Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church

The Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church, also known as Church of the Transfiguration, is a Roman Catholic church at 64-14 Clinton Avenue in Maspeth, Queens, New York City.[1] Belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, its current pastor is Msgr. Joseph P. Calise.[2] Prior to its merger with St. Stanislaus Kostka, it was established as a Lithuanian parish.[3] It is now part of the merged Parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka - Transfiguration.[4]

Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church
Main façade of the Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in Maspeth, Queens, New York.
General information
Town or cityMaspeth, Queens, New York
CountryUnited States of America
Construction started1909

History
The religious phrase written in the Lithuanian language, Mano Namai Maldos Namai ("My house is a house of prayer") is displayed above the main entrance doors of the Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in Maspeth, Queens, New York.

Its parish was organized in 1908.[3] Its first church building was erected in 1909 not on its current location but on Hull Avenue. The purpose of building it was to serve a community of Lithuanian immigrants who settled in Maspeth and the Blissville section of Long Island City.[3] This original structure was destroyed by fire in 1925. The church was relocated to the former location of the old church building of St. Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church on Clinton Avenue, with its rear facade abutting Perry Avenue. St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church then moved to a new location on Maspeth Avenue and 61st Street.

A new church building for the Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church was built in 1935. However, its present-day and modern-day looking structure was built in 1962. The 1935 structure of the building is now being used as a parish hall.[3]

A replica of a Lithuanian roadside shrine within the yard of the Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in Maspeth, Queens, New York.

At present, the church's front lawn houses within its yard a replica of a Lithuanian roadside shrine. The church structure has a steeple that looks like the said shrine. A distinctive feature of the interior of the church building are decorations influenced by Lithuanian folk art. Above the doors of the church is a phrase in the Lithuanian language, Mano Namai Maldos Namai ("My house is a house of prayer").[5] A Mass is still held in the Lithuanian language once a month on the last Sunday of the month (except July and August).[2] Its current pastor is Msgr. Joseph P. Calise.[2]

See also

References
  1. Church of the Transfiguration and the Queens County Hotel, Maspeth by Kevin Walsh
  2. Official website of Parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka - Transfiguration
  3. Learning The St. Stan’s Way; Special Approach Seen At Parish School And Church Archived 2015-09-13 at the Wayback Machine, by Bill Mitchell, Times Newsweekly
  4. Brooklyn Diocese Merger Decree, Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn:
    "This one Parish shall be named the Parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka - Transfiguration ... The territorial boundaries of the new parish shall encompass all of the territory which, up until now, has constituted the territories of Saint Stanislaus Kostka and Transfiguration."
  5. Transfiguration Church and Lithuanian Wayside Cross shrine, Perry Avenue east of 64th Street

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.