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Church of the Incarnation 1290 St. Nicholas Avenue New York, New York 10033 212-927-7474 |
Celebrating 100 years of Prayer and Service 1908-2008
Rt. Reverend Monsignor John J.
Casey, P.A.
Possessed great personal warmth
and a deep interest in his people.
Casey, P.A.
Possessed great personal warmth
and a deep interest in his people.
Thirteenth Century Chapel
dedicated to Msgr. Casey by
Msgr. Waterson and the
loving parishioners of
Incarnation.
dedicated to Msgr. Casey by
Msgr. Waterson and the
loving parishioners of
Incarnation.
In September of 1929, Bishop Mitty of Utah asked him to serve in the
work of the Chancery Office of that western diocese. Father Casey
received Cardinal Hayes' permission to work in Utah for one year. On
his return to New York he was reassigned to St. Ann's . He served there
until November 1932, when he was appointed Secretary to Cardinal
Hayes. At that time he had been ordained a priest only five years.
In 1935 he was named papal chamberlain at the request of Cardinal
Hayes, and in 1938 the Very Reverend Monsignor Casey was asked to
take the post of Archdiocesan Director of the Union of Sodalities in New
York. He was to hold this office for fifteen years and to reorganize the
Sodality in the Archdiocese. When Archbishop Spellman succeeded
Cardinal Hayes in 1939, he reappointed Msgr. Casey as Secretary to the
Archbishop. In 1941, Monsignor Casey was named domestic prelate at
the request of Cardinal Spellman.
Even before he was able to move to Incarnation permanently,
Monsignor Casey was planning the future of his parish. In June of 1943
he began the parish Bulletin. This Bulletin played a large role in
keeping the people informed of parish functions, as well as instructing
them in the doctrines of their faith. The Bulletin, gave the parishioners
a greater sense of belonging and it provided an opportunity for their
pastor to reach them.
The new pastor arrived at Incarnation in September following Msgr.
Delany's death. He was forty four years old, young and energetic, full of
zeal, love of the Lord, kindness and understanding. The people of
Incarnation took him immediately to their hearts.
work of the Chancery Office of that western diocese. Father Casey
received Cardinal Hayes' permission to work in Utah for one year. On
his return to New York he was reassigned to St. Ann's . He served there
until November 1932, when he was appointed Secretary to Cardinal
Hayes. At that time he had been ordained a priest only five years.
In 1935 he was named papal chamberlain at the request of Cardinal
Hayes, and in 1938 the Very Reverend Monsignor Casey was asked to
take the post of Archdiocesan Director of the Union of Sodalities in New
York. He was to hold this office for fifteen years and to reorganize the
Sodality in the Archdiocese. When Archbishop Spellman succeeded
Cardinal Hayes in 1939, he reappointed Msgr. Casey as Secretary to the
Archbishop. In 1941, Monsignor Casey was named domestic prelate at
the request of Cardinal Spellman.
Even before he was able to move to Incarnation permanently,
Monsignor Casey was planning the future of his parish. In June of 1943
he began the parish Bulletin. This Bulletin played a large role in
keeping the people informed of parish functions, as well as instructing
them in the doctrines of their faith. The Bulletin, gave the parishioners
a greater sense of belonging and it provided an opportunity for their
pastor to reach them.
The new pastor arrived at Incarnation in September following Msgr.
Delany's death. He was forty four years old, young and energetic, full of
zeal, love of the Lord, kindness and understanding. The people of
Incarnation took him immediately to their hearts.
After his first full year as pastor Monsignor Casey was able to tell his flock," the number of confessions heard,
communions received, daily Mass attendance has shown a constant growth." Indeed, in the mid 1940's a
census of the people of the parish by two Parish Visitor Sisters found the population of Incarnation at about
15,000.
The War
All the activities of the Parish up to 1945 were necessarily colored by the war. As the number of Incarnation
boys in the service increased-and with that the number of those killed in action-the people of the Incarnation
were drawn more and more to the solace of the Church and the guidance of their priests.
A Solemn Requiem Mass was being offered whenever a serviceman of the parish was killed, and the nine
o'clock novena Mass every Tuesday was offered for the men in the armed forces. The Society of St. Vincent de
Paul began a Military Camp Committee to help the people of the parish obtain the serviceman's dependents'
allowance, which proved a helpful source of revenue for some of the Incarnation's poor.
