ST. AEDAN'S PARISH

Saint Aedan's Parish -- it began as a Mission church to Saint Margaret's Parish when the population in Rockland County was expanding rapidly. Now [1966] 1,100 families strong, the parish prepares for its twentieth anniversary and looks back on the foresight, hard work and dedication that led up to the construction of the new Church.

The idea for the original mission church of Saint Aedan was first conceived by Msgr. Michael J. Toner of Saint Margaret's Church who foresaw the need to serve the people in the Ehrhardt Road area. The land on which the hall stands was acquired for the Archdiocese of New York in 1953 by Earle Bishopp who was to become Saint Aedan’s first trustee. Over the next twelve years, four more parcels of land were acquired before any construction began.

The parish hall was constructed in 1965 and early 1966 and Masses were celebrated in the new mission church by Msgr. Toner and Father Vincent Wallace.

On May 17, 1966, Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, announced that Saint Aedan's Church would be formed from portions of Saint Margaret's, Saint Anthony’s and Saint Catharine's parishes.

Msgr. Toner, the founder of Saint Aedan’s Parish, and Father Wallace continued to celebrate Mass for the people of Saint Aedan’s until July 1966, when Cardinal Spellman appointed Father Joseph Devlin first Pastor of Saint Aedan.

As Pastor, Father Devlin worked with the weekend assistance of Father Thomas Murphy and Father Thomas Mc Donald to serve the 700 families gathered from the three nearby parishes. Soon the Ladies Guild, the CYO and the CCD Program were established and expanding.

As the parish celebrated its fifth anniversary in 1971, the newly elevated Msgr. Devlin was transferred to a new parish and Msgr. Edward Reynolds was sent to serve as temporary administrator.

On June 17, 1972, Terence Cardinal Cooke appointed Msgr. James Gribbon the second Pastor of Saint Aedan. The former U.S. Air Force Chaplain initiated the formation of the Parish Council and developed plans for a new Parish House, in order to better serve the growing parish and to make room for a full-time Assistant. Construction of the new Rectory had just begun when Msgr. Gribbon died on January 11, 1976.

Prior to Msgr. Gribbon's death, Father Murphy had been assigned to a new parish and Father Joseph Penna had been sent to assist on weekends. Father Howard Dalton was also sent as a priest-in-residence to assist on weekends while he worked in the Archdiocesan Family Consultation Service.

Father Edward J. Quirk was appointed temporary administrator until a pastor was assigned to take Msgr. Gribbon's place and on March 6, 1976, Cardinal Cooke appointed Father Quirk the third pastor of Saint Aedan.

In December of 1976, Msgr. Gribbon's dream of a full-time assistant was realized when Father Edward Hartmann was appointed associate pastor. In addition to the need for a full-time associate pastor, there was a need for a full-time Director of Religious Education. In 1977, Sister Hildegarde Stockberger, R.C.D., was appointed Director of Religious Education. The CCD Program had been in operation until this time under the direction of several devoted volunteers.

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this was taken from the 1966 Anniversary Booklet