The History of St. Rose of Lima

The Birth of A Parish

St. Rose of Lima Parish was established October 12, 1948.  It comprised an area so large that in time, it gave rise to ten separate parishes.  Bishop Thomas McDonough, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, was the founding Pastor.  In those early days, Masses were held in the auditorium of Barry College and at the Red Feather Farm Restaurant, located at 140^th Street and 6^th Avenue.  In 1949 Monsignor James Enright succeeded Bishop McDonough as Pastor.  With great vision for the infant parish, he embarked on a building campaign, resulting over the years in an expansive parish plant.  First came a Church/Hall facility, the present School Auditorium, followed by a parochial school.  Then the present Rectory was built to replace the original priests’ house on N.E. 92 Street.  The present Church was completed and dedicated in 1961, followed by the baptistry and bell tower a few years later.

In 1971, Monsignor Enright retired from active ministry to be succeeded by Monsignor Noel Fogarty, who guided the parish and school through two decades of growth and development.  Under his leadership, the Monsignor Enright Building was added in the late 1970's which houses school offices, science facilities, a library and meeting rooms.  Completed in 1989 was yet another building addition, which surrounds the auditorium and provides the early childhood center, computer and art rooms.

In 1991, Monsignor Fogarty was appointed pastor of St. Gregory Parish in Plantation, Florida.  A former Assistant, Father Seamus Doyle, was appointed Pastor to St. Rose of Lima.  Together with the Pastoral Council, Father Doyle’s immediate goal was to complete the Parish building projects.  The new parish offices and the development center with parish meeting rooms were added to the rear of the Church and the rectory was renovated.  An aesthetic and protective wall was erected around the property.  In the fall of 2000 a Parish Pavilion was erected on the east church lawn, completing the building expansion project begun in 1995.  This beautiful covered area offers an additional meeting place for all parishioners.  Over the last 50 years, St. Rose of Lima priests, sisters, parishioners and friends have worked assiduously to create today’s facility.

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The Growth of a School

Foreseeing the growth of family life in the area, Monsignor Enright opened St. Rose of Lima Parochial School in the Fall of 1951.  During that summer more than 400 children of grades 1-6 were registered.  The Adrian Dominican Sisters were appointed to staff the school.  Sister Kathleen Marie, O.P., the first principal, and seven other sisters arrived to open the school on September 12, 1951.  The Blessing of the school by Archbishop McDonough took place on the same day.  One month later the kindergarten opened with fifty pupils.  The Mother’s Club members volunteered to work in the cafeteria and they also undertook fund-raising to defray furnishing costs.  For many years, much of the day-to-day work in the school grounds, the cafeteria and even in the school itself, was done by volunteers, especially the Mother’s Club members.

In 1954, the men of the parish, under the leadership of Bud Kindelan, organized a one-day fund raiser for a new convent for the Sisters.  This gave rise to the present convent.

With the influx of Cuban refugees in 1960, the Parish of St. Rose, like all parishes throughout South Florida, was called upon to meet the new challenges.  Many Spanish speaking children applied for enrollment.  In January, 1961, more than a thousand children were studying at St. Rose School under the direction of fourteen sisters and eight lay teachers.  During the 1960's St. Rose of Lima School received accreditation with the Florida Catholic Conference.  At this time, Sister Jean Rosario, O.P., became principal of the school and led the school for the next thirteen years.

By the end of the 1970's many changes in religious life were taking place all over the country including Florida.  Many Sisters were opting out of schools to work in other areas in the Church.  Very few of the Adrian Dominican sisters were left at St. Rose.  In 1981, Monsignor Fogarty had the opportunity to invite the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to the parish and school.  This began another ten-year period of growth marked by the leadership of Sister Anne Bernard Gradl, I.H.M..  The visionary developments of that time include: the establishment of the Home-School Board in 1982; the offering of an ‘after school’ program in 1983; establishment of the Development Board in 1984.  These achievements were acknowledged when in 1994 St. Rose of Lima School received national recognition as U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

With the introduction of a full time Development Office and the establishment of a School Advisory Board, the primary goal was to begin an endowment for the school.  The endowment has now reached a total of more than two and a half million dollars.  Interest generated by the endowment will be used to supplement teacher’s salaries, maintain school buildings and property, purchase equipment and offset tuition increases.

