island and as far as California to visit classrooms and attend a commemoration of the multi-year alumni gathering at the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass. The Mass was celebrated by Father James Sweeney, an alumnus who is now parochial vicar of St. Sylvester Church, East New York, along with the administrator, Father Pascal Louis.
“It is great to see the history of Holy Innocents parish here today, along with our present parishioners who are enjoying their company,” said Father Louis.
Following the Mass, a reception was held at Sirico’s Caterers, Dyker Heights. Father Louis offered the opening blessing, and I was blessed to receive a lifetime achievement award for my service to the parish. During the evening, alumni danced to music spanning seven decades.
Both the Mass and the reception were broadcast on livestream.com and received over 100 hits on the Internet.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the centennial of the opening of Holy Innocents School![hr] Dr. Al Cresci, Holy Innocents’ Class of 1968, serves as the parish music director.