She Wanted a New Church

by Reverend Kevin Shanley, O.Carm.

Note: This article was originally published in the December 1982 issue of the “Irish-American News” and is reprinted here as the parish prepares for its centenary.

As anniversaries go, a diamond jubilee of 75 years is far from a record in the annals of history, but in the minds and hearts of the people of Saint Anastasia’s Parish in Teaneck, New Jesey, there is much joy and pride in those years.

Parishioners in this bustling, suburban town in the northern valley of New Jersey, recently celebrated the founding of their parish as an independent parish on May 19, 1931. But the parish’s history is unique in that it was started not by a bishop or a pastor or church offi- cial. It was founded by an Irishwoman of 80 years whose failing eyesight did not prevent her from seeking that the Catholics of Teaneck—many of them Irish immigrants like herself—needed their own church. Despite great obstacles which would have daunted even greater women, Mrs. Anastasia Kelly set about founding a parish.

	Anastasia Kelly's church, the original Saint Anastasia's Church in Teaneck, New Jersey, as it appears today, was dedicated in 1908.

To this day Anastasia Kelly’s zeal for God’s glory and the sancti- fication of souls kindles a spirit in the thousands of worshippers who followed her with a simple truch: A parish is a commuhnity of people who worship God and work under His guidance.

The first Catholic church erected in Teaneck was not pretentious—a small stucco building on the then-edge of town. The year was 1908 and Mrs. Kelly had secured a parcel of land from the holdings of her son-in-law, Walter Selvage, and went ahead quite independently with the construction of a Catholic chapel. Although she had no idea where a priest could be obtained to offer Mass and the other sacramentals in her mission chapel, she knew that once completed, the building would add great urgency to her appeal for a pastor.

As often happens to people of great faith, Mrs. Kelly’s appeal touched a responsive cord in the heart of Bishop John O’Connor of Newark, New Jersey. How could he, of Irish ancestry himself, not grant her request? Soon after, he requested that the Carmelites of nearby Englewood, New Jersey, assume charge of the new mision.

When her chapel was formally dedicated on August 2, 1908, Mrs. Kelly had completely lost her sight and never actually had the joy of seeing the building that was the result of her great love of God and His people. But her internal vision was no way dimmed.

With the coming of the Carmelites, the new mission church was formally dedicated under the title of Saint Anastasia, a 4th-century martyr. Mrs. Kelly requested that the church bear that name, not only because she herself had borne it since her baptism in Wexford, Ireland, but also because it symbolized the rugged courage and sacri- fice of the martyrs. Visitors to the parish, located on Route 4, a main route across the George Washington Bridge to New York City, can still see Mrs. Kelly’s original building near the present (built in 1931) church building.