What if I told you that St. Roch’s Church on Staten Island has a fascinating history? This Roman Catholic parish church stands at 602 Port Richmond Avenue. St. Roch’s Church is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.
St. Roch’s Church sometimes gets confused with another St. Roch’s Church in the Bronx. The Bronx church was established earlier in 1899. St. Roch’s on Staten Island began as a mission. It was connected to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. The parish of St. Roch was officially founded in September 1922. Father Catello Terrone served as its first pastor.
The altar stone held special relics. These relics belonged to St. Roch, St. Anthony, St. Lucy, St. Rita, and St. Ann. Around 1928, the congregation grew. Parishioners went door to door to raise money. They sold “bricks” for one dollar each. This helped finance a larger church building. It replaced the small wooden church. The new St. Roch’s Church building was dedicated in 1929.
Father Catello Terrone led the church from 1922 to 1949. Father Pasquale Cannizzaro then took over. He served from 1950 to March 1972. Following him, Father Francis Massarone became the pastor. He served from 1972 to 1983. Father Alfred Pucci took over in September 1983. Father Leo R. Prince also served as pastor. Father James H. Hauver led from 2011 to 2016.
Before the parish school opened, students learned in the parish hall. Francis Cardinal Spellman dedicated the school in May 1960. The Sisters of St. John the Baptist staffed the school. However, enrollment declined after almost a decade. The Archdiocese of New York designated it to close in June 2011. Twenty-six other schools also closed at that time.
In 2015, St. Roch’s parish merged with St. Adalbert. Today, St. Roch’s Church continues to welcome parishioners. You can attend Mass here on Saturdays and Sundays. Confessions are heard on Saturdays or anytime at the rectory. St. Roch’s Church remains a vital part of the Staten Island community. It is a testament to faith and perseverance.