Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church
| Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
 Scene after mass in front of the Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in Maspeth, Queens, New York. | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Maspeth, Queens, New York |
| Country | United States of America |
| Construction started | 1909 |
The Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church, also known as Church of the Transfiguration, is a Roman Catholic church in Maspeth, Queens in New York, located at 64-14 Clinton Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378. Belonging to the Diocese of Brooklyn, its current pastor is Rev. Paul A. Wood. Described as one of the most beautiful buildings in Queens, it can be found on Perry Avenue to the east of 64th Street.[1] Its parish is the first Lithuanian parish in Queens, New York.[2] At present, it is regarded as one of the "national churches"[3] in the area.[2] It is the sister church of St. Stanislaus Kostka.
History
Its parish was organized in 1908.[2] 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.[2] 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 Perry Avenue (St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church 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.[2]
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"). During the present-day, some masses during weekends are still held using the Lithuanian language,[1] particularly every last Sunday of the month.[4] Its current pastor is Fr. Paul Wood.[2]
See also
- Saint Casimir, a Lithuanian saint
- Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church (Maspeth, New York)
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal R. C. Church
- St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church
References
- 1 2 Church of the Transfiguration and the Queens County Hotel, Maspeth by Kevin Walsh
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Learning The St. Stan’s Way; Special Approach Seen At Parish School And Church, by Bill Mitchell, Times Newsweekly
- ↑ Explanation from Genealogical FAQ’s:
"During the 1800’s and 1900’s two types of parishes were erected: national parishes and territorial parishes. National parishes were founded for Catholics of a specific nationality: e.g., German, Italian, Polish, Lithuanian, Spanish-speaking. Territorial parishes were the predominant type, covering a specific geographical area. Irish Catholics and others without a specific national church would have attended the territorial parish whose boundaries they lived within. During the twentieth century, parishes were specifically founded for African-Americans. Rather than founding parishes for new ethnic groups, parishes offer Mass in their language (some parishes have Mass in five languages!). Unless otherwise noted, the parishes listed below were territorial parishes."
- ↑ Transfiguration Church and Lithuanian Wayside Cross shrine, Perry Avenue east of 64th Street
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Churches in Queens, New York City. |
Coordinates: 40°43′27″N 73°54′05″W / 40.72417°N 73.90139°W