Bishop John Loughlin appointed Rev. Thomas D. O’Reilly to establish Holy Name Parish in 1878.

        Contrary to our modern esteem for speed and efficiency, things moved a momentous pace back in 1878.  The first Baptism was April 4, 1878, the first Marriage was April 22^nd, the cornerstone for the Church [which is still the parish Church] was laid August 11^th, 1878, and the first Mass in the Church was celebrated December 25, 1878.  All this without computers! But the newly founded parish had something much more valuable.  It had the Faith, and literally it could and did move mountains.

For a while Father O’Reilly, like Christ, had nowhere to lay his head.  Many kind parishioners offered him the hospitality of their homes.

Seven short years later, in 1885, Holy Name of Jesus School was opened and welcomed six hundred boys and girls who were given the faith.  Many went on to make contributions to the Church, to our country and community as Priests, Brothers, Sisters, married people and single people.

There were four Sisters of St. Joseph and three lay teachers.  Looking back from 2002, another miracle! Seven teachers giving practical and everlasting values to six hundred boys and girls? Impossible! But, there was faith.  That made the difference.

The first Convent was on Ninth Avenue near Seventeenth Street, a frame building, with very poor conditions.  Then disaster! There was a fire in the school in 1893, and classes had to be discontinued.  But come September, the same year, the school was reopened.  Where there is faith all things are possible.

Father O’Reilly, conscious of the value and contribution of the Sisters of St. Joseph to the faith of his people, built a new convent [the present house at 243 Prospect Park West].  It was and is a beautiful building and was opened on April 1, 1907.

Father O’Reilly, who had become a Monsignor, died February 3, 1918.  A great priest, a leader, a dreamer, an accomplisher, had passed to his reward. 

On June 30, 1918, Bishop Charles McDonnell, second Bishop of Brooklyn, appointed Msgr. Charles Vitta the new pastor of Holy Name.

Msgr. Vitta, like his predecessor, was a man of vision and faith.  In 1923, the new and present school was opened.  It also accommodated a high school.  When the Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School was opened Holy Name girls were transferred to the new school, and the diocese requested the parish to close its high school.

Holy Name of Jesus School was built in a magnificent style.  It is a fireproof building, spacious and comfortable for pupils and teachers.

Msgr. Vitta, aware of the great contribution of the Xaverian Brothers to the Christian education of boys and young men, invited them to teach our boys from the fifth to the eighth grades, and, to assume responsibility for the boys department of the entire school.  The Brothers accepted.  They took up residence in a private house on Sixteenth Street.

The Sisters of St. Joseph had grown in number to twenty-five, and the convent was literally bursting at the seams.  Msgr. Vitta built the present convent in 1927, and remodeled the building at 243 Prospect Park West for the Xaverian Brothers of the parish.  Another miracle, accomplished by Faith.  All were deservedly comfortable.

Disaster struck again twofold.  The country was thrown into a long-lasting Depression and Msgr. Vitta was called to his reward in March 1931.

In May 1931, Bishop Thomas E. Molloy appointed Msgr. James F. Flynn to succeed Msgr. Vitta as pastor.  Msgr. Flynn was a man of great energy and vast experience.  He guided Holy Name through the Great Depression, which had destroyed so many institutions.  Msgr. Flynn died in June 13, 1944.

Bishop Molloy appointed as new pastor Msgr. John Boardman, who was also Diocesan Director of the Society for the Propagation of the faith.  His appointment indicated that God was giving a new dimension to Holy Name.

The parish had struggled through its birth pains, through fire in the school, through enormous building programs.  Naturally, its mentality was parochial, and therefore Msgr. Boardman opened up new vistas for Holy Name.  There was a great big world out there.

In that big world there were many poor brothers and sisters of Christ, and many who should have an opportunity to be touched by Christ.  Msgr. Boardman instilled a love for the Missions in our people.  Our people are not the most affluent, but they have faith.  They not only have it, they are willing to sacrifice that they may share faith with others.

