Timeline History of Saint Rocco Parish

1914-1915:: A group of Italian immigrants wish to honor Saint Rocco and erect a statue of him in Zaccaro's General Store on Trent Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio.
1917:: A solid brick church is constructed on Trent Avenue and named in honor of Saint Rocco.
1917-1922:: A number of priests celebrate Mass and administer the Sacraments in the little church. Despite many trials and difficulties, the people persevere in the faith and in their devotion to Saint Rocco.
December 1922:: The Most Rev. Joseph Schrembs, Bishop of Cleveland, describes the people at Saint Rocco’s with: "I had pity on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd.” The parish is canonically established and received into the Diocese of Cleveland. Fr. Alphonse DeMaria is appointed as the first official pastor of the new Saint Rocco Parish.
June 1923:: Father DeMaria resigns as pastor for reasons of health. Father John Davidson is appointed as the administrator until January 1924.
January 29, 1924:: The custody of the parish is given to the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians) by Bishop Schrembs.
February 3, 1924:: Father Sante Gattuso of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (0. de M.) is installed as the second pastor. The parish is made up of four hundred families and the collection is $5.19!
September 1924:: The first bazaar is held with the proceeds destined for the property purchases for the future expansion of the parish.
January 1925:: A parcel of land on Fulton Road is purchased for $10,000.
1926:: The need for a new church is apparent.
June 1926:: Ground is broken and a new church building is constructed with four adjoining classrooms and a hall beneath it.
December 19, 1926:: The new church is dedicated and the new school is blessed.
May 1927:: Construction of a rectory is begun and completed by August.
August 16, 1927:: Mother Teresa, Sister Catherine and Sister Mary of the Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians) arrive from Bristol, PA to staff the new parish school.
September 6, 1927:: The school opens its doors with a kindergarten, first and second grades.
1928:: Fr. Vincent Caruso, O. de M, arrives and later becomes Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (West) and Fr. Severino Moltini is assigned to Saint Rocco.
June 1929:: A private home is purchased for use as a convent for the Sisters who had been living in one of the unused classrooms for two years.
May-September 1933:: The parishioners begin the task of enlarging the school with four additional classrooms. They donated their labor and skill and used whatever bricks they could find, especially from demolished buildings.
June 14, 1934:: Saint Rocco School graduates its first class.
May-September 1935:: An addition to the rectory is completed to accommodate the needs of the growing Mercedarian community. Both additions to the school and rectory were finished debt-free.
1935-1945:: These are years of growth and development for Saint Rocco's Parish. Land acquisitions begin for a new church.
1946:: There are 803 families registered in the parish.
June 29, 1949: Ground breaking for a new church takes place. The men of the parish commence construction for their new house of worship. All are involved: craftsmen, skilled and unskilled laborers, spending their evenings and Saturdays on the new edifice. A high degree of parish unity is achieved among all.
September 3, 1950: The cornerstone of the new church is laid during this Holy Year by the Most Rev. Floyd L. Begin, Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland. A million dollar edifice is finished for $180,000.
March 16, 1952:: The church is solemnly dedicated by the Most Rev. Edward F. Hoban, Bishop of Cleveland.
1954:: A new brick convent is constructed for the Trinitarian Sisters who staff the school.
1955:: Fr. Severino Moltini dies at age 50.
September 1955:: The sanctuary murals depicting the parish patron, Saint Rocco, and his life, along with other ceiling and wall artwork, are completed for $60,000. Had the parishioners not given of their time and talents the project was estimated to have cost $500,000.
1956:: Fr. Sante Gattuso, O. de M. is elected Master General of the worldwide Mercedarian Order. He departs for Rome. Fr. Andrew Costanzo, O.de M. is installed as the third pastor of Saint Rocco's Parish.
Fr. Howard Meagher, O. de M. is assistant with Fr. Demetrius Marciano, O. de M.
May 30, 1957:: The outdoor Marian Shrine is dedicated to honor the Armed Forces veterans of Saint Rocco Parish and those who gave their lives for God and country.
