A Proud Moment in the History of Our Parish

In 1927, the family of John F. Kennedy, the future president of the United States, moved from Brookline, Massachusetts to Riverdale. The ten-year old's father, Joseph Kennedy, had expanding business interests in New York and needed to be close to the City. He had become a force in the film industry and his ventures took him between New York and Los Angeles.
 
The Kennedy's resided for two years at a sprawling 20-room and 3-storey home in the stucco style, that sits to this day on a 1.2-acre plot at 252nd Street and Independence Avenue. It’s a lovely wooded area overlooking the Hudson River. Prior to the Kennedy’s, the house was previously owned by former secretary of state Charles Evans Hughes.

The family patriarch was not content, however, and when the opportunity came two years later to move into a more opulent residence in the nearby village of Bronxville, he took it. Though the Kennedy's left Riverdale after two years, John continued his studies at the Riverdale Country Day School for one more year. He was enrolled there from the 5th to the 7th grade overall.

John F. Kennedy, front row center, at Riverdale Country School circa 1927

While in Riverdale, the Kennedy family worshiped at the Parish of St. Margaret of Cortona regularly. The Parish Monthly printed the individual contributions of its parishioners in its monthly and special holiday collections column, and the Kennedy family was regularly listed among the largest contributors.  

The future president and first Catholic Christian to hold the highest office in our land, was sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation on 27th April 1928, taking "Francis" as his name and patron saint.

The future president on the day of his confirmation on 27th April 1928, standing before Old St. Margaret's Church

The future president’s older sister, Rosemary, was confirmed at the same ceremony. She chose the name “Louise.”

Rosemary and John Kennedy on the day of their confirmation standing before Old. St. Margaret's Church

The prelate who administered the sacrament was the Right Reverend John Joseph Dunn, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York. The sponsor for about half of the boys, including the future president, was Charles G. Witherspoon, likely a parish catechist.

The Confirmation Register--the entry for the future president is the eighth row