CHRONOLOGY OF ST. ALBERT THE GREAT PARISH

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PARISH

JUNE 6, 1962

On the date of the World War II D-Day Commemoration and nearly a decade before the moonwalk, then Archbishop John Krol founded a new parish dedicated to St. Albert the Great, teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas and defender of the latter’s philosophical writings at the Council of Lyons.

On that occasion, the Archbishop presented a gift chalice to the newly formed congregation.

LEADERSHIP

Father Raymond McCullough became the first pastor of the new parish, which was carved from the territories of Maternity B.V.M., St. Cecilia, and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parishes.

The acquisition of a 25-acre tract of land on Welsh Road in Huntingdon Valley advanced the construction of a new church facility.

CELEBRATION OF THE LITURGY:

Sunday Mass was first offered in the U. S. Marine Corps auditorium at Red Lion and Philmont Avenues.  This was our “Church” for two years.

FIRST RECTORY:

A historic white farmhouse, built about 1862, situated on the newly purchased land, served as the priests’ residence until 1987.

FIRST CONVENT:

A brick structure, erected to serve as a convent for the Sisters of Notre Dame, was first occupied in November 1964.   It now serves as a rectory and Parish Center.

OPENING OF THE SCHOOL:

St. Albert the Great School, staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame and lay faculty, opened for the fall semester of 1964, to meet the needs of kindergarten through eighth-grade students.

DEDICATION:

JUNE 20, 1965

On this joyous day, Archbishop Krol dedicated St. Albert the Great Parish.

PASSING OF OUR FIRST PASTOR:

Nineteen seventy six saw the passing of Father McCullough to eternal life.  He was succeeded by Father Edmund Wesolowski, who served in this role until 1987.

SILVER ANNIVERSARY:

In January 1987, Monsignor Paul F. Curran, educator and educational administrator for the Archdiocese, was named as pastor.

NEW HORIZONS:

1991-2 Capital improvements, including a computer laboratory, science laboratory, gymnasium, and religious education office enhanced the parish plant.

1992 – Major renovations made to the church involved a new Daily Mass Chapel, Sanctuary, Stations of the Cross, and stained glass windows.

1998 – 2000 – A new baptistery and entrance to the Church were blessed.  On October 24, 1999, the first babies baptized were Daniel Patrick Reinhold, Melanie Elizabeth Buttenbusch, and William John Kelly.

The entire school was rewired for classroom computer technology, new windows were installed in the school and auditorium, and a new and improved school library and computer center was established.

Finally, new decorative glass was added to the choir loft and the front wall of the Church, and a handsome new outdoor walkway further enhanced the appearance of our Church.

ST. ALBERT THE GREAT OLD AND NEW

On June 6, 1965, the third anniversary of the founding of the parish, the new St. Albert the Great Church was first used for Sunday Mass. The church was designed and constructed by the Kain and Hooven Construction Company, who built many of the finest churches in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia through that time.  The church was unusually large, seating 1260; perhaps the most prominent feature of the church was its beautiful wood ceiling.

In June of 1992, the parish community of St. Albert undertook a significant renovation of the church; this was completed in November of that year.  As you walk about the church, certain features are particularly noteworthy.  What was the original sanctuary of the church is now a daily Mass chapel, separated from the main body of the church by a striking glass and wood wall, translucent at the top and transparent at the bottom.  This glass wall was created by Russell Joy, an artist with the firm of Rambusch and Associates, who were the liturgical designers of the renovated church.  This wall is also distinguished by a massive tabernacle opening both into the chapel and into the main church.  This aimed at separating the altar of veneration from the altar of sacrifice.  To the left and right of the glass wall are the figures of Mary and Joseph.  These figures, along with the Body of Christ on the large crucifix hanging over the sanctuary, are from the original church.  They are outstanding examples of the woodcraft done in Northern Italy during the 50's and 60's.  The new main altar, pulpit, and lectern are also made of wood, in the same style as the roof overhead.

Russell Joy also designed and installed the new stained glass windows of the church.  Beginning on the left as you enter the church is a window commemorating all those teachers who have helped to educate and form our children in their mission "To Teach As Jesus Did."

As part of God's plan, the Catholic Church is an instrument of holiness for us, particularly through the sacraments.  The next window portrays what Vatican Council II called the "domestic church" of the family, to the left of which is a replica of this parish church of St. Albert. Above that and to the right is the figure of St. John Neumann confirming a child, representing the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, of which we are a part.  (It is said that the saint would often ride miles on horseback to remote parts of his diocese to confirm even a single child.)  Above these three representations in that window is the square of St Peter's in Rome, demonstrating our unity as one church and our loyalty to our Holy Father, the Pope.

Each of the next seven windows depicts one of the sacraments of the church through a human need which that sacrament meets:  Baptism, which brings us God's divine life even as our parents have given us human life; Confirmation, in which the fullness of the grace life comes to us, energizing us through the Holy Spirit; Holy Eucharist, which nourishes us with the Body of Christ; Penance or Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick, which heal us in Christ; and finally the two sacraments which sanctify the vocations of priesthood and marriage.  There is next a single commemorative window noting the history of the parish and honoring our patron Saint, Albert the Great.

The new Stations of the Cross were created by Tina Mazuros, an artist and parishioner.  These remind us of the kind of stations found in the mountain churches of Northern Italy, Switzerland, and Austria.  The Station windows from the original church have been preserved in the two corridors leading to the back steps of the church.

The side pews of the church have also been angled in to permit a better view of the sanctuary, while hymn boards have been placed toward the front of the church to assist people in participating in singing during the liturgy.  Our choir and musical instruments are now located next to the Sanctuary.  The lighting and sound systems of the church are state-of-the-art and represent a significant improvement in both respects.  A bronze rendering of our Patron Saint, Albert the Great, holding up our church, has been anchored outside the church.

In the year 2000, the final step in the church renovation was completed, the creation of the new entrance to our church, centering on a baptismal pool and font.  Thanks for the beautification and renovation of our church goes to the Gabriel Family, our builder, Martin Rambusch, our designer, and to Richard Guenzel, our consulting architect.  To all the artists who contributed to this beautification, we offer our heartfelt thanks.  This project was made possible by the sale of surplus parish lands and by contributions to our memorial and capital funds.  In 1998, the parish undertook another Capital Campaign to replace the windows in the school and auditorium, creating a new school library, and bring computer capability to every classroom. 

In this last stage of the Church renovation, a beautiful new gathering space around the Baptismal Font and pool were created in the expanded entrance to the Church.  New decorative glass was added to the choir loft and the front wall of the Church, and a handsome new outdoor walkway further enhanced the appearance of our Church.  In addition, the daily Mass Chapel, dedicated to the Holy Family, features on the back wall scenes from the life of the Holy Family.

The people of the St. Albert the Great are rightly proud of their church and find in it a place where they may discover the presence of God both in what they see and in their own hearts.  This renewed church aims, by its warmth and beauty, to signify that St. Albert's is truly "The Parish that says `WELCOME! ´”