Gazing upon Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, can you sense the echoes of history whispering through its walls? Our Lady Help of Christians stands as a testament to faith, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a community. Established in 1890 as a mission of St. Joseph’s Church, Our Lady Help of Christians became an independent parish in 1898. The first church building, constructed the same year, sadly succumbed to a fire in 1985. Yet, like a phoenix from the ashes, Our Lady Help of Christians was reborn in 1990, its new structure a symbol of unwavering devotion. The church’s connection to social activist Dorothy Day adds another layer of significance. In 1927, within these very walls, Dorothy Day underwent a conditional baptism, marking her conversion to Catholicism. Now a candidate for sainthood, her story intertwines with the history of Our Lady Help of Christians, a place where faith took root and blossomed. Our Lady Help of Christians also nurtured young minds for generations. Its parish school, founded in 1904, educated countless children until its closure in 2019. However, even in closure, the school’s story continued. During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the building found new purpose. It reopened as the James P. Murphy Staten Island Preparatory School, a beacon of hope for students with special needs. Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church is more than just a building. It is a living testament to the power of faith, community, and the enduring human spirit.
Gould Family Mausoleum
Ever heard of a “Robber Baron?” Here at Woodlawn Cemetery stands the Gould Family Mausoleum. It is a testament to