With the end of the hostilities and the gradual return of Incarnation's veterans, Monsignor Casey formed the
Youth Activities Committee of the Holy Name Society. The great variety of activities which it sponsored
provided the young people of the parish with a social and athletic program under the care and
encouragement of the Church. It would be difficult to describe all the accomplishments of this group.
In 1946, Incarnation had a Gaelic football team, a Girl Scout troop (1947), a family field day to Croke Park,
that same year the League of the Sacred Heart in the parish climbed to seven hundred.
In 1951, a Catholic Marriage Forum was held in the school for all parishioners over eighteen.
Even going beyond the range of the strictly parochial, Monsignor Casey was interested in the people of his
parish in every aspect of their lives and in the solution of all their problems.
In the late 1940's he invited the local unit of Alcoholics Anonymous to use the school hall for their weekly
meetings and made himself available to the group in every possible way.
The Christian Brothers
During these years, the school reached its highest enrollment, with more than sixteen hundred children
registered in 1945. In order to ease the burden of the work of teaching of the Sisters of Charity, Monsignor
Casey had planned to bring the Christian Brothers.
In September 1945, he was able to note in the parish bulletin that the Brothers of the Christian Schools from
Manhattan College were coming to Incarnation to teach seventh and eighth grade boys. Brother Andrew,
the first Director, and three other brothers had to travel daily from Riverdale to Washington Heights for
more than a year. The generosity of the people of the Incarnation provided a home for the Brothers at 558
and 560 West 173rd Street. At the time of Monsignor Casey's death there were seven Brothers teaching in
the school.
Vocations
From the beginning the school was Monsignor Casey's pride and joy, even as it had been for the two pastors
who preceded him. From the beginning of it's existence, priestly and religious vocations had marked it's
development. The list of priests who have been parishioners of Incarnation counts more than fifty, the great
majority of them being graduates of Incarnation School. Even more abundant in the parish had been the
grace of a vocation to the Religious Sisterhoods. Almost forty Incarnation girls have entered the Sisters of
Charity of Mount St. Vincent. The total number however of vocations to different Sisterhoods is over one
hundred.
More Changes
The period of planting was over by the time the mid-century came around. Incarnation had settled down to
the normal life of a well established parish. But, beneath the calm stability that characterized parish life in
these days, there was the undeniable fact that the neighborhood was undergoing a rapid change.
More and more Spanish-speaking families were moving into the area. Monsignor foresaw that the entire
parish make-up would change.
The problem of the Spanish-speaking people, prompted Monsignor who was fifty years old and tied down with
many responsibilities inside and outside the church-to study Spanish. He wanted to be of better service to all
his people.
In spite of the population shifts and the cultural tensions that accompanied them, Incarnation remained
during this period an active and a generous parish. The monthly collections continually exceeded $2000.
Monsignor Casey's Death
In the autumn of 1952, Monsignor Casey suffered a severe heart attack which hospitalized him for weeks.
Although he gradually recovered his health and once again began to live an active life, his weakened heart
could not bear the strain of his many duties. He was still the Archdiocesan Director of the Legion Of Mary,
and he was Assistant Vicar for Religious.
Early in the autumn of 1953, His Eminence appointed Monsignor Casey, Archdiocesan Director of the
League of the Sacred Heart. In addition, Monsignor was granted the honor of rank of Prothonotary Apostolic
which the Holy Father had bestowed on Monsignor at the request of Cardinal Spellman. In a note written
about two weeks before his death, in answer to a letter of congratulations on his appointment to the League of
the Sacred Heart post, Monsignor Casey commented on the additional work that this office would entail. He
added that he was sure that the Lord had something in mind for him.
On November 15, 1953 Monsignor Casey died suddenly in the rectory. He had been at Incarnation little
more than ten years.
The news of his death brought a profound sense of loss to the entire neighborhood. The day of his funeral
many of the stores in the neighborhood were closed in his memory.
His classmate and close friend of many years, Monsignor Waterson, preached his eulogy. He took for the text
of the funeral sermon the words of Holy Scripture, found in the first Book of Kings: "And I will raise me up a
faithful priest who shall do according to my heart.." Monsignor Waterson pointed out how well the character
of John Casey had fulfilled those words. He had surely been to the people of Incarnation "a faithful priest".
communions received, daily Mass attendance has shown a constant growth." Indeed, in the mid 1940's a
census of the people of the parish by two Parish Visitor Sisters found the population of Incarnation at about
15,000.
