Part II concluded with the
co-existence of two parishes -- both with the same names - Ascension, Elmhurst and Ascension,
Rego Park. More accurately, back in 1945, the latter was called Ascension, Middle Village.
The purpose for that distinction was due to the fact that the Post Office [in Rego Park] had
not, yet, been established.
Adding to the confusion, the Diocese
had reestablished "Ascension, Elmhurst" as a totally new parish on July 10, 1945. This act
resulted in the transferring of all books: Baptismal, Confirmation, and Marriage Registers
[dating between 1926 and 1945] from Ascension, Elmhurst, to Ascension, Middle Village (Rego Park).
Clearly, the Diocese was stipulating that the church -- established at Elmhurst, in 1926 -would
continue its existence at a completely NEW site in Middle Village (Rego Park). The Diocese
incorporated this new site as a religious corporation on November 26, 1945 under the title of
Ascension, Middle Village (Rego Park). This latter move was done for legal purposes, e.g. to
establish bank accounts, credit ratings, etc. But, that didn't clarify the confusion nor,
stop the "squabbling" between the two parishes.
To begin with, the pastor in Ascension,
Elmhurst, continued to claim that his parish was established in 1926 and, not in 1945, as
the diocese contended. At the same time, Fr. Lynch in Ascension, Middle Village (Rego Park)
refuted that claim.
Therefore, in 1949, both pastors wrote
to Bishop Molloy and asked for further clarification. The Bishop's secretary, William F. Daley,
responded on October 27, 1949 with the same letter to both Fr. Dunnigan and Fr. Lynch. The letter
clearly stated that Ascension, Middle Village (Rego Park) was legally -- and canonically -organized
as a church in 1926 at Elmhurst, Queens. In 1949, therefore it was celebrating it 23rd year of
existence. Furthermore, the remaining church, Ascension, Elmhurst was canonically, and legally,
established in 1945. This meant that Ascension, Elmhurst was "celebrating its 4th anniversary".
Even the force of that letter did not
bring an end to the argument. Finally, in 1951, Fr. Lynch [more in conciliation than in ceding
the argument of "which parish came first"] requested that "Ascension, Rego Park be given a NEW
name. Bishop Molloy decided upon the name, "RESURRECTION-ASCENSION", Rego Park which is -- and continues to be
-- the parish attributed to have its start in 1926 and then, moved to its present site in 1939.
Should you ask some long-time parishioners
of Ascension, Elmhurst, they will probably tell you that their parish dates back to 1926. Similarly,
if you ask some longtime parishioners of Resurrection-Ascension, Rego Park, they will probably tell
you their parish began with the "opening" of our present church and school in 1939. But, the challenge
[for one-and-all] is to look beyond "buildings" and to realize a "parish" is only called into
existence through the working of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the decision of the Diocesan Bishop!
