Saint Anselm’s looks to past and future

For 90 years, St. Anselm Roman Catholic Church at Fourth Avenue and 82nd Street has served the community of Bay Ridge. On Saturday, November 19, the church celebrated the milestone with a wine and cheese reception directly following mass. The event drew a crowd of over 300.

The idea was that we had a mass and invited back all former parishioners and also anyone who attended our school, explained Monsignor John Maloney, who added: It was bringing the past – the people who came before us – and the future – the people who are still here, to say ‘yeah, there’s a history, but we’re still here and there’s still history to be made.’

In addition to celebrating the last 90 years, the church also announced that three local residents will be honored by the church in an event on April 20: Eileen Downey, Lynn Savage and Robert Howe.

I was humbled by the decision, but it is nice to know the work you do in both your church and your community is recognized, said Howe, who in addition to being a Eucharistic Minister at St. Anselm’s is president of the Merchants of Third Avenue.

Although he appreciates the recognition, he feels there are countless others who contribute to the work he does.

My honor is really sharable among several hundred other parishioners that do what I do, Howe said. We help out in the church and we help out in the community. I’m only one of them.