* STATEN ISLAND: St. Peter's Church

(mass times & church info last updated 01/06/2015) 
Address: 53 Saint Marks Place, New Brighton - Staten Island
Phone: 718.727.2672‎
Weekend Mass Times:  
Sat: 5pm
Sun: 9am, 12pm
Weekday Mass Times:  
Mon-Fri: 7am, 12:10pm
Sat: 12:10pm
Confession:  
Sat: 11:30am-12pm; 4pm-4:45pm
Baptism:   
1st and 3rd Sundays of the month (call to make arrangements)
Constructed: 1839
Post-Mass Activity: Took a cab to the faraway but excellent restaurant of the Basillo Inn for a delicious Italian lunch

Wikipedia Article
Historical Facts about St. Peter's
About the organ
175th Anniversary Celebration of St. Peter's
Snug Harbor - a beautiful garden and cultural center, and a great excuse to visit Staten Island

We actually visited this church in November but I've only just had the time to edit the images and write out a few thoughts. Because of the time lapse, I can't really remember what was going through my head at the time — certainly not the crazed and dark thoughts of posts past. This time my wife accompanied myself as well as the Catholic priest who married us last summer.

I chose this out of the many Staten Island churches for two main reasons: 1) it was actually suggested to me by someone from the island; 2) it's the closest church to the S.I. Ferry terminal and about a 20 minute (uphill) walk to the church once you land on Staten Island.

Approaching it by foot, St. Peter's appears like a fortress on a hill. Because the uphill walk took a little longer than expected, we entered Mass late (will I ever be on time for Mass?!?!), in the middle of the priest's homily. None of us were too thrilled by the words that day, but the church itself was pretty — lots of art, sculpture, glass and statues — and must take a lot of work to keep up.

I apologize in advance if this post lacks that certain desperation that typically overflowed in most of my others. The simple fact is, I just don't feel that desperation anymore (or at least, as much). Without much more drama or shenanigans to discuss here, I offer some random facts about this church that I've picked up from the internet (links above):

St. Peter's is the oldest of the 36 Roman Catholic churches on Staten Island.

Before the establishment of this church in 1839, Mass was not regularly celebrated on Staten Island and Islanders had to travel to either Manhattan or Brooklyn for services

In the late 1890's, the original church burned down, so a new one was constructed and completed and standing by 1903.

St. Peter's is one of the many churches that will be merging this August with other churches in the great diocese shakeup of 2015, compliments of Cardinal Dolan. Specifically, St. Peter's is merging with the churches of the Assumption and St. Paul of Staten Island. More detailed info can be found here and here.

Thus ends my foray into visiting some churches of the other boroughs. Just like the longer Manhattan journey, it was a fun, interesting and enlightening adventure visiting these holy houses. However, I feel I've lost some steam. One cannot go on wandering forever, even in a city as great and terrible as this. With that said, my wife and I are planning our exit from New York city this year. But by my count, I actually have one last Manhattan church to visit before I go.