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Statue of St. Patrick in the Church

St. Patrick's R.C. Church

Our History

The Early Years to Today

Saint Patrick's of Smithown has a long and exciting history.  From a small group of new settlers gathering to celebrate the Mass in local homes the parish has grown to our new church and school servicing the needs of over 5000 families. It is a story a community in love with her faith.

A Newsday article, in the "Long Island: Our Story" describes the beginning of the Catholic Faith on Long Island and has a mention of our parish.  Read it here

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About St. Patrick's

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is located in Smithtown, NY, and serves over 5,000 families in the area.  The Parish belongs to the Diocese of Rockville Center and is part of the Smithhaven Deanery in the Central Vicariate.  You can visit the web sites of our neighboring parishes .
Check here for postings of events in and around our community that may be of interest to our parishioners. If you know of such an event, please let us know, so that we can post it.
You are invited to dedicate a Pro-Life Rose for any intention and aid this vital ministry.
This week’s Pro-Life Rose is dedicated this week in loving memory of: Janet Kehoe .
To arrange a memorial for Altar Bread and Wine, please call Diane Sperzel at 265-3307.  Donation for the week is $50. Cards will be sent to the family.
The Altar Bread and Wine have been donated for the week in loving memory of Catherine Reynolds .

Small Faith Direct small Ad.
CHURCH CODE: NY51

Faith Direct can offer members of the St. Patrick's famiily an easy and convenient way to manage their support for the parish.

Playtime with Mommy

Playtime with Mommy

If you are a parent or caregiver for a youngster ages 1 1/2 to 3, join us at Playtime with Mommy
Dads, grandparents, etc. also more than welcome.  The program is held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:45 AM.
For more information, call the Youth Office at 631-360-0257.
Cathoic Schools - Characters, Compassion, Values

Are You Considering Catholic Education?

St. Patrick School serves students and their families in nursery school through eighth grade.  The mission of the school is to provide for the safety, education, and gradual growth of the whole child; spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. 
For more information, call 724- 0285, visit the St. Patrick School web site at www.spssmith.org or mark your calendar for the school’s open house on Sunday, January 27th from 1-3 PM.
Service Volunteers graphic

There are many other service opportunities in both the church and the greater community at large.  Please look here to see where you can make a difference.

St. Patrick’s School has been preparing children to maximize their potential and to lead a life firmly anchored in their belief and trust in Christ for about 40 years.  As we think back on those years, one thought keeps coming to mind, We miss you!  St. Patrick’s would love to be able to inform you of the latest happenings at the school and special alumni events. (read more...)

Pro-Life Family Hosts A

Monthly Holy Hour

Sacred heart of Jesus Sacred Heart of Mary
Adoration - Thanksgiving
Reparation - Petition

Tuesday, March 23rd
7:30 to 8:30 PM in the church

St. Patrick’s Something for Seniors group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 1 PM of every month at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 130 Lake Avenue South in Nesconset.
Wed., Sep. 8th
Wed., Sep. 22nd
at 1:00 PM
All are welcome!
Collection Box

The first weekend of the month, we will have the offering for the Hungry and homeless.  Please look for the Hungry & Homeless boxes at the church exits and be generous in sharing God’ blessings.

Cell Phone

Wanted: Used Cell Phones

Do you have an old cell phone at home collecting dust?  Your donation of used cell phones can benefit our community, our environment and our parish.  Just look for our cell phone disposal boxes located at the church exits. Batteries, chargers and other wireless accessories may also be donated.
Life Center of Long Island

The Life Center in Deer Park is in need of the following items:

  • Car seats (both infant and toddler)
  • Strollers (especially double strollers)
  • Toiletries (i.e. wipes, baby soaps, shampoos, diaper rash creams, powders, etc.)
  • Crib sheets
  • Formula (especially regular Enfamil with Lipil or regular Similac with Iron) / Baby food
  • Bottles
  • Clothes for girls and boys (Sizes 0-6 and 18-24 months especially needed)
  • Hooded towels
  • Wash cloths
  • Diaper bags
  • Socks

Thank you for any help that you can provide to help support women and babies in crisis. Donations can be dropped off at the Life Center location at 1767 Deer Park Avenue, Deer Park (across the street from St. Cyril & Methodius Roman Catholic Church, and next door to Boyd-Carratozollo Funeral home). For more informationc, call (631) 243-2373, or visit www.lifecenterli.org.

