The new parish of Infant Jesus came about as the result of a much needed division in the Kings Park Parish in 1902. Bishop McDonnell of the Diocese of Brooklyn, of which Port Jefferson was then part, appointed the Montfort Fathers, a Missionary Order of Priests, to start the new Parish.

The original Pastor, Father Rene LeClair, selected the land on Main Street and Myrtle Avenue on which the present church, rectory and school stand. Father LeClair paid $2,20O for the tract, including an old colonial type building and a mailer cottage.

The church and rectory were completed in 1911. The school was built in 1938 and was the culmination of the dream of: Father John H. Roex who came to the debt-ridden parish of Infant Jesus in 1918. In the years between his arrival and the completion of the school, he paid all the debts, purchased property to house the Daughters of Wisdom and made substantial improvements on the church.

Father Roex had already invited the Sisters of the Congregation of the Daughters of Wisdom, who helped staff St. Charles Hospital, to come and teach the children at the new Infant Jesus School.

By the time the Parish celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1978 new parishes that were originally part of Infant Jesus had been formed. They include St. James, Setauket; St. Anthony's, Rocky Point; St. Sylvester's, Medford; St. Francis Cabrini, Coram; St. Louis de Montfort, Sound Beach; St. Margaret of Scotland, Selden; St. Gerard MaJella, Port Jefferson Station and St. Mark's, Shoreham.

In 1984 the Montfort Fathers petitioned Bishop John McGann of the Diocese of Rockville Centre to relieve them of the parish in order to fulfill their original commitment to missionary work. Since then, Infant Jesus Parish has been shepherded by priests of the Diocese. Our present Pastor, Monsignor Dennis M. Regan arrived here in 1988, replacing Monsignor Ed Trench who was assigned to Southampton at the Church of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Monsignor Regan continued the "Together in Faith" program which had been started by Msgr. Trench to raise money to complete the long awaited and much desired Parish Center. Ground for the project was broken in the Fall of 1990 and completed in 1992.

When the Montfort Fathers returned to their missionary work, the Daughters of Wisdom also left for other assignments. The Daughters of Wisdom spent over 35 years instructing the children of Infant Jesus School and the history of the church would not be complete without according them a well deserved tribute.

Infant Jesus Parish is nearing its 100th Anniversary and with well over 5,000 families is still growing. The Parish Center had been a dream of our parishioners for over 25 years and is finally completed. Our Lady of Wisdom Regional school has full enrollment and continues to teach and nurture young people. Church activities and participation continue to grow and prosper. God has graced Infant Jesus Parish with good priests and loving parishioners. We all pray to be worthy of His many blessings.