The Altar & Rosary Society

History:
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Introduction
Beginnings
St. Mary, Rockport
Stone Church
Age of the Streetcar
We Become a Parish
New School
Fr. Calvey
Building Traditions
Altar & Rosary
Calvey Club
Main School Bldg
Depression Years
Youth Organizations
War Years
Post-war Years
Parish Cemetery
Building Years
Aspects of Parish Life
Pastorate of Fr. Kelly
Hunger Center
Changing Needs
R.C.I.A.
Pastoral Council
Reaching Out
Parish Staff
Year of Celebration
Parish Leaders
Daughter Parishes

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The population of Rockport Township had grown significantly after the war. Between 1922 and 1924 seven new parishes were erected in the township.

St. Angela Merici in Fairview Park; St. Christopher in Rocky River; Our Lady of Angels, St. Vincent de Paul and Annunciation, all in West Park; and St. Clement and St. Luke in Lakewood. All of these were in the territory once ministered to by St. Patrick Parish.
The Rockport community grew significantly in the decade following World War I

Even with all these parishes, St. Patrick's continued to grow. This expansion was especially evident in the Altar Society, which in 1925 was divided into three separate Ladies Guilds. After three years they reunited and in 1933, became an official Altar and Rosary Society.

The ladies of the Altar and Rosary Society, the oldest organization in the parish, cared for the sanctuary and altar at least as early as 1854. They may have organized even earlier to help the circuit-riding priests. They formed a sewing circle in 1917 and at other times to make altar linens and to repair vestments. Through the years the group has hosted weekly card parties, prepared meals for parish events, and run booths at fairs and bazaars. Besides their support of the parish, they hosted events for members: steak fries in the valley, annual birthday parties, informative lectures, retreats and corporate Communion Sundays.

Prior to World War II, the Society started working with school mothers, recruiting them as members and helping them raise money for the school. Regular card parties, co-hosted by the Society and school mothers, were a great benefit to the school in the days before a parent-teacher group was formed.