About Assumption [Saint Paul at Assumption] (Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul & Assumption) · Staten Island, New York
The Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul and Assumption (commonly known as Assumption–St. Paul) is a Roman Catholic parish in the New Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island, New York, part of the Archdiocese of New York. It was formed by the 2007 merger of the Church of the Assumption (founded 1922 to serve Italian immigrant families) and St. Paul's Chapel (built 1923), and was further consolidated in 2015 under the Archdiocese's "Making All Things New" initiative with St. Peter's R.C. Church (the historic 'Mother Church of Staten Island'). The parish is pastored by Rev. Louis Jerome, who since 2021 has overseen the combined parish communities which celebrate the Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Louis Jerome
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
Assumption–St. Paul offers a worshipping community that has woven together two distinct immigrant heritages — first Italian families from towns like Campobasso in the 1920s, and now a vibrant Spanish-speaking community — into one parish family. With bilingual Masses celebrated throughout the year, a Good Shepherd religious education program for children ages 3–5, RCIA for adults, quinceañeras, baptisms and weddings celebrated in both English and Spanish, plus a parish food pantry, Holy Name Society, Charismatic prayer group (Gozando con Cristo), and Scripture study, the parish provides multiple ways to grow in faith and serve neighbors in New Brighton.
Mass times at Assumption [Saint Paul at Assumption] (Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul & Assumption)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:15 PM
- Saturday 7:15 PM
- Sunday 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (St. Peter)
- Sunday 12:15 PM
- Sunday 2:15 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 7:00 PM Holy Hour / Vocation Adoration
Parish Overview
The Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul and Assumption — also referred to as Assumption–St. Paul or Saint Paul at Assumption — is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of New York serving the New Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island. It was formed by the 2007 merger of the Church of the Assumption (1922) and St. Paul's Chapel (1923), and was further consolidated in 2015 with St. Peter's R.C. Church, which serves as the parish office and main church at 53 St. Mark's Place. Assumption Church remains an active worship site at 15 Webster Avenue.
- Pastor: Rev. Louis Jerome (since 2021)
- Parish office: 53 St. Mark's Place, Staten Island, NY 10301
- Assumption Church: 15 Webster Avenue, New Brighton
- Part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
History of Church of the Assumption (1922)
After World War I, Italian-American Catholic families in New Brighton were served by priests from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in West Brighton, under the pastoral care of Msgr. Louis Riccio. As the community grew, Archbishop Patrick Cardinal Hayes appointed Rev. Carmelo Crisci as the first resident pastor of the new Assumption Parish in 1921. The Niewenhous Company of New York City was contracted to build an Italian Renaissance-style church at Webster and Brighton Avenues, dedicated August 15, 1922. The parish school was dedicated in September 1962. Early generations built and paid for the parish under significant debt; the land, church and rectory together cost about $200,000.
- Mission chapel established on Webster Avenue after WWI
- Cardinal Hayes appoints Rev. Carmelo Crisci as first resident pastor, 1921
- Construction contract with Niewenhous Company, 1921
- Church dedicated on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1922
- Decorative terra cotta tiles: Joseph with Child Jesus, Lamb of God, four Evangelists
- Parish school dedicated September 1962
- Centennial celebrated August 2022 with Bishop Peter Byrne presiding at a bilingual Mass
History of St. Paul's (1923)
St. Paul's grew out of a chapel of St. Peter's Parish. The original Spanish-mission-style church opened on Franklin Avenue in 1923, and a school followed in the 1930s. After the old church was demolished in 1963, services were held in the school gymnasium/auditorium on Clinton Avenue. St. Paul's eventually merged with Assumption in 2007, and under Cardinal Timothy Dolan's 'Making All Things New' initiative the chapel itself was closed in 2015 when the parish was consolidated into Sts. Peter and Paul and Assumption.
- Original St. Paul's Church opened 1923 on Franklin Avenue (Spanish-mission style)
- School opened in the 1930s
- Original church demolished 1963; services moved to school auditorium on Clinton Avenue
- Merged with Assumption Parish in 2007
- Chapel closed 2015 as part of consolidation with St. Peter's
Architecture & Sacred Art
Church of the Assumption is a purpose-built Italian Renaissance-style structure completed in 1922 on the corner of Brighton and Webster Avenues. Above the Webster Avenue entrance, six decorative terra cotta tiles depict St. Joseph with the Child Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the four Evangelists. St. Paul's Church (1923) was built in the style of a Spanish mission on Franklin Avenue.
- Italian Renaissance style (Assumption)
- Terra cotta tile facade: St. Joseph & Child Jesus, Lamb of God, four Evangelists
- St. Paul's (1923): Spanish-mission style on Franklin Avenue
Sacraments & Faith Formation
The parish prepares members for the full sacramental life of the Church. Infant baptisms are celebrated monthly in both English and Spanish; older children prepare through the Religious Education Program; adults enter via OCIA (formerly RCIA). Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish at least six months before the wedding and to consult with a priest before booking a reception hall.
- Baptism — monthly in English and Spanish
- Religious Education for grades 1–12 (English and Spanish)
- Good Shepherd Religious Education for ages 3–5 (since 2001)
- Special-needs Religious Education (since 2015)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults (English and Spanish)
- Marriage preparation (six-month notice required)
- Anointing of the Sick and visits to the homebound
Parish Ministries & Devotions
A wide range of devotional, educational, and service groups meet at the parish, many of them bilingual. The Good Shepherd Religious Education Program for ages 3–5 has been running since 2001; the special-needs religious education program began in 2015. Weekly adoration and prayer groups nourish the spiritual life alongside service to neighbors.
- Holy Name Society (men's group)
- Cursillo (Spanish)
- Carismático 'Gozando con Cristo' (Friday evenings)
- Cofradía Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (Sunday)
- La Pieta International Prayer Group (Saturday)
- Parish Bible Study
- Holy Hour / Vocation Adoration (Thursday 7:00 PM)
- Junior Choir
- Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Outreach: Food Pantry & Service
The parish operates a Food Pantry as part of its wider service to the New Brighton community, particularly benefiting seniors from neighboring Lafayette Houses and other residents in need.
- Food Pantry at 42 Austin Place — Saturday 9:30–11:00 AM (once a month per participant)
- Additional distribution at 53 St. Marks Place — Wednesday 12:00–1:00 PM (weekly)
- ID required; weather-related closures announced by phone (929-333-6820, Saturdays only)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Louis Ricciobegan religious services in the area
Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, West Brighton; ministered to Italian families that became Assumption Parish
- Rev. Carmelo Crisci1921–1936
Founder and first resident pastor of Assumption Parish, appointed by Cardinal Hayes
- Rev. Joseph A. CatoggioJanuary 1937 – October 1954
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles F. RizzoDecember 1954 – October 1966
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Louis A. MartorellaOctober 1966 – March 1969
- Rev. Raphael A. LombardiMarch 1969 – (end date not published)
- Rev. Canon John A. Pintabone1993–2007
- Rev. Michael Cichon2007–2021
First pastor of Assumption–St. Paul after the 2007 merger and led the 2015 merger with St. Peter's
- Rev. Louis Jerome2021–present
Current pastor; also pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Staten Island