St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church

Gazing at St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, imagine a time before the towering brick structure graced Court Street. In 1853, before a crowd of over 10,000 people, the cornerstone for St. Mary Star of the Sea was laid, marking the beginning of a new spiritual home for the burgeoning Catholic community of Carroll Gardens. Dedicated in 1855, St. Mary Star of the Sea quickly became a vital part of the community, expanding to include a school, convent, and nursery, a testament to its growing influence. The renowned architect Patrick C. Keely, designer of over 600 churches and 16 cathedrals, lent his expertise to St. Mary Star of the Sea. Constructed in a classic neo-Gothic style, the church boasts a central nave flanked by two side aisles, culminating in the altar, the heart of the church’s sacred ceremonies. The altar itself is a masterpiece, a twenty-foot-high sculpture acquired in 1895 for the then-exorbitant sum of $20,000. Four towers, each adorned with an angel, rise towards a crowning apex. Niches carved into the altar house figures of the evangelists, each with their symbolic attributes. Paintings flank the altar, depicting the Offering of Melchisedech and the Sacrifice of Isaac. The altar rail, designed by the famed artist Colombani and installed in 1899, is a testament to artistry and craftsmanship. Stretching sixty feet long and standing three feet high, it showcases a medley of marbles from renowned northern Italian quarries. Venetian mosaics, their tiles burnished in gold, fill the panels of the altar rail, a seamless work of art without any grout. The Stations of the Cross, also created by Colombani, are interspersed among the windows, each mosaic panel portraying a scene from Christ’s Passion. Adding a touch of personal whimsy, the artist included his dog in Station Three, while his wife and daughter can be spotted in others. Stained glass windows, acquired from Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, Germany in 1897, adorn the church’s side walls, sanctuary, and rear wall. They narrate a visual chronology of the lives of the Virgin Mary and Christ. Above the altar, the central window depicts Mary, Star of the Sea, cradling the infant Christ amidst the waves, a symbol of hope and protection. In 1918, St. Mary Star of the Sea bore witness to the marriage of Alphonse (Al) Capone, the infamous gangster, to Mary May Coughlin, adding a unique chapter to the church’s history. Today, St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith and community, its rich history woven into the very fabric of Carroll Gardens.