Excerpt from "History of Wilbraham"         (pgs. 30 - 33)

Rev. Joseph T. McKeon was pastor of St. Thomas' and St. Cecilia's for only one year. He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel E. Hennessey who lost no time in setting about to literally rebuild the church. The two front porches disappeared, to make a longer church; pews were ripped out, and only the altar and roof seemed to remain intact. Eight months later the Christmas Mass was celebrated in a completely renovated church. Moreover, a vestibule and a steeple had been added. Later onyx stations of the cross and a Tabernacle imported from Germany contributed to the simple beauty of the church. Somewhat later a Hammond electric organ was acquired. In the spring the grounds were landscaped. Father Hennessey inaugurated a graded Christian Doctrine school where children were instructed in their faith from the first grade through the twelfth by lay workers including several public school teachers. Arriving almost simultaneously with Father Hennessey was Rev. George Friel, who served longer (1934 to 1943) than any other curate in recent years. The enthusiasm of Father Friel helped to make the social activities, especially the lawn parties, tremendous successes. Folk who through illness were unable to attend church looked forward to his visits to the home each month. Father Friel was replaced by Rev. John I. Foley who remained until May 1945 when he was made pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Hinsdale. Rev. George Martin and Rev. Charles Friel filled the interim until February 22, 1946 when Rev. Michael T. Lynch, not long out of the seminary, arrived.

To Fr. Lynch should go the credit for considerable supervision over the construction of the rectory on Main Street. In August 1949 ground was broken on land donated to the church for a rectory by William V. Baldwin, a parishioner. The rectory was completed in the spring of 1951. On June 23, 1951, Rev. John I. Scanlon assumed his duties as first pastor of St. Cecilia's Church. Just prior to coming to Wilbraham, Father Scanlon acted as administrator at St. Mary's Church in Thorndike. In the past ten years the growth of the parish has been phenomenal. In 1951 there was a membership of 650. Today there are over 2,000. Father Scanlon immediately upon his arrival announced that henceforth there would be two Sunday Masses. However this was not enough. Within the year the number of Sunday Masses was increased four.