The War
All the activities of the Parish up to 1945 were necessarily colored by the war. As the number of Incarnation
boys in the service increased-and with that the number of those killed in action-the people of the Incarnation
were drawn more and more to the solace of the Church and the guidance of their priests.
A Solemn Requiem Mass was being offered whenever a serviceman of the parish was killed, and the nine
o'clock novena Mass every Tuesday was offered for the men in the armed forces. The Society of St. Vincent de
Paul began a Military Camp Committee to help the people of the parish obtain the serviceman's dependents'
allowance, which proved a helpful source of revenue for some of the Incarnation's poor.
With the end of the hostilities and the gradual return of Incarnation's veterans, Monsignor Casey formed the
Youth Activities Committee of the Holy Name Society. The great variety of activities which it sponsored
provided the young people of the parish with a social and athletic program under the care and
encouragement of the Church. It would be difficult to describe all the accomplishments of this group.
In 1946, Incarnation had a Gaelic football team, a Girl Scout troop (1947), a family field day to Croke Park,
that same year the League of the Sacred Heart in the parish climbed to seven hundred.
In 1951, a Catholic Marriage Forum was held in the school for all parishioners over eighteen.
Even going beyond the range of the strictly parochial, Monsignor Casey was interested in the people of his
parish in every aspect of their lives and in the solution of all their problems.
In the late 1940's he invited the local unit of Alcoholics Anonymous to use the school hall for their weekly
meetings and made himself available to the group in every possible way.
The Christian Brothers
During these years, the school reached its highest enrollment, with more than sixteen hundred children
registered in 1945. In order to ease the burden of the work of teaching of the Sisters of Charity, Monsignor
Casey had planned to bring the Christian Brothers.
In September 1945, he was able to note in the parish bulletin that the Brothers of the Christian Schools from
Manhattan College were coming to Incarnation to teach seventh and eighth grade boys. Brother Andrew,
the first Director, and three other brothers had to travel daily from Riverdale to Washington Heights for
more than a year. The generosity of the people of the Incarnation provided a home for the Brothers at 558
and 560 West 173rd Street. At the time of Monsignor Casey's death there were seven Brothers teaching in
the school.
Vocations
From the beginning the school was Monsignor Casey's pride and joy, even as it had been for the two pastors
who preceded him. From the beginning of it's existence, priestly and religious vocations had marked it's
development. The list of priests who have been parishioners of Incarnation counts more than fifty, the great
majority of them being graduates of Incarnation School. Even more abundant in the parish had been the
grace of a vocation to the Religious Sisterhoods. Almost forty Incarnation girls have entered the Sisters of
Charity of Mount St. Vincent. The total number however of vocations to different Sisterhoods is over one
hundred.
More Changes
The period of planting was over by the time the mid-century came around. Incarnation had settled down to
the normal life of a well established parish. But, beneath the calm stability that characterized parish life in
these days, there was the undeniable fact that the neighborhood was undergoing a rapid change.
More and more Spanish-speaking families were moving into the area. Monsignor foresaw that the entire
parish make-up would change.
The problem of the Spanish-speaking people, prompted Monsignor who was fifty years old and tied down with
many responsibilities inside and outside the church-to study Spanish. He wanted to be of better service to all
his people.
In spite of the population shifts and the cultural tensions that accompanied them, Incarnation remained
during this period an active and a generous parish. The monthly collections continually exceeded $2000.
Monsignor Casey's Death
In the autumn of 1952, Monsignor Casey suffered a severe heart attack which hospitalized him for weeks.
Although he gradually recovered his health and once again began to live an active life, his weakened heart
could not bear the strain of his many duties. He was still the Archdiocesan Director of the Legion Of Mary,
and he was Assistant Vicar for Religious.
Early in the autumn of 1953, His Eminence appointed Monsignor Casey, Archdiocesan Director of the
League of the Sacred Heart. In addition, Monsignor was granted the honor of rank of Prothonotary Apostolic
which the Holy Father had bestowed on Monsignor at the request of Cardinal Spellman. In a note written
about two weeks before his death, in answer to a letter of congratulations on his appointment to the League of
the Sacred Heart post, Monsignor Casey commented on the additional work that this office would entail. He
added that he was sure that the Lord had something in mind for him.
