Saint Gerald Catholic Church

Saint Gerald Catholic Church

Saint Gerald Church - 96th & Q

In May of 1974, Founding Pastor - Father William F. Foster, brought to the parishioners' attention the rapid growth of our parish and the problem of overcrowded Masses. Since the Joseph Krajicek Family had donated 10 acres at 96th and Q streets to the Archdiocese, it was decided to build a modest church at this location.

Construction of the original St. Gerald West Church began on October 15, 1975 with a cost of around $190,000. By 1985, St. Gerald parish had grown from 120 families to 1,400 families, and from one worship space to two. During the 28 years since St. Gerald had been established, the Church's Mass schedule had increased from two masses every weekend to 12.

Father Larry Dorsey

Archbishop Daniel Sheehan appointed Father Larry Dorsey and Father William Fitzgerald as pastor and co-pastor and gave them this assignment: determine through a demographics study if St. Gerald should be kept as one parish or split into two parishes. Sister Rosalee Burke, ND was hired to do the study and to begin a spiritual renewal program. The study showed the parish should remain as one large parish.

The 96th & Q Street fit two requirements laid out by the Archbishop - the Archdiocese must own the property, and the church should be located as close to the geographical middle of the parish as possible. He also asked that the parish offer fewer Masses. A committee of parishioners met to determine parish needs. Total cost of all recommendations resulting from the parish meetings would have been $12 million.

Fathers Larry and Fitz asked for a prioritization of those needs. It was decided that a new church would benefit the largest number of parishioners.

"If you're committed to one parish, you must build a church that will accommodate the parish", the Archbishop said.

In the spring of 1995, a capital campaign for the construction of a new church at 96th and Q Streets began. The goal of $2.2 million, which would readily pay for half the cost was set.

Pictured (L-R): Lonnie Dinneen, Fr. Foster, Fr. Dorsey, Archbishop Curtiss, Fr. Fitzgerald

An architectural master plan, with the $10,000 cost financed by the Archbishop's Campaign for Educational Excellence, was completed. Architects for the new church were Zenon Berringer and Mabrey Partners (ZBM).

A plan was submitted in November 1994 to Archbishop Elden Curtiss, who approved it. The plan called for the continued use of the original St. Gerald Church and its kindergarten through sixth grade school.

A Groundbreaking Liturgy for the new church was celebrated on Sunday, August 27, 1995. Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss was the principal celebrant at the dedication liturgy for the new church.

This celebration followed two weeks of festivities, including an open house and a solemn procession and transfer of the Eucharist from the Lakeview Chapel to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the new Church.

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