In 1991 new leadership once more sparked new growth.  Father Seamus Doyle took over as pastor of the parish, and Sister Rita Murphy, I.H.M. became principal of the school.  At this time, too, the I.H.M. sisters provided a vice-principal as well as a guidance counselor to assist in the school. The Home School Board was restructured under the supervision of Sister Rita Murphy.   It is active promoting the good of the school and in funding various school projects.  In 1994, St. Rose, due to the efforts of Sister Rita and the School Advisory Board, received the coveted Blue Ribbon Award making it one of the few Catholic schools in the United States to be twice honored.  In 1996 the school was completely rewired and retrofitted for cable and computer networking capabilities.  This same year, St. Rose of Lima School and Parish became the first in the Archdiocese to have a website page on the Internet.  In 1997 all classes were online.  Preparing for it’s Golden Jubilee, October 11, 1998 the school auditorium received a much needed facelift as did the student bathrooms in the summer of 1999. During the first year of the new millennium all classrooms and administrative school and parish offices were networked with INTERNET capability and a phone system allowing faculty, staff and students the opportunity to communicate through voice mail as well as email messages.  A full time Technology Coordinator was added to the staff in 1997.

During the summer of  2000, St. Rose parents, students and parishioners bade a fond and appreciative farewell to Sister Rita Murphy, IHM, Principal of the school for nine years.  Sister Nancy Kindelan IHM, a St. Rose of Lima Graduate, was welcomed in the fall of 2000 as the school’s new Principal.  Joining the Administration also,  Celine Zigmont, retiring from her position, as a beloved Kindergarten teacher of fourteen years. Celine is now Assistant Principal, sharing these duties with Assistant Principal, Sr. Jude Mary, IHM.

At the time of this writing, enrollment has grown to nearly 620 students and the staff includes 73 full time and 11 part time employees.

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The Life of a Parish Family

Hand in hand with expanding parish and school facilities come the growth of parish programs.  In the early days of St. Rose of Lima Parish, much of the volunteer work came from the combined efforts of the Mother’s Club, Ushers Club, Men’s Club, Scout Movement and men and women recruited from every area of the parish.  St. Rose was renowned for a vibrant and active Catholic Youth Organization, CYO, under the leadership of Joe St. Thomas and family.  Many of the active youths of the time are today involved as adults at St. Rose in various areas of parish ministries including youth ministries.

In 1971 the first Parish Council came into being, one of the first of its kind in the Archdiocese.  The primary objective of the first Parish Council was to implement Vatican II directives.  The various committees of the council were active in sponsoring parish socials, assisting in the maintenance of buildings, developing a finance board, and spreading the word of God to the community at large.

In 1984, in keeping with the wishes of the Vatican Council, the Parish Council took on a new format and the Pastoral Council was born.  Sister Jean Rosario, O.P., assumed the duty of Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries.  These included relevant areas of evangelization facing parish communities in the modern world: community life, education, family life, outreach, Christian service, communication, spiritual life and worship, youth, and plant management.  The Pastoral Council still works through these ministries.  The concept of lay leadership involvement progressed with the development in 1990 of committees to assist each council member with the work of his or her ministry, thus including the talents and abilities of many more parishioners.  The Pastoral Council, with all its varied branches, is made up of St. Rose’s own parishioners giving generously of their time as ministers of Word and Sacrament, as teachers, helpers, ushers, choir members, musicians and servers.  Others bring food to the poor, consolation to the suffering, advice to the lonely, and preparation for Sacraments and life.  The Parish family of St. Rose of Lima has always been generous with their Time, Talents & Treasures.  In 1999 a part time Volunteer Coordinator was added to the staff to direct and publicize the different areas in both the school and parish where volunteers are needed and welcomed.

A year of spiritual renewal and social gatherings, brought together parishioners, past and present, as well as the entire community, culminating in a Golden Jubilee Mass celebrated on October 12, 1998.

The history of St. Roes of Lima has been one of growing together and praying together to create a sound and truly viable family community.  It is a past of great accomplishment built on a foundation of faith.  May the Lord help the St. Rose community to be good caretakers of that legacy.

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