CYO Champs -- Fr. O'Neill, Coach

As the years passed there were three major renovations to the church, the first in 1903. Under Fr. John M. Creeden, extensive repairs were performed including the installation of stained glass window from Munich at a total cost of $10,000. Later in his tenure Fr. Creeden was also responsible for the installation of a steam heating plant for the church, school and rectory. The second renovation was during the 1930'sby Fr. Martin P. O'Gara when several new stained glass windows were installed. Finally in 1956-57 Msgr. John M. Costello directed the last major refurbishing of the church as we knew it until its closing on November 15, 1978.

The prelude to the move to Eagle Park
In the mid-1970's it became apparent that New York State's proposed realignment of Route 9 would seriously affect our parish. Since the church was on one side of Route 9 and the school on the other, the parish was deeply concerned about possible loss of property, accessibility, safety and other factors.

In an article in July 1976, Fr. Robert F. McCormick, Pastor confirmed that the parish was considering a move to another site, and that Mary Immaculate School property was one of those under consideration. However, no commitment had been made and, indeed, none could be made until it was known exactly what the State's plans were.

When those plans were fully developed it became clear that, if the road were completed as designed, St. Augustine Parish and its school would be unable to function effectively.

Meanwhile, meetings were held with groups of parishioners to discuss the possibility of a parish move. As the effects of the proposed realignment became clearer, there developed a strongly favorable sentiment for such a move. The Mary Immaculate property, owned by the Dominican Sisters, was especially attractive since the school had been in operation for sixty years and was well known to the community. The property was within parish boundaries, had spacious grounds, and a large and modern school building. The Dominican Sisters who operated Mary Immaculate had, since 1942, staffed St. Augustine’s School as well, so there was already a bond strengthened over many years. Both parties hoped and prayed that an agreement could be worked out.

In early 1978 a meeting was arranged with the Director of the New York State Department of Transportation and a delegation, consisting of Fr. McCormick and four parishioners went to Albany to discuss possible solutions to the problem. The State and St. Augustine agreed that the church and most of the school would be acquired at a price to be set by a mutually accepted appraiser. The gymnasium, rectory and convent were later sold separately by the parish.

Following the agreement with the State, serious negotiations began with the Dominican Sisters, which eventually resulted in the purchase of approximately twenty-five acres, including the existing buildings; a school built in 1960 and enlarged in 1963, a dormitory building (used as our church until the completion of the new church) and a house, which as was expanded to serve as a rectory. An old mission, which was beyond use, was demolished to provide the site for the church.

In July 1978 about fifty volunteers began moving St. Augustine School to its new location. In a spirit of cooperation that Sister Malachy O'Brien, then principal, described as "fantastic," parishioners loaded school furniture into a rented Hertz truck and brought it to the school building at Eagle Park, where mothers and children had already been "sprucing up" in anticipation of the move. The entire contents of the school were moved into place over the next few evenings. In September, St. Augustine School opened at Eagle Park with an enrollment of 250 students.

Renovations on the dormitory building, which was to serve as the parish church had already begun. The study-hall/auditorium was refurbished by parishioners, and the stage area redesigned as a sanctuary. The front part of the building was converted to house the parish office and on the second floor an apartment was prepared to serve as a residence for the school custodian.

On November 15, 1978 the parish celebrated the 125th Anniversary of its founding with a Mass in the church on North Highland Avenue. Many local clergy, several former assistants, Msgr. John P. Breheny and Fr. Joseph Meehan, St. Augustine were in the sanctuary. The Mass was followed by a celebration in the gym at Eagle Park - a celebration both poignant and joyous, with a measure of sadness at leaving the church that so many parishioners had grown up in, coupled with joyous anticipation of what we hoped would be renewed spirit and growth in our new surroundings.

On Sunday, November 16, 1978, the last Masses were celebrated in the church. After the Noon Mass, volunteers again appeared and started removing the pews and other furnishings from the church to install at Eagle Park in the temporary place of worship. On the following Saturday evening the first Mass was said in our new location, with pews in place of many familiar furnishings in evidence. According to Fr. McCormick, the installation of the carpeting was barely completed in time for Mass and early arrivals witnessed the end of the cleanup, St. Augustine Parish was established in its new home.