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History of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish was established on August 21, 1964 by Bishop Walter W. Curtis, the 2nd Bishop
of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Its territory, bounded on three sides by the waters of Long Island Sound,
encompasses Shippan Avenue and its side streets, beginning at Cummings Park and extending south to the tip of
the Shippan peninsula. The parish property comprised five acres, with beach front (now West Beach) as its
eastern boundary. The first parish Mass was celebrated by the newly appointed pastor, Father Edmund Hussey, on
Sunday August 28, 1964 in the auditorium of Roosevelt School, a private school located on Shippan Avenue.
A month later, on September 28, 1964, Sunday Masses were transferred to the Naval Training Station on Magee
Avenue. In that same month, a house at 1189 Shippan Avenue directly across the street from the parish property
was purchased for $27,500, where weekday Mass was held in a tiny chapel located in the walk out basement. By
October of 1965 Mass was being celebrated in a combination chapel/auditorium within a newly constructed parish
school dedicated by Bishop Curtis on January 30th 1966. For the next 23 years Mass was celebrated in this
facility, requiring portable pews and kneelers to be set up and taken down each weekend. Finally, in 1989 on
January 15, a newly constructed church building was blessed and dedicated by the recently installed 3rd Bishop
of Bridgeport, Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, future Cardinal Archbishop of New York.
In 1977, 13 years after the founding of the parish, the first pastor, Father Hussey, took a new assignment. He
was succeeded by Father Edward Horan (1977-78) who died within a year. A temporary Administrator was appointed
for a few months, Father William Scheyd, who oversaw the completion of a convent for the Ursuline Sisters who
served the school and parish from 1965 until 2003. The next pastor, Father Roger Watts, served six years
(1978-1984) until his appointment as pastor of St. Cecilia parish in Stamford. In June of 1984 Father Edward
Surwilo was installed as the 4th pastor. In his time a new church (1988), rectory (1990), parish office
(2003), school classroom wing (2004), architecturally stunning enhanced brick entrance, covered walk and
courtyard (2004), and glass enclosed lobby (2006) came into being along with numerous other interior and
exterior upgrades of the parish facilities and property. The parish continues to thrive thanks to the generous
participation, commitment and support of many dedicated, energetic and talented parishioners.
Click here for a wonderful virtual description of the church's interior.
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