Brief History of Stella Maris Parish

Our history begins in the prosperous time immediately following World War II. This time saw an enormous population growth in the southernmost area of Philadelphia. At this time, the southernmost areas of the city from the Naval Base eastward were part of Epiphany of Our Lord Parish. However, Epiphany could not handle all of the new residents. All of its parishioners could not attend Mass, and its school could accommodate only half of the school-age children in the neighborhood. The Archbishop at the time, John F. O’Hara, recognized the need for a new parish in 1952. He personally selected the southeast corner of 10th and Bigler Streets as the site. After two years of negotiations, the Archdiocese purchased the 2.6 acre site. At the same time the later Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, decreed that the time period between December 8, 1953 and December 8, 1954 would be known as the Marian Year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1954. As part of his observance, Archbishop O’Hara set a policy that all new parishes founded in the Marian Year would be named with a title of the Blessed Mother. The new parish was founded on February 11, 1954. Archbishop O’Hara selected the title “Stella Maris”, which means “Star of the Sear” in Latin. This title was selected because the new parish contained the U.S. Naval base in it boundaries and is bounded by the Delaware River on one side.