1957:: Interior beautification of the church continues.
The parish school undergoes extensive remodeling at an estimated cost of$50,000, but was completed for only $8,000 because of the parishioners' generosity and talents. There are 350 students enrolled in the school at this time.
February 16, 1958:: The marble high altar is consecrated and a new Kilgen two-manual pipe organ is blessed by the Most Rev. John J. Krol, auxiliary bishop of Cleveland (later a Cardinal).
1959:: A new building is constructed to house the kindergarten and first grade of the parish school.
1961:: Fr. James Esper, O. de M. ('61-'63) and Fr. Felix Lombardi, O. de M. ('61- '65) were assigned as assistants.
1963:: Fr. Michael Contardi, O. de M. arrived from Italy and took residence at St. Rocco.
July 18, 1964:: The Most Rev. Sante Gattuso, Master General of the Mercedarian Order and the second pastor of Saint Rocco Parish, dies at the age of 71.
1964:: Saint Rocco's Parish has 1500 families and 550 students enrolled in the school.
1970:: Fr. Raymond Mura, O. de M. served the parish from 1964 - 1970.
1971:: A parish recreation center is constructed with an indoor swimming pool.
Brother Richard Henry is assigned to St. Rocco (1971-1977).
February 4, 1972:: The pastor, Fr. Andrew Costanzo, O. de M., dies suddenly at the age of 46.
March 5, 1972: Fr. Michael Contardi, O. de M., is installed as the fourth pastor of Saint Rocco's.
1973:: New stained glass windows are installed in the sacristies, the church is repainted, and a n w public address system is installed.
1976:: Fr. Paschal Rosca, O. de M. was transferred from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (W) to St. Rocco as an associate pastor.
1977-1984:: A spiritual renewal program, entitled "Christ Renews His Church", takes root in the parish. This program called the entire parish together, clergy and laity, to experience a personal conversion to Christ.
1978:: Fr. Anthony Fortunato, O. de M. came to join us and he taught at St. Edward High School.
1980:: The indoor swimming pool is in need of major repair at a prohibitive cost. A good-willed group of our parishioners renovate the building into a parish center for meetings and small-group liturgies.
1983:: A harpsichord is purchased to enhance the worship of the parish.
The school and rectory are remodeled and the convent bedrooms are enlarged.
1984:: Fr. Richard Rasch, O. de M. was ordained and assigned to St. Rocco (1984-1994).
1985:: The gymnasium (the former second church) is remodeled with a new ceiling, lighting, walls and basketball boards and hoops.
The parishioners come through with donations and skilled workers.
A new electronic carillon-bell system is installed in the church to call parishioners to prayer and worship.
1986:: Beautiful new wooden doors with stained glass are put in the church.
1986-1988:: "Renew", a spiritual program for the parish is instituted at Saint Rocco's. It is designed to enable parishioners to know one another better, to strengthen families and the community and to deepen our commitment to Christ. .
1988:: The parish hall, beneath the gymnasium, is completely gutted and remodeled. It is the largest undertaking the parish has tackled in recent years. However, through generosity and self- giving the project is successfully completed.
June 1988: The pastor, Fr. Michael Contardi, O. de M., is elected and appointed Vicar Provincial of the U.S.A.
1993:: A beautiful marble altar-is added in the Church, the front representing the Last Supper and the Eucharist on the two sides.
1994:: At the side of the sanctuary in the Church, a Baptistry is installed.
2000:: A new lectern is installed in the Church with the face of Jesus adorning the front.
A new spiritual group is formed, the Neocatechumenul Movement.
2002:: Saint Rocco School is featured in a New York Times article regarding the State of Ohio voucher program for the residents of the City of Cleveland.
2006:: Groundbreaking on a new early childhood learning center commences.
August 17, 2008:: The Father Michael Contardi Early Childhood Learning Center is dedicated. It was constructed through the contributions of parishioners without requiring any loans.

Return to the St. Rocco History Menu