St. Ephrem Parish was founded in January, 1921. Bishop McDonnell gave the task of establishing a new parish in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn to Reverend Richard Kennedy. The first services were held in the old Cocheu Mansion at Fort Hamilton Parkway and 75th Street. Masses, Baptisms and Sunday School were all held in this building.
That summer the ground was broken for the building of St. Ephrem’s School-Church (our Old School.) The Church part was completed just three hours before Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. The school part was ready for classes to begin September 1922, with eight Sister of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA as the teachers.
The Old School-Church
The parish continued to grow with eight and eventually ten Masses celebrated each Sunday. The bishop assigned three curates to assist Father Kennedy. Parish societies, sodalities and confraternities blossomed. When the Great Depression of the 1930’s brought hard times, Father Kennedy assisted the needy with notable generosity. Then on January 2, 1942 he passed away.
Bishop Molloy appointed the Reverend Edward J. Sweeney to be our new pastor on February 14, 1942. Later given the title of Monsignor, he became the builder of the St. Ephrem’s we know today. The rectory was completed in November 1950. The old rectory had occupied the site that the Church now occupies. On February 1, 1953, Mass was celebrated in the new Church for the first time. Msgr. Sweeney also oversaw the building of a new convent for the Sisters and later, an additional school building (The New School) to provide a Christian Education to even more children.
Msgr. Sweeney the “Builder” retired in June 1969 and continued to live at Saint Ephrem until his death on March 10, 1970.
At the time of Msgr. Sweeney’s retirement, Bishop Mugavero appointed the Reverend Francis R. Ricigliano as our third pastor. Fr. Ricigliano encouraged the spirit of reform and renewal, initiated by The Second Vatican Council, in Saint Ephrem. He spent much of his time developing activities and societies to promote the interests of every parishioner. He believed strongly in lay participation in the workings of a parish: The Parish Council, Home School Association and Christian Awareness Program grew with his guidance and he installed the first lay Extraordinary Minsters of the Eucharist in September 1976.
In June 1978, we welcomed Monsignor Martin P. Bannan to St. Ephrem as our fourth pastor. Appointed by Bishop Mugavero, he came to us from his position as Episcopal Vicar for part of the Diocese. Under Msgr. Bannon, the 1980’s continued to see much lay involvement in the life of the parish. In 1985, a four year Shelter for the Homeless program was begun. In 1987, William Malone was ordained as St. Ephrem’s first Permanent Deacon. The next year, the Spirituality Center opened its doors in the Convent for lectures, workshops and conferences with Sister Maureen as its Director. S. Pauline Day, CSJ would continue and guide the Spirituality Center and was followed by S. Ann Martha Ondrieka, OP.