Here stands St. Mary Star of the Sea. This Roman Catholic Church has a long and interesting history. It began to serve the Catholic community of Carroll Gardens. The cornerstone was laid on July 17 1853. Over 10000 people gathered for this event. The new church was dedicated on April 29 1855. St. Mary’s soon grew to meet the needs of the community. The parish once included a school a convent and a nursery.
Renowned architect Patrick C. Keely designed St. Mary’s. He designed over 600 churches and 16 cathedrals during his career. Thomas Houghton a carpenter was Keely’s son-in-law. When constructed the church had a clear view of New York Harbor. This is where the name “Star of the Sea” comes from.
St Mary’s has a classic floor plan. It is a neo-Gothic design with one center aisle and two side aisles. The central nave ends at the altar. Mass is celebrated here.
The altar is an extraordinary sculpture. It cost 20000 dollars when purchased in 1895. The altar is 20 feet high. It has four towers with an angel on each. A crown tops the altar. Figures of the evangelists are carved into niches. Each is shown with his attributes. Paintings on either side depict the Offering of Melchisedech and the Sacrifice of Isaac.
Famous artist Colombani designed the altar rail. It was installed in 1899. The rail is three feet high and 60 feet long. It features marble from northern Italy. The base of the rail is from the Breccia quarry near Carrara. Red marble on the base of each column is from Verona. The caps of the columns are gray marble from Mt. Altissimo in northwest Tuscany. Yellow Siena marble runs along the top of the rail. The two steps leading to the rail are from Venice. Each panel of the altar rail has Venetian mosaic. The tiles are burnished gold in the Venetian tradition. There is no grout between the tiles.
The Stations of the Cross are interspersed among the windows. These are beautiful mosaics. The same company that created the altar rail created the Stations. Each of the 14 Stations depicts a scene from the Passion of Christ. Interestingly the artist Colombani included his dog in Station Three. His wife and daughter appear in other Stations.
Stained glass windows line both side walls. They also appear above the altar and on the rear wall. St Mary Star of the Sea purchased the windows from Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich Germany in 1897. The scenes represent events in the life of the Virgin Mary and the life of Christ. Above the altar the central window portrays Mary Star of the Sea. She stands on a rock among the waves. She is holding the infant Christ.
The name “St. Mary’s Star of the Sea” is common among Catholic parishes in coastal areas. This title for the Virgin Mary comes from I Kings 18:41-45. This passage refers to a small cloud seen from Mount Carmel. It appeared above the sea as a symbol of hope. The cloud gave hope that rain would end the drought. It was called “the Star of the Sea.” In Catholic theology Mary is the greatest saint. She is the patroness for all who hope for redemption.
Alphonse Al Capone married Mary May Coughlin at St. Mary’s in 1918. Capone was a Brooklyn native. He later became the leader of the Chicago Mafia. St. Mary Star of the Sea stands as a testament to faith. It has served the community for many years. Its art and architecture inspire all who visit.