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9/11 is a date that we now associate with violence and destruction, but 9/11 in the year 1919 was a day for peace and building. On that day Father James Cummins, just back from serving as an infantry chaplain in Word War I was assigned to organize a new parish. Having witnessed the horrors of war he chose to dedicate this new parish to Mary, Our Lady of Peace.
Our first Mass was celebrated in the billiard room of the old Luna Park at East 110th Street and Woodland Avenue with park benches serving as pews for the first parishioners. A temporary frame church was quickly built on Buckingham Avenue at East 121st Street on time for Easter, 1920 and in May of 1923 the "new" church, presently Cummins Hall, was ready for use.
Our present church was begun in 1949 and completed in 1951. It was and remains one of the most beautiful places of worship in the greater Cleveland area.
The story of the building of Our Lady of Peace cannot be told in bricks and mortar. Our predecessors built themselves into a vibrant and diverse community of faith through numerous organizations and activities. That spiritual building continues today through the organizations and activities and faith filled individuals of our parish. Our story continues to unfold with prayer and joy, celebration and service to the least of God's children.
As we read this short history of our parish we are once again engaged in wars and some of our young parishioners are overseas and in harms way. Let us all remember our history and remember to pray with Mary, Our Lady of Peace, for peace in our world and for the protection of all her children,