St Patrick's of Smithtown

Our History

(Taken from the 2002

St. Patrick's 50th Anniversary Journal)

 

The Early Years

In the early 1830s, a handful of Catholic families made their way to the Smithtown area.  Burns, Fisher, Haggerty, Cumminsky, Laughlin, McGinley and Dohahue are the names listed for these early Long Island settlers (the list varies slightly according to the source(.  Their efforts to make Smithtown their home were thwarted by townspeople who refused to sell or give land to Catholics.  Nearby Hauppauge was more hospitable and the Catholic settlers made their new home at the present site of St. Patrick Cemetary on Mount Pleasant Road.

While the area could offer them land, it could not offer them a Catholic Church or a priest.  The new settlers missed the Mass and the Sacraments.  They petitioned the Most Rev. John DuBois, the third Bishop of New York, to send them a priest.  Their request marked the beginning of what is today St. Patrick Parish.

The initial response to the petition was the sending of priests to take a census of Catholics living on Long Island.  One of the first priests to minister to the scattered Catholic poplation on Long Island was the Rev. John Walsh, pastor of St. james Church on Jay Street in Brooklyn.  He was followed by Fr. James O'Donnell, OSA, and Fr. Nicholas O'Donnell, OSA.

The first St. Patrick's Church after it was moved to the other side of Mount Pleasant Road to make room for the second church in 1874.
First St. Patrick's Church after it was moved

In the early years, Mass was celebrated at the Fisher farmhouse.  Eventually, a small church was built.  The structure resembled a cabin and measured 25 feet by 25 feet - one story and an attic.  Inside, the simple church contained hemlock boards, without backs, which served as pews.  The Fisher family provided both the building and the property.  At the time, this was the only Catholic church between St. Andrew's in Sag Harbor and St. Monica's in Jamaica, Queens.  The church was dedicated on St. Patrick's Day - March 17th, 1840 - by Bishop John Hughes of New York.

In 1843, an addition was built on the church.  One set of vestments was used and a small projection of the structure's southwest corner served as a confessional and a sacristy.  In the decade that followed the dedication of the small church, Mass was celebrated approximately two or three times a year.  Sometimes a priest would come from St. James Church in Brooklyn.  Often it was Fr. Michael Curren, who was stationed in Flushing.  Fr. Curren made the arduous trip to the eastern reaches of Long Island (as far as Greenport) on a regular basis, traveling on horseback.  St. Patrick was one of several mission churches of the Flushing parish.  Other priests would do the same in the years to come.

The second St. Patrick's Church on Mount Pleasant Road.  Built in 1974 and destroyed by fire in 1927.
Second St. Patrick's Church before 1927

As the years went by, the Catholic population in the area grew and the little church became too small for its congregation.  In 1874, Rev. Peter Kearney built a new church near the old one and eventually had the first St. Patrick Church moved across the road.  Fr. Kearney stayed in Hauppauge from 1885 to 1887.  living in "the first house on the road south of the church. 

Continued on next page...

This article was orginally published in the
St. Patrick R.C. Church 50th Anniversary Journal, 2002.

Sources of information used in compiling the history of St. Patrick Church included:

  • Smithtown, NY, 1660-1929, Looking Back Through the Lense, by Noel Gish, 1996.
  • The History of Smithtown, by J. lawrence Smith, 1882.
  • Sts. Philip and james Church, 1907-1982, 75 Years of Service, 1982.
  • St. Patrick Church, Silver Jubilee 195201977 1977.
  • Our Heritage, Our Stewardship, our Legacy, (St. Patrick Church 40th Anniversary Journal), 1982.
  • And, the memories of our parishioners. A special thanks to Margaret Minder, Robert Morlath, Elizabeth Radau, Maureen Rienzo and Marilyn Webster.
St. Patrick R.C. Church
280 East Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787

Mass Times

Today's Mass Readings
Weekdays:
6:45am, 9:00am, 12:10pm
Saturday:
9:00am, 5:00pm, 8:00pm
Sunday:
7:30am, 9:00am,
10:30am, 12:00pm
5:00pm
Main Rectory Phone #:
631-265-2271

Parish Social Ministry

St Patrick's Parish Outreach Logo

Social Ministry

What is Parish Outreach

A helping hand when you can’t cope with an emergency; food, financial assistance, housing, employment in crisis situations when resources are available; A smiling visitor when you are shut-in for an extended period; A Caseworker to give you the support needed to walk you through the red tape of Social Services; A ride when you need medical treatment; A Support Group for the Bereaved and Divorced & Separated; Eucharistic Ministers to bring Communion to the Homebound; Ministry of Prayer to pray for your intentions; Ministry of Consolation to support the family at the time of death;  LifeNet to offer support for a crisis pregnancy. We are privileged to serve you. .... (read more)

We are only a phone call away. Please call 265-2668, Monday - Friday, 9 AM to 3

Social Ministry
Rainbows and Spectrum

Today in the United States, there are more than 20 million children living in a single parent family - more than that if you include those children in a step-family.  That is 1 in every 3 in our classrooms!  In time to come many more children will have had to cope with the anguish of losing one of their parents through death, divorce or being born out of wedlock.

