Mary Immaculate Catholic Church

September 26, 1974 at 10:00 AM

56 people present

The first Mass was celebrated September 26, 1974 at 10 AM, with 56 present. Father Devaney announced that daily Mass would be celebrated at 7:30 AM. Three people came to the first daily Mass. Parishioners were eager to help, cared for homebound residents and identified many local Catholic families in the neighborhood and invited them to the new parish. Within three weeks, many people were celebrating Sunday Mass, which made it necessary to move from the small chapel into the school cafeteria.

Our New Parish is Drawn

After a few months, boundary lines for the new parish were established. By fall 1975, the parish was well-established, but parishioners wanted to identify with a permanent church of their own.

Cardinal Newman High School

The archbishop was petitioned to buy a rectory near Cardinal Newman High School property where someday a church would be built. In January 1977, Father Devaney and Brother Henry Lemoncelli moved into 237 Porter Place. Oblate Father Joseph Pucci was assigned as the first associate pastor in fall 1977, and there were more than 700 parish families.

Raising Funds for the New Church

In January 1980, a drive to raise funds for the new church was initiated by soliciting the support of parishioners and friends. On December 8, 1980, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the grounds for the new church were blessed and broken. On Holy Thursday, April 8, 1982, Holy Week services began in the new church location. On Easter Sunday more than 2,000 people celebrated Masses in Mary Immaculate’s new church, which was dedicated October 9, 1982.

In fall 1982, Father Devaney was replaced by Father Joseph Gigante, who stayed for a very short time but raised enough money to begin building a parish hall as already planned. During his stay a new rectory and hall were built in 1990.

In 1991, Mary Immaculate was blessed again with a new pastor, Father Francis H. Reardon, who with a handful of dedicated parishioners established the first pastoral council. Not long after, the Provincial of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the bishop decided for the benefit of all, that Mary Immaculate should be put under the care of the Diocese of Palm Beach.

On September 1, 1994, the pastoral care of the parish was turned over by the Oblates to the Diocese of Palm Beach with the appointment of Father Timothy Lynch as the first diocesan pastor. Following Father Lynch, Father Joseph Kuczborski served a brief period as administrator of the parish.

On July 1, 2002, Father Tomasz Makowski was appointed pastor and continues to the present.

In the brief history of Mary Immaculate, the parish had to face many challenges. Some were met with a great deal of success, such as the William G. Skaff Center, church repairs and the beautiful chapel. With God’s grace, the challenges in the future will be met. By prayer, work and dedication, Mary Immaculate will continue to be a viable and active place of worship in God’s eyes.