“Do-It-Yourself” parish. That’s what they called St. Rocco’s Roman Catholic Church. It is a nickname earned through sweat and sacrifice. We’re standing before a testament to the unwavering spirit of immigrants. These immigrants didn’t just attend church. They built it.
St. Rocco’s story begins in 1914. A group of Italian immigrants from Noicattaro met in a grocery store. They dreamed of a church on the west side. Building it themselves would surely gain diocesan recognition.
In 1917 and 1918, they erected a small brick structure. It stood on Trent Avenue. The church was named St. Rocco. He is the patron saint of the sick. He was especially honored in southern Italy.
Despite their efforts, recognition took time. It finally arrived in 1922. Bishop Joseph Schrembs appointed Father Alphonse Di Maria as the first pastor. He came from St. Anthony Italian Church.
Leadership changed in 1924. The Mercedarian Order took charge. Father Sante Gattuso from Sicily became the second pastor. He replaced Father Di Maria who resigned due to health. Father Gattuso served for an incredible 42 years.
The parish grew rapidly. Immigrants from various Italian regions joined. Father Gattuso launched an ambitious building plan. He bought land on Fulton Road. A contractor built a new church with a school in 1926.
The Great Depression hit hard in the 1930s. St. Rocco’s turned to self-building once more. Parishioners added to the school in 1933. They built an addition to the parish house in 1935.
A grander vision emerged in 1940. Father Gattuso planned a new, larger church. World War II intervened. The men of St. Rocco’s saved bricks during the war. They worked in building trades and stockpiled materials. The church campus became a brick yard.
Construction finally commenced in 1949. Parishioners volunteered their time and skills. Men excavated and erected the structure. They did the masonry work. Women provided home-cooked meals. Even retired members played a part. Michael Girardi, Gaetano Farrugia, and Gennaro Di Pasquale became known as the Three Musketeers.
The new church was completed in 1952. Father Gattuso estimated the donated labor saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. The “Do-It-Yourself” spirit continued. Interior decorations were made in 1955. The old church transformed into a school gym in 1956. A memorial to WWII veterans was erected in 1957. The grade school was remodeled the same year. A one-story school addition followed in 1959.
St. Rocco Church remained a vital community asset. Self-building projects helped maintain the church. It is a fixture in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. In 2011, St. Rocco Parish merged with Saint John the Evangelist. This joining of the two parishes was not uncommon to their history. Msgr. Thomas Sala was the pastor of both parishes at one time.
St. Rocco stands as a symbol of faith. It also embodies community and hard work. It is a lasting legacy of immigrants.