Children learn from their hearts upward; thus, if a child hurts emotionally, he/she often has difficulty in school.  In addition, statistics already show that a vast majority of these grieving children are turning to drugs, alcohol and even suicide as a means of coping.

Through the support group, we hope to assist the child in expressing and understanding his/her feelings, feel acceptance for what has happened, and to feel a sense of belonging and love.  Because we are unable to answer their questions or solve their problems, we strive to accomplish this through the channels of peer support, nurturing adults to guide them, and a secure place to share themselves.

St. Patrick Parish Outreach is proud to announce the start of another year of Rainbows and Spectrum (the High School level).  Registration is now taking place.  Call Parish Outreach at 265-2668 for further information.

Mass For The Dead
Stop by the Rectory to order Masses for your departed loved ones.  Please note that the Mass Book fills quickly.
 
Friday, August 7th
First Friday of the Month
We will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following the 12:10 PM Mass until 3:30 PM in the church.  The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited at 3:00PM.  Please join us as we adore our Lord Jesus.
 
Saturday, August 7th
8:15 AM

Join us in praying the Rosary.

The First Saturday Devotion was first mentioned by Our Lady of Fatima on July 13, 1917. Eight years later, on December 10, 1925, Mary and the the Child Jesus appeared to Fatima visionary Lucia, again requesting this devotion, saying that “many souls will be saved and there will be peace.”

Detailed information on how to participate in this devotion will be available in the Church.

Happy Anniversary
Married in March?
Please join us at the
Sunday, September 5th,
Noon Mass.
All couples are invited to renew their vows and recieve a special blessing.  We encourage all to participate in this very special tribute.
Rosary Kit

Rosary
Makers

 
Rosary Makers
invite you
to our

Monthly Meeting
 
Friday, September 3rd
7 PM in Room 209.
Join with others making Rosaries and spreading devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  All ages welcome.  For more information please call 981-3022.
Rosary Crusade Mary
Invites all to join them for their
Monthly Meeting.
Monday, September 6th
 
Agenda:
Rosary at 7 PM
Mass at 7:30 PM
Mass will be followed by Novena prayers.

Monthly Meeting

If you interested in being a part of a vibrant group of women who faithfully support the work of the church and help those in need, consider becoming a “Catholic Daughter”.  Feel free to stop by the next Catholic Daughter Meeting:

Monday, September 20th
following the 7:30pm Novena Mass.
Gift From God Baby
Pro-Life Family
Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, July 27th
St. Patrick School
Room 103 at 7:30 PM
St. Patrick's Pro-Life Family invites you to join us for our monthly meeting.  Please come and unite with us as we witness to the sanctity of Life.
Nocturnal Adoration Society

Saturday, September 18th
after the 8 PM Mass.

Join us for a night of prayer in front of the Sacred Sacrament.  The first vigil (hour of prayer) will begin immediately after the 8 PM Saturday night Mass.  Parishioners are encouraged to stay after Mass for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and may pray privately or with the Nocturnal Adoration group.  The first vigil will be from 9 PM to 10 PM.  The vigils will continue throught the night.  The last one will be from 6 AM to 7 AM followed by Benediction and the 7:30 AM Mass.  All are invited to participate.

All singles are invigted to refreshments & conversation
Sunday, September 19th
10:00 AM
(after the 9 AM Mass)
Cost: $2.00
bottle gifts for babies

Don't Forget
Your Bottle Money

The 4th Weekend of the Month

Please recycle your bottle and cans and donate the money to the worthy cause of helping mothers and their babies in need.  Look for the Pink Baby Bottle banks at the church exits.
St. Patrick’s Something for Seniors group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 1 PM of every month at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 130 Lake Avenue South in Nesconset.
Wed., Sep. 8th
Wed., Sep. 22nd
at 1:00 PM
All are welcome!

© 2010 St. Patrick's Parish
280 East Main Street, Smithtown, NY 11787
(631) 265 - 2271