The Oratory Church of St. Boniface

Why did German farmers in 1840s Elmont, then called Foster’s Meadow, yearn for a local church? The Oratory Church of St. Boniface stands as a testament to their longing. Imagine traveling back to Middle Village, Queens, every Sunday for Mass. This was the reality for these families who had relocated east for farmland. The Oratory Church of St. Boniface became their spiritual anchor. Initially, they established the Saint Lawrence Oratory in a farmhouse parlor near the current church site. Then, in 1852, the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord emerged, later renamed St. Boniface in 1857. Missionary priests traveled from Queens, offering Mass and sacraments. One such priest, Rev. Joseph Hauber, established St. Boniface School in the church basement in 1857. It holds the distinction of being Nassau County’s first parochial school. Dr. Friedrich Wilhelm Germs, a physician, single-handedly taught there for 23 years. A fascinating tidbit: when Dr. Germs attended to sick calls, the pastor himself took over the class! The Oratory Church of St. Boniface gained its first resident pastor, Rev. Peter Hartraub, in 1858. The Civil War temporarily disrupted this arrangement. St. Boniface reverted to mission status until 1868. The same Rev. Hauber, after the Civil War, spearheaded the construction of a new church on the present site, expanding it in 1889. He also built a rectory and a new school with four classrooms and an auditorium. He even invited the Dominican Sisters to teach, donating land for their convent. The Oratory Church of St. Boniface truly owes much to this visionary pastor. The parish retained its rural charm into the early 20th century. A shed on the church grounds even provided stalls for horses and carriages during Mass. The school schedule, running from October to March, accommodated the farming seasons. It wasn’t unusual to hold special Masses for rain! Fr. John Rath, a son of St. Boniface, instituted a free bus service to boost Mass attendance. It became so popular that six Sunday Masses were scheduled. The Oratory Church of St. Boniface underwent another transformation after World War II. As German farms gave way to housing for veterans, the parish boomed. Msgr. Hack, pastor from 1948 to 1972, modernized the church. The old wooden structures were replaced with the buildings we see today. The school expanded significantly, a new convent was built, and the current church, inspired by the Vatican Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair, was dedicated in 1968. The Oratory Church of St. Boniface has embraced its diverse community. The 1980 census revealed 19 different ethnic and cultural groups within the parish. Today, Mass is celebrated in various languages, including Spanish and Creole, and even the Syro-Malabar rite for the Indian community. The Oratory Church of St. Boniface has flourished. It’s more than just a church. It is a reflection of a resilient community that began with a few German farming families seeking spiritual solace.