LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady
Star of the Sea Parish

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and Nation to pay tribute
to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to the
ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish; and
WHEREAS, Our Lady Star of the Sea began in 1916, as a small mission
church of Our Lady Help of Christians Church on the South Shore of
Staten Island; the population of Staten Island at that time was less
than 100,000 people, and the South Shore was the least densely populated
in the county; and
WHEREAS, The parish of Our Lady Help of Christians and its mission
parish attended to the spiritual needs of the people living in its
neighboring towns; during this time, there was a growth spurt due to
improved transportation in the area; and
WHEREAS, In 1930, the status of the mission church of Our Lady Help of
Christians changed and Our Lady Star of the Sea became a parish in its
own right; and
WHEREAS, Staten Island continued to grow and saw a huge influx of
residents in 1964, with the opening of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge,
connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn and the rest of New York City; and
WHEREAS, The original church building of Our Lady Star of the Sea
quickly became too small for the growing parish and as a result, a new
church was constructed; the parish opened a school in 1959, its inaugur-
al year, with approximately 500 children; growth continued for many
years and an addition was built onto the original school building in
1969; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, the construction of the parish's second church was
completed and it was at capacity from the days the doors opened, twelve
years later, the school expanded again and opened a preschool to serve
the needs of more than 900 local children; and
WHEREAS, An athletic center and soccer field were built in 2002, to
meet the needs of an ever growing athletic program which served more
than 1,500 children at the time of these facilities were dedication; in
2010, a new 1,100 seat church, the third in its history, was opened to a
congregation who had longed for the space needed for its growing Cathol-
ic community; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception a century ago, Our Lady Star of the Sea
has been a vibrant, welcoming parish that has served and continues to
serve the local community of Staten Island; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous direction of Reverend Thomas P.
Devery, Our Lady Star of the Sea's Sunday liturgies serve more than
4,200 people each week; there are nearly 40 Lectors, more than 180
Eucharistic Ministers, and 118 altar servers who serve 4,100 active
families in the parish in their respective ministries; and
WHEREAS, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish stands on the threshold of
tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while
retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend Thomas P. Devery, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish,
Staten Island, New York.