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Perhaps it is a coincidence that the historic namesake statue of Our Lady of Pity was returned home before the centennial of the Staten Island parish.
Or perhaps it is a sign of two missions close to the heart of the parish—evangelization and welcoming home.
The wooden Pieta is more than 150 years old, said Father Thomas Devery, the parish’s new administrator. “There is a different face on Mary, and you can almost see the tears in her eyes,” he said in describing the beauty of the statue created in Italy.
Under the leadership of Msgr. Philip Franceschini, the parish’s longtime pastor, who recently retired, the statue was returned to the church from the funeral home where it had been located for many years, and restored to its original splendor.
“I really want to honor Msgr. Franceschini,” Father Devery said. “He worked diligently in ministering to the people here and left us a legacy of faith and religious art and beauty.”
On Sept. 15, Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Emeritus, celebrated Mass to kick off the jubilee year, and at that time, he blessed the beautiful statue that now sits in the alcove of the church.
Other statues arrayed throughout the church include St. John Neumann, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Isaac Jogues, St. Kateri Tekawitha and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. All are popular spots for parishioners to pray.
The church also features eight large stained-glass images of Christ. And a spotlight shines brightly on the Crucifix of Jesus at the altar.
The open layout of the church, which seats 650 people, is very inviting.
“There is a lovely long aisle. Brides love to walk down the aisle,” said Father Devery with a hint of a smile.
The history of the parish, just like that of its namesake statue, is one of movement. The parish began as a mission chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1913. The first parish church was built in 1923, when the parish was established as an Italian national parish. In 1954, Our Lady of Pity became a territorial parish under Cardinal Francis Spellman.
The present church will be 25 years old on Christmas.
“The church originally had been closer to the Staten Island Expressway,” Father Devery said. “They had to reconstruct the church.”
Through the generosity of the parishioners, a new parish center was constructed in 1998 and named in honor of Cardinal John O’Connor.
The role of Our Lady of Pity parish is similar to the journey of the statue—to bring Catholics home to the Church. “Our call, as Jesus says, is to seek out the lost,” Father Devery said.
There are many Catholics in the area who have stopped going to church, he said. When asked what he felt the parish’s mission was, he answered simply, “evangelization.”
“I see my role as a little bit between being a fruit inspector and an air traffic controller,” he said. “It’s my role to affirm, empower and organize the parishioners for new ministries and to have a vision in terms of the New Evangelization of calling more and more people back to church.”
“There is tremendous potential here,” he said of the 800-family parish, which has remained true to its immigrant heritage as newcomers from the Philippines, India, Colombia and Poland join many others who have come to Staten Island from Brooklyn.
Three groups in particular, the Rosarians, the Legion of Mary and the Holy Name Society, are involved in evangelization.
Parish ministries include seeking out the homebound, Bible study and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Some 300 children in first through eighth grade are enrolled in the religious education program under the leadership of Sister Marsha Vinje, I.S.S.M., director of religious education.
As for the jubilee year, a plethora of celebrations are taking place, including a parish picnic, parish mission, a dinner dance and karaoke nights. There are also two upcoming pilgrimages—near and far—to the Basilica of Regina Pacis in Brooklyn and to the Schoenstatt Shrine in Germany.
In terms of welcoming and inviting the community, the parish will shine brightly on Sunday, Dec. 15, as it lights 180 Christmas trees on parish grounds as part of the jubilee celebration.
“This place is going to light up like Yankee Stadium,” Father Devery said.
Speaking about his new parish, Father Devery said, “It’s one of these little jewel boxes. There is so much going on.”
