In
July of 1907, Fr. George McGuire, pastor of Holy Trinity, was given
permission to build a church in Brewster. Property was purchased on
Route 6A from Mrs. James H. Payne. The Church was built by Brewster men
and was dedicated to Immaculate Conception in August 1908. In 1947,
Immaculate Conception church became a mission church of the newly
formed St. Joan of Arc parish in Orleans.
There
have been many changes in the original structure, such as the enclosing
of the front entrance and the addition of a bell tower in 1912 and the
east wing in 1931. The new vestry to the rear of the church was added
in 1962. The west addition was started in 1968 and finished in 1975.
Back
on April 19, 1961, Fr. Joseph A Nolin, M.S. of the La Salette Community
was appointed by Bishop Connolly as Administrator of a newly created
parish to be known as Immaculate Conception. Services were held in the
East Brewster church and Carleton Hall in Dennis until a new building
was erected. The new parish consisted of Brewster, Dennis and Pleasant
Lake. The church was built in the geographical center of the parish on
28 acres of land on Stony Brook Road. Ground breaking ceremonies for
the new church was held on December 8, 1961. Bishop James L. Connolly
assisted by Harold Ellis, Mary Walker and Radford McCormick, presided.
At this time the parish was renamed Our Lady of the Cape. On July 12,
1962, the first Mass was held in the new building, although still
incomplete. The church was officially opened on December 14, 1962 at
Midnight Mass celebrated by Fr. Nolin, M.S. Bishop Connolly presided at
the Solemn Blessing and Dedication of the new church on July 14, 1963.
The
rectory was started on the hill behind the church in June 1965 and Fr.
Nolin, who had been using the La Salette seminary (present Ocean Edge
Building-Rt.6A) as his rectory, moved into the house on December 8,
1965. The formal dedication of the rectory by Bishop Connolly took
place in August 1966.
The
hall in the basement of the church was used very often - all social and
fund-raising functions were held there. The Religious Education office
and classrooms were there as well. As the parish grew, this area became
overly crowded and a parish center was considered. This dream was
realized in 1989 when a beautiful, multi-purpose parish center was
built. Bishop Daniel Cronin dedicated the new building on October 29,
1989.
Besides,
Fr. Nolin, eight La Salette priests have shepherded the parish. Fr.
Henry Durand was second, followed by Fr. George Morin, Fr. Roland
Bedard, Fr. Rene Gelinas, Fr. Rene Caissey, Fr. Richard Lavoie and Fr.
Bernard Baris.
To
contact Our Lady of the Cape please email info@ourladyofthecape.org
©
2004 Our Lady of the Cape
