Senate Resolution No. 2138
BY: Senator GRIFFO
COMMEMORATING the 70th Anniversary of Our Lady of
the Rosary of New Hartford, New York, to be
celebrated on June 23, 2019
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, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
70th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Rosary of New Hartford, to be
celebrated at Roselawn Banquet Facility, on Sunday, June 23, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Our Lady of the Rosary can trace its roots directly to
World War II; in 1942, with the war raging, the United States Army
selected a 175-acre farm on Burrstone Road as a site for a new hospital
to treat wounded soldiers; Rhodes General Army Hospital opened in August
1943, with 180 buildings, 1,950 beds, a railroad, fire department, and
an interdenominational chapel named St. Thomas Moore Chapel; and
WHEREAS, When the war ended, the hospital closed and the buildings
were used as a college for veterans; in September of 1947, The Reverend
Alfred J. Holdredge was appointed Chaplain of Mohawk College with
pastoral privileges to assist the servicemen and women and their
families in Rhodes Village; and
WHEREAS, The Army Chapel was purchased in the Spring of 1949, and
was moved from Burrstone Road to its present site; on July 22, 1949, the
Chapel was named The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary; and
WHEREAS, In 1960, two wings were added to accommodate the growing
congregation; in 1951, the rectory was built and, in 1955, two army
barracks from Rhodes Hospital were moved to parish grounds and joined to
form a Faith Formation Center; and
WHEREAS, Today, Our Lady of the Rosary boasts over 900 active
families and one of the largest Faith Formation and Youth Programs in
the area; the parish is closely linked to Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School
where Faith Formation classes are held on Sundays and the school uses
the church for Masses, retreats, fundraisers and parking; and
WHEREAS, Our Lady of the Rosary Church 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, In addition to Father Holdredge, the Church had several
other Pastors, including: Reverend Peter Paige, Reverend James Riley,
Reverend James Fallon, Reverend Felix Colosimo, and Reverend Thomas
Honold; currently Father Joe Salerno serves as Priest/Administrator for
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Rosary of New
Hartford, to be observed on June 23, 2019, fully confident that this
commemoration reflects the belief in those values which enhance the
dignity and purpose of life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Father Joe Salerno, Priest/Administrator, Our Lady of the
Rosary.
