Our Church building’s current floor plan.
A proposed floor plan for the renovation of St. Boniface Church.
Fr. Fee
November 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Father Fee sensed in 1959 that it was time to build: the lovely small church built in 1900 seated just over 300; the School (built in 1928) needed more classrooms; the greater number of classrooms would demand more teachers and, hence, more convent space; and the rectory which had never been large enough, would in any event be demolished if a larger church were to be built.
With Father Fee’s leadership and much work and sacrifice on the part of St. Boniface lay people, a fund-raising campaign began in 1960.
The goal of a quarter-million-dollars was quickly oversubscribed, six additional classrooms were completed within the original school building; an extension providing for thirteen sisters was added to the Convent; and an adjacent house was bought and made into a Rectory. A new and larger church building was designed and constructed. All of this took until 1964 to complete.
The Parish continued to prosper and to grow, and as one observer from outside the Parish Family noted, Father Fee played “a dignified and important role in Sea Cliff”, as well as in the St. Boniface community. Father Fee was and still continues to be Chaplain of the North Shore Firemen’s Holy Name Society.
Finally he reached the age of obligatory retirement, and on February 23, 1980, his successor, Reverend Donald F. Diederich was installed as Pastor. Father Fee, as Pastor Emeritus, continues to live and serve among us. On April 17, 1980, North Shore Kiwanis Club of Long Island proclaimed Father Fee their “1980 Citizen of the Year” with a dinner at the Swan Club in Glenwood Landing, “in recognition of his leadership and unselfish contributions to his church and the people of this com-muni ty ••• ”
On June 10, 1980, Father Fee celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination; and on June 15th, the Parish held a dinner in his honor in the School Auditorium to try to express thanks for Father Fee’s countless acts of charity and grace during the nearly quarter-century he had served the Parish as Pastor. (It was later discovered that Father Fee had insisted on picking up the tab for the dinner! )
November 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The present church building at St. Boniface Parish, the second to stand at the same location, was dedicated in a solemn ceremony held there on May 3, 1964. The first Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Walter P. Kellenberg, D.D., presided, and the sermon was preached by Auxiliary Bishop Vincent J. Baldwin, who had been Pastor at St. Boniface in the early 1950’s. The new church replaced the first church, which had been dedicated on April 22, 1900 by Bishop McDonnell.
St. Vincent de Paul Mass & Reception
October 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
St. Boniface News September 22, 2013
September 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Our Parish Bulletin
Read the Parish Bulletin for September 22, 2013 and archived past issues.
Oktoberfest!
Oktoberfest will be back this year by popular demand, on October 5, 2013, complete with a live German band, Bavarian dancers and wonderful German food and beer! Ticket sales start 8/31.
Religious Education Back to School Information
Religious Education classes start during the week of September 22. Back to School Night September 25. See Schedule here.
Pilgrimage to National Basilica: September 28, 2013
We will be participating in an historic Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington. on September 28, 2013.
Youth Ministry
See our Schedule here. Our Youth Group gives teens the opportunity to meet and foster lasting friendships while exploring our faith and belief.
All Saints Regional Catholic School
All Saints Regional Catholic School (ASR) is our parish school, with Nursery, Pre-K and K through 8 programs.
Parish Facebook Pages
Our Parish maintains a variety of Facebook pages; feel free to connect with us there!
Feast by the Shore 2013 Photo Gallery
June 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bishop John Ricard Missions Visit
May 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bishop John Ricard with Fr. Bob and altar servers after 5pm Mass, May 4, 2013.
Bishop John Ricard is visiting our Parish on the weekend of May 4-5 to preach about the Missions. A special collection will be taken up the following weekend.
Who is St. Boniface?
April 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This great apostle of Germany was born in England, between 672 and 680. When he was small, some missionaries stayed a while at his home. They told the boy all about their work and impressed Boniface because they were so happy and excited about bringing the Good News to people. Boniface decided in his heart that he would be just like them when he grew up. While still young, he went to a monastery school to be educated. Some years later, he became a popular teacher. When he was ordained a priest, he was a powerful preacher because he was so full of enthusiasm.
Boniface wanted everyone to have the opportunity to know about and love Jesus and his Church. He became a missionary to the western part of Germany. Pope St. Gregory II blessed him and sent him on this mission. Boniface preached with great success. Once, to prove that the pre-Christian gods were false, he did a bold thing. There was a certain huge oak tree the local people believed was sacred to their gods. In front of a large crowd, Boniface struck the tree with an axe. The big tree crashed. The people were enlightened when realized that their gods took no action against Boniface.
In his lifetime, Boniface converted great numbers of people. In place of the statues of the pagan gods, he built churches and monasteries. In 732, the new pope, St. Gregory III made Boniface an archbishop and gave him another mission territory, Bavaria. He and some companions went there to teach the people about Christianity.
Then, one day, he was preparing to confirm some converts. A group of armed inhabitants swooped down on the camp. Boniface would not let his companions defend him. “Our Lord tells us to repay evil with good,” he said. “The day has come for which I have waited so long. Trust in God and he will save us.” The warriors attacked, and Boniface was the first one killed. He died a martyr on June 5, 754. His wish, stated in his will, that he be buried at the famous monastery he had started at Fulda, Germany were carried out.
Did St. Boniface invent the Christmas Tree?
The specific origin of the Christmas tree is lost in the distant past. It may have started when pre-Christian rituals involving evergreen boughs were merged with Christian celebrations and beliefs.
It seems to be generally recognized that the people who lived in what is now Germany were the first to develop the tradition of the Christmas tree. One tradition is that when Boniface cut down the famous oak tree that he was surprised to find a fir tree growing in its place. The fir was thereafter associated with the primacy of the Christian faith.
Martin Luther is credited with first placing candles on the Christmas tree. He spent a great deal of time walking through the forests of evergreen conifers thinking through his beliefs. The candles are said to have represented the stars he saw through the trees.