On November 15, 1953 Monsignor Casey died suddenly in the rectory. He had been at Incarnation little
more than ten years.
The news of his death brought a profound sense of loss to the entire neighborhood. The day of his funeral
many of the stores in the neighborhood were closed in his memory.
His classmate and close friend of many years, Monsignor Waterson, preached his eulogy. He took for the text
of the funeral sermon the words of Holy Scripture, found in the first Book of Kings: "And I will raise me up a
faithful priest who shall do according to my heart.." Monsignor Waterson pointed out how well the character
of John Casey had fulfilled those words. He had surely been to the people of Incarnation "a faithful priest".
| Another view of the Chapel dedicated to the memory of Rt. Rev. Monsignor Casey executed by Robert Robbins of New York |
"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants." Matthew 13
(1943-1953) Rt. Reverend Monsignor John J. Casey, P.A.
Third Pastor of Incarnation
At the time of Msgr. Delany's death, the world was once again plunged into a great World War. Never before
had any event outside of the parish been brought so close to the people of Incarnation. By 1943, six hundred
and eighty three boys of the parish were serving in the armed forces, by the end of the war their number
was to increase to over one thousand.
Against this background of the war there was a new change in the economic condition of the parish. The
wartime prosperity increased the income of many of the families, and the older families moved to less
congested areas in Queens and the Bronx. There was also a sharp rise in the Puerto Rican families settling in
Incarnation at this time. The parish however, was still predominantly Irish-American.
On April 24th, 1943, on the eve of Easter, Archbishop Cardinal Spellman, (visiting American troops in
Africa and the Near East at the time), announced from Jerusalem his appointment of the Right Reverend
Monsignor John J. Casey, Secretary of the Archbishop, as Pastor of the Church of the Incarnation.
A Real New Yorker!
John Casey was born on the lower West Side of Manhattan on August 31, 1898. His father had been sexton of
the Church of the Guardian Angel, but died when his son was only a year and a half old. An uncle became
the boy's foster-father and saw to his upbringing and education. John Casey graduated from St. Francis
Xavier elementary school. Feeling called to the priesthood, he attended the minor seminary at Cathedral
College. After six years, he entered the seminary of St. Joseph at Dunwoodie. After two years,he was sent to
the North American College in Rome. He was ordained on March 12, 1927 in the Cathedral of St. John
Lateran. When he returned to New York. He received his first assignment as an assistant in the Church of
the Holy Rosary. In October of the same year, he was sent to St. Ann's on 12th Street.
Third Pastor of Incarnation
At the time of Msgr. Delany's death, the world was once again plunged into a great World War. Never before
had any event outside of the parish been brought so close to the people of Incarnation. By 1943, six hundred
and eighty three boys of the parish were serving in the armed forces, by the end of the war their number
was to increase to over one thousand.
Against this background of the war there was a new change in the economic condition of the parish. The
wartime prosperity increased the income of many of the families, and the older families moved to less
congested areas in Queens and the Bronx. There was also a sharp rise in the Puerto Rican families settling in
Incarnation at this time. The parish however, was still predominantly Irish-American.
On April 24th, 1943, on the eve of Easter, Archbishop Cardinal Spellman, (visiting American troops in
Africa and the Near East at the time), announced from Jerusalem his appointment of the Right Reverend
Monsignor John J. Casey, Secretary of the Archbishop, as Pastor of the Church of the Incarnation.
A Real New Yorker!
John Casey was born on the lower West Side of Manhattan on August 31, 1898. His father had been sexton of
the Church of the Guardian Angel, but died when his son was only a year and a half old. An uncle became
the boy's foster-father and saw to his upbringing and education. John Casey graduated from St. Francis
Xavier elementary school. Feeling called to the priesthood, he attended the minor seminary at Cathedral
College. After six years, he entered the seminary of St. Joseph at Dunwoodie. After two years,he was sent to
the North American College in Rome. He was ordained on March 12, 1927 in the Cathedral of St. John
Lateran. When he returned to New York. He received his first assignment as an assistant in the Church of
the Holy Rosary. In October of the same year, he was sent to St. Ann's on 12th Street.
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| The Church of the Incarnation A Roman Catholic Church | New York City |