1950 - 1961

Nobody would be sooner to admit, in theatrical parlance, the toughness of following a headliner, than Father Murphy's successor, Reverend John J. O'Mara, who became seventh pastor of Holy Cross Parish.

Ordained on April 11, 1931, he began at Holy Name Cathedral with his background including St. Francis Church in Wilmette and St. Kilian's in Chicago.

Shortly after his arrival, the church's pipe-organ, arranged for purchase by Eugene Ender in 1916, was replaced with the present one.

Even in the early years of his pastorage here, it was evident to Father O'Mara that church and school had to be expanded. In 1950, Deerfield's population was 3,288 and included a good percentage of Catholics.

In 1956, when the town's population had almost doubled, Father O'Mara devised a fundraising plan with the help of groups of parishioners. The details were made known at a meeting held at the Moraine Hotel in Highland Park. Among the leaders were Ray Eiden and Don Kempf.

Called the "Fair Share" plan, its scope was presented in a comprehensive printed brochure created by Ted Johnson, Bob Basche, and Charles Biggam. During the week of June 25th, volunteer groups of men solicited the parish.

On August 22nd, 1956, the ground-breaking ceremony took place.

On January 3, 1957, Reverend Robert Greenslade baptized Catherine Mary Dondanville, a descendant of J. C. Ender.

Barry and Kaye, with 30 years in the field of church and institutional architecture began work on the new school and church in the Fall of 1956, completing the school on September 19, 1957.

The new church, rising to 33 feet at the center, was ready for Midnight Mass on Christmas, 1957. The sanctuary furnishings by Greco Manufacturing Company, Chicago, were enhanced by a spectacular mass of pointsettas. The baptistry, (completed in 1958) candelebra and colorful, many paned windows at the back of the church were designed by Gerald W. Barry. Lights were by Wilmer Snow, Chicago. The awesome Corpus above the altar was complemented by the majestic wood carvings of Mary and Joseph, added in 1959. These statutes were created by a German sculptor in Italy.

Three children were baptized on December 29th, 1957, making them the first to be received into the Church after the first Mass. They were Lois Anne Helke, Kurt Alfred Peterschmidt and Deborah Anne Wachholder.

The first Nuptial Mass with Papal blessing, in the new church united Miss Vita Intranuovo and Mr. James Habian on February 8th, 1958.

Because of the mushrooming growth of the parish, the need for an assistant became even more pressing. Father Edward Reilly, ordained on May 3, 1957, became the first assistant priest appointed to Holy Cross Parish. He arrived in July, 1958 and shortly afterward, met a representative parish gathering at the annual Holy Cross Lawn Party, held at the Charles Biggam estate in Bannockburn.

The first Lawn Party was held there on September 11, 1954 and was repeated yearly through 1959. Last year, J. P. Condon opened his estate for this annual fund-raising and social activity.

Revived in August, 1960, the Holy Name Society appointed as temporary officers Paul Riordan, president; Joseph Stackowicz, first vice-president; Edward Flynn, second vice-president; Norman Brown, treasurer, and Edward Moroney, secretary. They were elected at the January 8th breakfast, 1961.

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine went into action in 1959, with Bernard Enright, president, leading a group of seven that today numbers approximately 200. Besides the executive board, six divisions teach, recruit, support, study, plant and spread the Faith under Father Reilly's spiritual guidance.

Tony Basche had the distinction of becoming the first president of the Teen Hi-Club in January, 1959, with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Meyer as moderators.

Holy Cross had 8.35 acres to accommodate the inspiring church that seated 800; the rectory and convent, school, playground and parking area, with enough land to provide for the expansion of the school as the parish continued to grow with Deerfield.

Forty-two ushers, headed by Edward Flynn, handled an average of close to 5,000 people who attended the six Masses on Sundays, five Masses on Holy Days.

During the week, two Masses were said daily.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school, some 400 public school children received religious instruction from the Sisters and volunteer teachers in the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Special Sunday instructions were held for young people unable to attend weekday sessions.

Full length movies were shown in the parish hall every Sunday afternoon.

Sports activities included basketball and football for school boys, with a Bowling League for adults.

In one of the two first grades, Sister Anna Marie taught, while Miss Peggy McGuire conducted the other class. Second graders responded to Miss Madelene McGuire. Sister Evangeline, who arrived at Holy Cross with Sister Norbertina, principal, in August, 1950, taught 3rd grade. Miss Carley taught 4th grade; Miss Beck, 5th; Sister Fidelia, 6th; Mr. Wolfe, 7th and Sister Josephine, 8th grade.

From the original enrollment of 330 pupils in 1958, Sister Norbetina reported that Holy Cross School increased enrollment of 432 pupils, with two-thirds of the 400 public school children in the Catechism classes on the waiting list.

With Father O'Mara's blessing and approval, Father Reilly had channeled his vitality and personality into many new areas. He spearheaded activities for the young people such as dances, hayrides, ice-skating and tobogganing, Sunday movies, among others. For the adults, Father Reilly provided spiritual guidance for the Holy Name Society and Confraternity of Christian Doctrine which includes Inquiry classes for non-Catholics and Catholics who want to learn more about the Faith. These classes were held in the Parish hall each Monday and Friday evening.

Both Father O'Mara and Father Reilly were well known for their personal and spiritual visits to sick parishioners in their homes as well as at surrounding hospitals.

Each Sunday, following 12:15 Mass, the Sacrament of Baptism was administered at the bapistry in the back of the church, where the relic of the true Cross was enshrined.

Another new means of getting young and old parishioners together during the summer was the Family Day Picnic held at Kelly's Sports Club for Boys in Wheeling. Leo Rosenberger headed the committee for the first picnic held in June, 1960.

Despite threatening skies, several hundred parishioners turned out to take part in a colorful, old-fashioned day of enjoyment for the whole family. The event, sponsored by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, resulted in a financial success. Plans were soon in progress for the second annual picnic to be held at the some picnic grounds the following summer.

The accomplishments of the past decade reflected Father O'Mara's leadership, great warmth and sanguine humor. Successful dances have been held at the Moraine Hotel, Highland Park; Tom O'Shanter Club, Niles; Allgauer's in Skokie, two at the Villa Venice in Wheeling, and this year, a St. Patrick's Day "Come-All-Ye" dance, Michigan Shores Club, Wilmette, March 17, 1961.

Here, the positive spirit of St. Patrick prevails - a day of celebration that not only honors the ancestry of so many of our past pastors, as well as Father O'Mara and Father Reilly, but also remembers the modest beginning of Holy Cross as a Mission, where the first pastor was also an Irishman, whose consecrated hands elevated the Sacred Host in the first Mass, celebrated in …the house on the hill.

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