STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Two Staten Island churches officially held their final masses as part of the New York Archdiocese's "Make All Things New" initiative, which merged many parishes across the Island.
St. Paul's Chapel, established in 1926, and St. Mary of the Assumption, established in 1853, were two of the parishes affected by the change, with both holding their last masses Sunday.
St. Paul's Chapel in New Brighton held a mass at 9 a.m. in the school's gym to accommodate the many guests who came to say farewell to their church.
The parishioners were emotional during the mass, shedding a few tears during the homily.
"This parish has been a part of my life for at least a quarter of a century, an important part," said Marge Hornblower, a parishioner who attended the last mass. "I'm sad to see it close, we'll all miss it."
Clergy, both former and present, attended the historic mass as well, including Monsignor Vincent Bartley, a monsignor who served the parish for 14 years.
"It was a wonderful experience being here," said Monsignor Bartley. "We carry on regardless, we have planted seeds with this parish and those seeds will mature, with the lessons we taught them."
A similar scene played out at St. Mary of the Assumption at 1 p.m. in Port Richmond. This mass was the last ceremony to be held in English for the parish, however next week they will have one last mass available in Spanish.
The parishioners were saddened to say goodbye to their church.
"I've been a member here for 78 years basically, I went to school here, baptized here, married here," said Joan Knighton. "This parish is a very integral part of our lives."
A few people in attendance had even traveled hundreds of miles to say farewell.
"I was married here, confirmed here, had communion here. Me and my friends spent our whole teenage years here, working and helping here," said Helen Giorlando, who traveled from Rockland County, New York. "Monsignor always gave us vanilla cookies and coke, I always remember that."
"This church brings back so many memories, more than you expect," added Denise Brusda-Caruselle, who traveled from Texas to say goodbye to her childhood parish.
"It was our foundation," she said.