Here stands Saint Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church. This parish dates back to the 1930s. At that time, the Bayside Hills community was developing. Homes rose on the grounds of the former Belleclaire Links golf course. Many new homeowners were Catholic.
These Catholics worshipped at St Kevin’s in Auburndale or Sacred Heart in old Bayside. They wanted their own parish. They asked the Bishop for permission and chose a patron saint. That saint was St Robert Bellarmine. He was a renowned scholar canonized in 1930 by Pope Pius XI.
Enthusiasm was high but the founders faced roadblocks. Rev Joseph J Hyland was the newly appointed pastor. A house was purchased to serve as a rectory and church. The first Mass on January 22 1939 drew 225 worshippers. Police deemed the crowd a hazard. Masses moved to vacant stores on 48th Avenue.
The growing attendance made a permanent church necessary. Bayside Hills Catholics eagerly fundraised. Nearby parishes offered support. Father Hyland found a prime location. It was the block bounded by 213th and 214th Streets and 56th and 58th Avenues. The site cost 36500 dollars.
Construction began in May 1940. It included a church building and recreation hall. The hall had living quarters for priests above. Bishop Molloy dedicated the buildings on May 18 1941.
The parish grew during the war years. By September 1948 Rev Thomas H Clarke became the second pastor. His task was to expand the facilities. Parishioners planned and fundraised to construct a new rectory a school and a convent.
The school was completed in September 1954. It enrolled 475 children. By the first class graduation in 1958 enrollment nearly doubled to 900 students. The new rectory was also ready in 1954. The convent was completed in 1959. Before that, the teaching sisters lived on the school’s upper floor.
In 1961 Msgr J Emmett McDonald became the third pastor. He enhanced the school and library. He also refurbished the original parish church. By the mid 1960s the parish had grown to 8800 members. A larger church was needed.
Another building campaign launched. The community strongly supported it. The present church was completed and dedicated in 1969. The old church became a gym. Young people and adults fundraised for gym equipment.
Father Henry A Lang became pastor in 1977. It was shortly before the parish’s 40th anniversary. He rehabilitated the physical plant and refurbished church properties. He cultivated greater participation in the parish’s spiritual and social life.
In 1995 Msgr John B Lavin became the fifth pastor. The neighborhood’s demographics changed. New populations of Catholics came to the parish. They were from the Philippines China and Korea. The parish welcomed all. A Korean priest was assigned to care for the Korean population and celebrate a Korean Sunday Mass.
Two fundraising campaigns occurred under Msgr Lavin’s leadership. The first was the Bishop’s 1995 Alive in Hope campaign. It exceeded its goal of 514000 dollars. 400000 dollars went to in-parish improvements and liturgy programs.
Another effort launched in 2001 for further improvements. Parishioners pledged almost 1000000 dollars. The funds were directed toward air conditioning and building parish reserves.
After Msgr Lavin died in December 2005 Msgr Martin Geraghty became pastor in March 2006. He retired at the end of 2015 but remained as Senior Priest. Bishop DiMarzio appointed Rev Gabriel Lee as the new Pastor on January 1 2016. Saint Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church continues to thrive thanks to the values of determination sacrifice and spiritual fellowship. It will carry on well into the future. Today Mass times include Saturday at 900 a.m. 500 p.m. and 830 p.m. for Korean speakers. On Sunday Mass is at 800 a.m. 915 a.m. for Korean speakers and 1100 a.m. on Weekdays Mass is at 900 a.m. Other services include Adoration on Saturdays. Confessions are heard on Saturdays. Devotions include Miraculous Medal Novena and the Holy Rosary.