By Cynthia Thuma - Florida Catholic
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Historical timeline for St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, Pompano Beach
1959
- July: Bishop Coleman Carroll announces plans to build a church to serve northeastern Broward County up to the Palm Beach County line, including the communities of Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hillsboro Beach, the Pompano Beach Highlands and Cresthaven.
- Father John McAtavey is named the church’s first pastor.
- October 3: First religious education classes are held.
1960
- July 20: Construction work begins on the 17-acre site.
- August 4: The church cornerstone is laid.
1961
- November 27: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, with more than 900 seats, is dedicated by Bishop Coleman F. Carroll.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC Helen Rutkowski, left, is a Hungarian-born resident of Deerfield Beach and member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish since 1964. With her is her daughter, Theresa Cussell of Deerfield Beach. Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the Mass marking the 60th anniversary of St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, Pompano Beach, Nov. 17, 2019.
1962
- March 18: The convent and the new school are blessed.Adrian Dominican Sister Claire Daniel named first principal.
1964
- June: Father Matthew Morgan is named as the church’s second pastor.
1966
- September 5: First meeting of the St. Elizabeth Guild is held. The women’s group planned a variety of events for women of the parish, including fashion shows, lunches, barbecues and dinner dances to provide support for the parish.
1967
- July 5: Construction begins on additions to the parish, including four classrooms and a parish hall addition.
- October 11: Ground is broken for St. Elizabeth Gardens apartments, the first apartment development for senior citizens sponsored by the archdiocese.
1969
- August: Father Timothy Carr appointed pastor.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Tulia Aponte, left, and Yudy Romero, parishioners and members of the parish Hispanic community, pose in front of the banner announcing St. Elizabeth of Hungary's 60th anniversary. Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the Mass marking the 60th anniversary of St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, Pompano Beach, Nov. 17, 2019.
1971
- Christine Jones named principal of the school.
1980
- Rita O’Leary named principal of the school.
1984
- Father Seamus Doyle is appointed pastor.
1990
- February 18: New church dedicated by Archbishop Edward McCarthy. The original church is repurposed for use as a parish hall.
1991
- Msgr. John W. Glorie is named pastor.
2000
- Masses begin in Spanish
2001
- July: Father Gabriel Vigues becomes the parish’s first Cuban-born pastor.
2003
- The St. Elizabeth Cyclones volleyball team, coached by vice-principal Kathy Scher and athletic director Denise Faber, go 16-0 over the 2003 season, running their overall record to 112-0 over a span of eight years. Scher and Faber had played together at Cardinal Gibbons High and Florida Southern College.The team eventually drove its record to 120 victories the next season before suffering a loss.
2009
- September 2: New sports and recreation facility opens.
- December: Parish merges with St. Joseph Haitian Mission, making the parish trilingual.
2010
- April 15: In the final volleyball match for St. Elizabeth’s School, the Cyclones fall to their crosstown rivals, St. Coleman, by a score of 25-17, 25-14, ending their final season with a record of 7-3. The Chargers were coached by a St. Elizabeth alumna, Kristin Scher.
- June: St. Elizabeth School closes and reopens in August as Somerset Pines Academy Charter School.
2014
- February 1: Father Harry Loubriel is named parish administrator.
2018
- June 10: Father Loubriel is named pastor.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates the Mass marking the 60th anniversary of St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, Pompano Beach, Nov. 17, 2019. Behind him, from left, are Father Harry Loubriel, pastor, and Father Fenly Saint-Jean, parochial vicar.
