In 1863 the Catholic parish of Fort Lee was divided and the Rev. Patrick Corrigan was assigned to care for the Catholic community in the new Englewood mission. Shortly after his appointment, Fr. Corrigan secured the use of the Police Station known as the “Lock Up” on Van Brunt Street for religious service. Fr. Corrigan was succeeded by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Henry A. Brann of Fort Lee in 1865. r. Brann initiated the building of the first Catholic Church in Hackensack and wasted no time in getting the parish community of Englewood to build its own church. In 1866 sufficient funds were collected and a plot of ground was purchased at the corner of Waldo Place and Division Street. Bishop Roosevelt Bayley officiated at the dedication ceremony on November 11, 1866. Rev. Anastasius J. Smits, O. Carm. became the first resident pastor of St. Cecilia’s in 1870 and the growth of the parish accelerated. In 1871 the Church was enlarged and the first elementary school was built in 1874, staffed with four Sisters of Charity from Convent Station. By 1878 the school enrollment exceeded two hundred and the Church was again enlarged in 1886. The present Church building was dedicated in 1912. Constructed of Pennsylvania marble, it cost a mere $150,000! Under the strong hand of Rev. Silverius J. Quigley, O. Carm., the first Catholic coeducational high school in Bergen County was built in 1924. “Saints” became a legendary school in this area and enjoyed capacity enrollment for many years. Fr. Quigley also was responsible for the building of the Priory and the gift of the bells that still herald the joy of God’s Presence for the steeple of St. Cecilia Church. In recent years significant changes have occurred in the parish. The high school closed in 1986. In 1990 the elementary school became known as St. Cecilia Interparochial School cosponsored by St. Anastasia, Teaneck. Unfortunately, St. Cecilia Interparochial School closed in June 2012. The parish has responded to many of the new needs that faced this community in the final decade of the nineteenth century. Two Spanish Masses are now celebrated each Sunday as there is a large population of Hispanic people. The Office of Concern offers an extensive list of social services including feeding those in need each week. St. Cecilia’s has had a very important role in the growth of the Catholic Church in eastern Bergen County. The Carmelite Fathers of Englewood have developed parishes of: Tenafly, 1878; Demarest, 1907; Leonia and Closter, 1912; Bogota, 1913; Norwood, 1921 and Cresskill in 1924. Providing residence and financial security for the pastors of these parishes in their early days, St. Cecilia can indeed be called a “Mother Church”. For over 150 years St. Cecilia Parish has proclaimed the GOOD NEWS of God’s loving kindness. As we thank him for this wonderful history, we commit ourselves to continue this GOOD NEWS MISSION into the years that lie ahead.