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Statue of St. Patrick in the Church

St. Patrick's R.C. Church

Our History

Becoming a Parish

St. Patrick's continues to grow and finally becomes a full parish in 1952. As parish life develops and grows, fire once again brings about major changes.

Line Drawing of the St Patrick's Church on Edgewater Avenue
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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 .

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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)

 

Becoming a Parish

...Go back to previous page

St. Patrick was no longer a small Catholic community.  It had grown to the point that it could no longer be a mission church.  St. Patrick became a parish in July of 1952.  Rev. Adam Willman became its first pastor.

Father Adam Willman - Pastor from 1952 to 1963
Father Adam Willman, Pastor 1952-1963

Parishioners remember Father Willman as a loving priest, a quiet, spiritual man who loved to play the piano.  During the eleven years he served as pastor, the parish doubled in size.  He also is remembered as a pastor who carefully saved money, enough to give the parish a good start on the building project that was in its future.

It was an exciting time for St. Patrick's.  As a newly formed parish, it had, for the first time, its own priest.  Father Willman was given a warm reception party in the church basement.  Initially, he lived in the Sts. Philip and James recotry, until the diocese purchased a home for him on Juniper Avenue.  The home was in need of repairs.  Parishioners gladly took on the job, repairing and redocorating before Father Willman moved in.  Parishioners also finished the Church basemenet -- tiling the floor, installing fluorescent lights, and converting the coal bin to a kitchen and a bar.

Parish organizations began to spring up, including an active Holy Name Society, a choir, the Blessed Virgin Sodality, and the Rosary Altar Society.  Eventually, a second priest was sent to serve the growing parish -- Father Ned Olewicz.  Father Ned is described by parishioners as opposite in personality from Father Willan -- outgoing, and a lover of trains, a good trait considering the church's location next to the railroad tracks.  Father Ned never failed to wave to the passing trains and was known by the engineers who passed through.  In addition to Father Ned, visiting priests came to help accommodate the faithful on Sundays.

The need for a larger church was becoming apparent.  Parishioners also longed for a Catholic school.  It was parishioners who made the first move in this direction.  Jum Mulhall, Peter Bosco, Jerry Von Schamburg, Richard Glasser, Robert Morlath, and George Scryver met Msgr. Williams, Bishop Kellenberg's secretary, about the need for a new church and school.

Father Joseph Canning, Pastor from 1963-1976
Father Joseph Canning, Pastor from 1963-1976

The bulk of the responsibility for the building project would fall on the shoulders of Father Joseph Canning, who was named the parish's second pastor on June 26, 1963.  Father Canning is described by those who knew him as a wondervul priest, very kind and supportive.  He immediately took steps to relieve the overcrowding at Masses.  At this point, crowds were spilling out of the church and onto the sidewalks on Sunday mornings.  When trains passed by, the difficult job of hearing what was being said inside went from difficult to impossible.  Father Canning added extra Masses in the basement.

On May 26, 1964, fire would once again become a part of Saint Patrick's history.  Members of the Rosary Altar Society were working on a mailing in the church basement when Maureen Rienzo heard an unusual crackling sound.  She went to investigate and as she looked up the stairwell, she saw flames engulfing the closet containing the altar cloths.  Maureen ran back to the basement and alerted Grace Treutlein and the rest of the ladies.  "Grace, the church is on fire. Everybody get out," she recalls saying.

Maureen then ran to the rectory and informed associate pastor Father John Marksamer.  Grace called the fire department and before she could repeat the church's address, she heard the sirens.  Father Marksamer, along with the firemen, recovered many items from the sacristy, but enormous damage was done to the church.

For the next few months, as the church was repaired, Masses were said at Smithtown General Hospital on route 347, the Smithtown Movie Theater, and in tents.  Soon, the doors were once again opened to the faithful, but the decision had been made to build again.  parishioner Richard Lancer discovered some land on Jericho Turnpike that was available for sale, and a committee (made up mainly of the same parishioners who had met with the Bishop's secretary) recommended it, and the purchase was made by the diocese.

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