Guardian Angels Parish was canonically established on July 23, 1957,
by Archbishop John A. Floersh. Father Dominic Altieri was appointed the
first pastor in August of that year. In September Masses were celebrated
in the Durrett High School cafeteria while the church building was
under construction. The cornerstone was laid in June 1958, and the first
Mass was offered in the new church on October 26, 1958. Archbishop
Floersh blessed the church in January 1959.
Guardian Angels School, which opened with grades one to eight in
1958, was served by the Sisters of Loretto. In 1990 the school was
merged with St. Ignatius and Resurrection Schools to form Thomas Merton
Academy. Guardian Angels served first as the site for grades four to
eight of this regional school and then as the site for all grades until
Thomas Merton closed in 2003. In 1971 the convent was remodeled for use
as the rectory and parish offices. The previous rectory became a meeting
hall. In the following ten years, further improvements were made to the
school and church.
In 1996 Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P., invited the Resurrectionist
Fathers to staff the parish. To finance operations, the parish holds
five major annual activities in which large numbers of parishioners
contribute services.
Guardian Angels is a welcoming parish marked by vigorous lay
involvement, prayerful liturgies and strong formation programs. Its
parishioners are committed to stewardship. The partnership of priests,
lay ministers and 1,200+ parishioners has created a vibrant faith
community that truly reflects Christ-like values for society.