Honor St. Thomas Parish Centennial

Senate Resolution No. 2664 BY: Senator KENNEDY COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish of Buffalo, New York WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish of Buffalo, New York; and WHEREAS, Throughout the storied history of New York State, there have emerged among its noble institutions certain houses of worship which have become distinguished through their spiritual leadership and commitment to service, and therefore warrant special recognition; and WHEREAS, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish of Buffalo was founded in 1920, with Father Eugene Regan serving as the first head of the parish; and WHEREAS, The first church structure was completed in July of the same year, an era which saw tremendous growth in the surrounding neighborhood, with many new residents migrating to Buffalo from Ireland; a schoolhouse was constructed soon thereafter to serve the needs of the burgeoning community; and WHEREAS, Several years after its inception there were plans for the construction of a larger church building to replace the 1920 structure; these plans were put on hold due to the Great Depression and World War II; and WHEREAS, In 1945, a building fund was created, and ground was broken four years later on the new St. Thomas Aquinas Parish; this new church was designed in the Spanish Mission style, was constructed of limestone and crab orchard stone, and featured tile roofing, large arched openings, and a large rose window; and WHEREAS, The new St. Thomas Aquinas Parish building was completed in

1951, serving as a major landmark on Abbott Road in South Buffalo; furthermore, an addition to the school was completed in 1956; and WHEREAS, Today, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish continues to serve Catholic families in Western New York under a partnership with St. Martin of Tours, also located in South Buffalo; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of Reverend William J. Quinlivan, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish stands on the threshold of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to now take note of this venerable institution which has so long endured, bringing the commemoration of this most significant milestone, its 100th Anniversary, to the attention of all of the people of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish of Buffalo, New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Reverend William J. Quinlivan, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Buffalo, New York.