The efforts of two local women, Mrs. H. Dackerman and Mrs. W.P. Lovett, resulted in the first Sunday school held in the community. It convened on February 9, 1921 in the Lovett home with 18 children. Within the next few months, the number of children increased by ten, and eight of them were prepared for their First Holy Communion. Enheartened by this humble and sincere beginning, Father Sansone, pastor of St. Anthony's in Northvale where the Norwood Catholics attended service, and a group of citizens met on May 22, 1921 and made the decision to establish a Catholic Church in Norwood. Nearly every family in Norwood contributed something, and four hundred dollars was raised. Because permanent quarters were not yet available, arrangements were made to rent facilities from the Norwood Fire Company at the cost of ten dollars a month. The first Mass held at the improvised facility was on Sunday, June 24, 1921.

The need for a church of their own grew, and the Borough Club, a defunct social hall on Summit Street, was purchased for $5,000. The congregation was placed under the charge of the Carmelite Fathers of Englewood, NJ, with Father Boniface Hund named as the first pastor. The new church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and designated as the Immaculate Conception Church on Christmas Eve, 1921.

One of the first efforts to raise money to cope with the mortgage payments and bare necessities was a bazaar held on February 24th and 25th, 1922. It was both a financial and social success. Although there were thirty-five families in the newly formed parish, only eighteen were active. Another bazaar was held, and within the short span of twenty-seven months, the initial mortgage debt was erased.

From 1921 through 1936, the Norwood Mission was served by priests who resided in the Carmelite priory in Englewood and at Mt. Carmel rectory in Tenafly. In 1936, a decision was made to convert a house that was owned by St. Mary's church in Closter into a rectory, and to place in residence there the pastor of the Cresskill church, and to appoint administrators of the Mission parishes of Closter and Norwood with all of them equally sharing in the burden of maintenance.  Reverend Dominic E. Lickteig was appointed Norwood's first administrator on February 7, 1937. One of his initial accomplishments was to immediately begin celebrating two Masses on Sunday. Catechetical instruction soon began after each of the ten o'clock Masses and was conducted by nuns from St. Cecelia's Convent in Englewood.

On July 22, 1939, Father Charles Scharf arrived at the Norwood Mission. Within six months, the first acquisition of property for parish use was made which consisted of a house, a garage, and two lots adjacent to the existing church. In 1946, the church was enlarged and remodeled. Like his predecessors before him, Fr. Charles was quartered away from the Catholic community he served. It was not until August 1, 1953 that he actually took residence at the refurbished home which was to become the rectory at 211 Summit Street. The church now had about eight hundred communicants and two hundred and twenty-four children in the church religious classes.

On November 10, 1961, groundbreaking ceremonies took place for the new and beautiful Immaculate Conception School. It was renamed Holy Family Catholic Academy and was co-sponsored by the parishes of Immaculate Conception, Norwood; St. Anthony's, Northvale; Our Lady of Victories, Harrington Park; St Pius X, Old Tappan; St. Mary's Closter; St. Joseph's, Demarest; and Sacred Heart, Haworth. Sadly, in it's fiftieth year, the school was closed.

In 1970-1971 the church and sanctuary were once again remodeled and modernized to their present design, according to the liturgical requirements and specifications of the Second Vatican Council. The interior of the churchy was enlarged to seat some four hundred parishioners. The church hall was designed as a gathering space for parish and community activities. The rectory was also modernized. As in the past, all the labor involved was voluntary, a "true labor of love" by the parishioners.

The parish was then served by a succession of Carmelites which ended in 1994 When Fr. Jack Lord departed as the last Carmelite pastor.

Today the parish is served by Fr. Leo J. Butler, Fr. Franco Pinto S.D.B., Weekend Assistant, and by Deacon James Puliatte. Sr. Ellizabeth Holler S.C. is currently a pastoral associate, visiting the home-bound and those in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehab centers, and was principal of the interparochial school in the past.  The Director of Religious Education is currently Sr. Susanne Reynolds S.S.J.

Sincere thanks and appreciation to
Mrs. Marcella Kraus,
without whose laborious efforts this account would not be preserved.