January 2006
Volume 11, Issue 1

SJA Archives

On an especially warm Sunday afternoon in June, the faith community of St. Joan of Arc assembled to commemorate a most special event, the eighty-fifth anniversary of the founding of our parish. When the Diocese of Brooklyn established the Canonical parish of St. Joan of Arc on June 5^th, 1920, Jackson Heights was literally a "garden community"- still retaining tracts of pasture and farm land. In eighty-five years, the area has metamorphosed into a multicultural residential, business, and transportation hub. The original pre-fabricated church in which the first parish Mass was celebrated has transformed into a lower church topped by a magnificent Italianate Romanesque upper church. Who could have envisioned that St. Joan's would eventually grow into a complex that would include a rectory, former convent, school, and an auxiliary building named in honor of our first pastor, Monsignor Ward Meehan. Such radical growth and evolution is a testimony to the people who over the past eighty-five years have come to call St. Joan of Arc home. It is also a product of the dedication and vision of those who came to serve the spiritual and educational needs of those parishioners. The eighty-fifth anniversary of our parish is a celebration of its people, the true "body of Christ". This milestone had its genesis in their hopes and in their struggles. In the words of Mike Huckabee, governor of Arkansas, "It is when ordinary people rise over the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached."

Truly the foundation of this current parish milestone is the parishioners themselves. It was the two hundred founding members of the parish that raised in five short months the $20,000 that funded the initial construction of our parish plant. Likewise, it was the generosity of twelve hundred parishioners who pledged in excess of $1,200,000 to finance the restoration of our church in the 1990's. It is the parishioners of today who crowd Sunday and Holy Day Masses and whose generosity maintains our beautiful church, outreach programs, and school. The parishioners of both past and present enriched and enlivened our parish through their commitment to the many organizations and societies that are a vital part of our identity. As any resident of Jackson Heights knows the lights of St. Joan of Arc glow late into the night! Not only do these varied groups foster the spiritual lives of their members, they bring the Gospel Message to life through their example of service to the community.

Any organization is shaped and formed by its leaders. Therefore our pastors, are also a pillar on which the milestone of our eighty-fifth anniversary stands. Our history at St. Joan of Arc has been shaped by just six shepherds. This in itself is an amazing fact. Father Ward G. Meehan, our first pastor, oversaw the construction of our present lower church, a one-story school, and the present rectory. Monsignor Boylan, his successor, saw to it that his mentor and predecessor's dream of an upper church became a reality. Additionally, he added two stories to the original school building and had a new convent built. Monsignor James F. Donegan, our third pastor, will always be remembered for his insight and leadership that allowed St. Joan of Arc to meet the challenges of the Second Vatican Council.  It was Monsignor Donegan's unyielding faith, insight, and love of his church that made St. Joan of Arc a model of the faith community envisioned by the Council. Monsignor Donegan was succeeded by Father Francis Flynn. Father Flynn was a man of great compassion and under his administration outreach programs to immigrants and the elderly were expanded.  It was during this time that the convent was converted to the Catherine Sheridan Senior Center.

Monsignor Vincent F. Fullam was appointed pastor in 1989. Monsignor Fullam oversaw the restoration of the upper church and parish plant, a highlight of our parish's history. Monsignor expanded parish services by establishing the Office of Pastoral Ministry and worked openly and behind the scenes to ensure the future of the parish school.  Finally, the Lord blessed us once again with the naming of Monsignor John McGuirl as our sixth and present pastor, in 1995. Monsignor McGuirl's deep faith, commitment to his vocation, and generosity of spirit has enabled him to effectively lead our large and diverse parish through a very challenging period of church history. His constant presence truly characterizes him as a "people's" priest. His commitment to the youth of the parish and unwavering support of the parish school distinguish his tenure as pastor. It has been Monsignor McGuirl's piety, geniality, and fidelity to the Gospel Message that has allowed St. Joan of Arc to maintain its strong faith and unwavering conviction in the midst of the many storms that the modern church has been called upon to weather. Gratitude must also be given to the many, many parish priests who have called our rectory home over the last eighty-five years. It was their dedicated service that enabled our pastors to lead effectively. Their presence shaped our parish both spiritually and physically.

No history of our parish would be complete without a mention of the religious sisters whose presence and service throughout the years helped to foster the faith base of the parish. Foremost among these are the Sisters of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart who staffed the parish school from its inception. The contributions of sisters from other religious communities including the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, the Sisters of Charity of Halifax, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood have also helped to shape our parish identity. The laity that has staffed our school and Religious Education Program is also a part of the pediment on which the milestone of our eighty-­fifth anniversary rests.

On that unseasonably warm and humid June afternoon, our voice joined with our celebrant, Bishop Joseph Sullivan, in honor of our Lord and in thanksgiving for the blessing of our magnificent church and supportive community in which to live out our faith lives. We also recommitted ourselves to the task of assuring that milestones will continue to be celebrated well into the future at St. Joan of Arc.