KELLY 'S CROSS (St. Joseph's) Willi! m ^■ i 4m * vi J IN THE 1840s Irish immigrants settled here and in 1848 they built their first church, St. Joseph's, and three years later a rectory as well. 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. St. Joseph's Church, burned 1914 / / 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 of the mission church, Our Lady of Fatima, at 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 lour 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. 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-day beautiful and practical house of 68 Our Parishes Today approximately 125 families make up St. Joseph's Parish which contains its share ol Island hills. On one oi these steep hills is the Island's only downhill ski facility, the Brookvale Provincial Our Lady ofFati Church, Green i