We Become a Parish

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

Other sections:
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School
Organizations

Fr. William McMahon, the first resident pastor

On October 26, 1910, Fr. William McMahon was assigned as St. Patrick's first resident pastor.

The year before he had resigned as pastor of St. Bridget Parish for health reasons, but he had continued living there to be close to the offices of "The Catholic Universe," the diocesan paper of which he was manager and editor. He held both of the latter positions until his death. Since there was no rectory for him to move into, Fr. McMahon continued to live at St. Bridget's at East 22nd Street and Central and rode the streetcar to St. Patrick's on Sundays, holy days and First Fridays. This arrangement did not sit well with parishioners who had waited many years for a resident pastor and thought he should be in residence here and wanted daily Mass. A solution was found by the end of January when parishioners Mr. and Mrs. William Gallagher allowed him the use of their West Park home while they vacationed in Florida. When they returned in spring, Fr. McMahon rented a neighborhood home from Neal Norton.