KELLY’S CROSS (St. joseph’s)

i\‘ TII|§18405 Irish immigrants settled

here and in 1848 they built their First church, St. joseph's, and three years later

11 I‘CCEOI')’ £15 \\'L‘ll.

In 1898 the parishioners erected a much larger and more stately church, designed by architect William Harris.

Around the same time they built the present—day rectory, another Harris design, to replace the one that burned.

Fire completely destroyed this beautiFul church in 1914, but the Following year the parishioners had another new church, this time a brick one. Unfortunately this building was structurally unsound, even unsaFe, and in 1953 it was demolished.

In 1956 the people erected the present-clay beautiFul and practical house 0F

68 OUR PARISHES

St. joseph '5 Church, burned 7974

worship which also oFFers Facilities For parish

wakes. Recently its roomy Full basement has been named the "Kelly’s Cross Community Centre".

A highlight parish event was the visit oF the Apostolic Delegate in 1914 at which time he ordained two priests For our diocese. Another important occasion was the building oFthe mission church, Our

Lady oF l’atima, at Green Road in 1948.

The annual Kelly's Cross picnics have been a parish Feature For over a century, this year’s being the 1 14th without interruption.

Having to build Four churches and two rectories has challenged the parishioners over the years but their Faith remains strong. Nearly twenty priests and over Forty nuns have come From this small parish.

Today approximately 125 Families make up St. _]oseph’s Parish which contains its share oFlsland hills. On one oFthese steep hills is the Island's only downhill ski

Facility, the Brookvale Provincial Ski Park.

Our Lady ofFat/

A Church, Green 1 I