 On March 29, 1952 Msgr. Boardman was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn by Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy.

Then in 1959, Bishop Boardman was transferred to Our Lady of Angels Church, Bay Ridge.  He didn’t relish leaving Holy Name, but he comforted himself by joking that he was the only pastor who walked and was not carried out of Holy Name.

Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart assigned Msgr. Francis X. Downing, a former seminary professor, a scholar, and an experienced pastor to succeed Bishop Boardman. 

Vatican II was calling for an updating in the Church.  Msgr. Downing renovated the sanctuary of Holy Name. 

Msgr. Downing was responsible for the establishment of the Parish Council.  He had a great interest in the youth of the parish, conducting youth dances and encouraging sports programs.  He was interested in older parishioners and had a Parish Visitor.  He was responsible for having a Guidance Counselor in the school.  He was zealous in trying to help those with a drug problem.  He was tireless through the years in conducting devotions in the Blessed Sacrament.  Msgr. Downing retired in 1974 and lived in the rectory until his death.

Father Joseph Shine, who had served as a curate at Holy Name since 1961, was appointed pastor in January 1974.  Father Shine continued many fine works he had been doing in the parish.  He showed an interest in all people.  Among his contributions to the parish are the preschool classes, the kindergarten, and the designation of a Religious Education Coordinator. 

Father Joseph Shine received his reward as God called him to Himself on March 27, 1976 having been pastor of Holy Name for two years.

On June 8, 1976, Father John F. Wilson was appointed pastor by Bishop Francis Mugavero.   During his time at Holy Name Msgr. Wilson in keeping with the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, renovated the Church.  Msgr. Wilson served as the Chaplin for Alhambra Adult Treatment Center.  Msgr. Wilson severed as pastor until 1992. 

Bishop Thomas V. Daily appointed Rev. Dennis J. Farrell as pastor in 1992, and installed Father Farrell on Super Bowl Sunday January 1993 as the Dallas Cowboys were beating the Buffalo Bills.  Father Farrell serves as pastor of Holy Name as you read this brief history.   

So much for the history of Holy Name Parish.  What is Holy Name today? Holy Name is a thriving parish.  The faith is strong.  Several hundred people attend each weekly Sunday Mass.  The number receiving Holy Communion is more than edifying.

The liturgy is constantly becoming more devout and meaningful.  The parish has both men and women as Lectors, Leaders of Song and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.  There are devotions two times a week, and two parish retreat weeks each year. 

The school is still a vital part of the parish, preparing two hundred fifty boys and girls to live happy, productive lives and to enjoy God forever.

The parish has an active youth program, with baseball, basketball, swimming, and soccer, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies and a Teen Club.

There is a very active Cancer Guild and the ladies enjoy working for victims of that disease. 

There is also an active Spanish Community here in the parish of Holy Name.  They have been a vital part of the life of the parish for nearly forty years, and continue bringing life to the parish.

The Windsor Terrace Golden Age is a very active organ of the parish.  Meeting three days a week, offering a multiply of needs for our seniors.

The Diocesan Language Institute uses Holy Name on occasions.  And the doors of Holy Name Rectory are open twice a week for Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon.  There is also an active Blood Bank in the parish, as our faithful give freely of their source of life many times each year. 

It is impossible to mention the contributions of so many Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters, and the Lay people who have made Herculean contributions of time, talent, treasure and love to the Parish of Holy Name.

Much has been glossed over in this article…we have just glanced at yesterday, we live today through the generosity of our parishioners as a major development campaign was conducted at Holy Name.  The funds generator allowed Father Farrell and a group of dedicated parishioners to transform the Church basement into “Shepherd’s Hall.”  Shepherd’s Hall is used for numerous parish functions.  Our parish plant also saw fresh coats of paint to the school and Church.  New roofs and windows replaced the originals and an easy access ramp was installed, allowing access to the Church.