About Saint Patrick · Staten Island, New York
St. Patrick's Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in the historic Richmondtown neighborhood of Staten Island, New York, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Its cornerstone was laid on March 17, 1862, by Archbishop John Hughes, making it the fifth Catholic church established on Staten Island and a parish that has served the surrounding Richmondtown, Oakwood, and Heartland Village communities for more than 160 years. The small brick church, an early Romanesque Revival landmark building designated a New York City Landmark in 1968, anchors a parish that today includes an elementary school, religious education program, choirs, youth ministry, and a broad sacramental life — all rooted in the legacy of Irish and German Catholic settlers who first gathered in Richmondtown during the Civil War era.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- Saint Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Robert W. Dillon
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Patrick's offers a rich Catholic life rooted in 160+ years of Staten Island history: weekday and Sunday Masses in a designated NYC Landmark church, a Catholic elementary school (founded 1919, celebrating its centennial in 2019), a Religious Education program, an RCIA process for adults seeking full initiation, a combined youth ministry with neighboring parishes, and a thriving music ministry with both an Adult Choir and a Youth Choir. The parish welcomes new members with an easy online registration process and an active calendar of devotions — including Eucharistic Adoration on Friday evenings, the Miraculous Medal Novena on Mondays, and Stations of the Cross during Lent.
Mass times at Saint Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:45pm in the School (or by appointment)
- Reconciliation Monday during Holy Week: 12:00–2:30pm and 3:00–8:00pm
- Good Friday: 12:00–2:30pm
Adoration times
- Fridays 7:00pm in the Church (except during Lent and the months of July and August)
Parish History & Heritage
St. Patrick's is one of the oldest Catholic parishes on Staten Island, with roots that reach back to before the Civil War. The parish was founded by Father John Barry, who began serving the Catholic community of Richmondtown in 1859, initially saying Mass in a small frame structure on Center Street. The cornerstone of the present church was laid on St. Patrick's Day — March 17, 1862 — by Archbishop John Hughes, and the parish was legally incorporated on March 25, 1863. It was the fifth Catholic church established on Staten Island, founded at a time when many Irish and German Catholic immigrants were settling in and around the historic county seat of Richmond.
- Cornerstone laid March 17, 1862 by Archbishop John Hughes
- Parish incorporated March 25, 1863
- Fifth Catholic church established on Staten Island
- Father John Barry: founding pastor, transferred to St. Peter's New Brighton in 1877
- Father John H. Coffey: first resident pastor (1884)
- Father James P. Byrnes: pastor 1886–1908; oversaw the addition of the steeple (1898)
- 150th anniversary celebrated March 2012
Mother Church of Staten Island Catholicism
As Staten Island's Catholic population grew in the early 20th century, St. Patrick's spun off new parishes to serve expanding neighborhoods. Between 1914 and 1922, four mission churches that grew out of St. Patrick's became independent parishes — St. Margaret Mary, Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Clare, and St. Charles — and in November 1914, St. Ann's Parish in Dongan Hills was established from St. Patrick's territory. In May 1960, St. Charles Parish in Oakwood was formed from St. Patrick's, further extending the reach of the parish's mission.
- St. Ann's (Dongan Hills) – November 1914
- St. Margaret Mary, Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Clare, St. Charles – 1914–1922
- St. Charles (Oakwood) – May 1960
The Sisters of St. Dorothy
In July 1919 the Sisters of St. Dorothy arrived at St. Patrick's, bringing a spirit of service and education that would shape generations of parish families. In December 1920 the North American Province of the Sisters of St. Dorothy was officially founded, with the convent at St. Patrick's serving as its first Provincial House.
20th-Century Education & Growth
Catholic education has been a cornerstone of parish life since 1930. Father Thomas McLaughlin established St. Patrick's first elementary school in September 1930 and opened St. Patrick's Academy High School in November 1932. Although the Academy closed in June 1950, elementary Catholic education continued to flourish. A new school building was dedicated by Francis Cardinal Spellman in September 1960, with a school addition and convent opening in September 1967. The 1980s brought a period of renewal under Msgr. John M. McCarthy: a major renovation of the church in September 1982 and a school expansion in September 1989, dedicated by Cardinal John O'Connor and completed by June 1990.
- First elementary school opened September 1930
- St. Patrick's Academy High School opened November 1932; closed June 1950
- New school building dedicated by Cardinal Spellman, September 1960
- School addition and convent opened September 1967
- Major church renovation September 1982; school expansion September 1989 (dedicated by Cardinal O'Connor)
- Expansion included cafeteria, gymnasium, parish and school offices, library, auditorium, computer lab, kindergarten
- 100th anniversary of St. Patrick's School celebrated September 2019
Holy Week & the Liturgical Year
St. Patrick's publishes a full Holy Week and Easter schedule each year. Palm Sunday brings four Masses (with no Saturday vigil); Holy Thursday includes the 8:00pm Mass of the Lord's Supper in the School followed by a 9:00pm procession to the Church; Good Friday features the Liturgy of the Passion with the Church open for visiting until 11:00pm; and the Easter Vigil is celebrated on Holy Saturday at 8:00pm.
- Palm Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm, 6:00pm (no 4:00pm Saturday vigil)
- Holy Thursday: 8:00pm Mass of the Lord's Supper (School); 9:00pm procession to the Church
- Good Friday: Liturgy of the Passion; Church open until 11:00pm
- Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil: 8:00pm
Music Ministry & Choirs
Music is an integral part of the liturgical life of St. Patrick's. The parish supports both an Adult Choir and a Youth Choir, directed by Music Minister David Dragos, Ph.D. No auditions are required, and new members are accepted year-round.
- Adult Choir — rehearses Wednesdays 7:15–9:15pm; sings at Sunday 10:00am Mass (September–June)
- St. Patrick's Youth Choir (ages 7–14, grades 2–8) — rehearses Mondays 2:30–3:30pm; sings at Sunday morning Mass during the school year
- Music Minister: David Dragos, Ph.D. — [email protected]
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Patrick's serves children and adults through a Catholic school, a parish Religious Education Program, the RCIA process for those seeking full initiation, and a collaborative youth ministry.
- St. Patrick's Catholic School (Pre-K through Grade 8)
- Parish Religious Education Program (Director: Maria Giura, PhD)
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for the unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation & First Communion
- Young Catholic Leaders youth ministry program (collaborative with St. Charles & St. Clare) — [email protected]
St. Patrick's Catholic School
St. Patrick's School has provided Catholic education on Staten Island since 1919, and in September 2019 the parish community joyfully celebrated the school's 100th anniversary. Today the school serves Pre-K through Grade 8 students from St. Patrick's parish families and the wider community, supported by a Parish Parent Organization.
- Founded 1919; 100th anniversary celebrated September 2019
- Pre-K through Grade 8
- Principal: Vincent Sadowski
- Office: 3560 Richmond Road, Staten Island, NY 10306 — 718-979-8815
- School Secretary: Rosaria Borrometi and Lorraine Darretta
- Website: school.stpatrickssi.org
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults/Adolescents is the parish's sacramental formation process for anyone who has never been baptized and is considering the Catholic Faith, who has been baptized in another Christian denomination and is now interested in becoming Catholic, or who has been baptized Catholic but has not yet received Confirmation or First Communion. The parish describes RCIA not as a program but as a sacramental formation process that prepares individuals and communities for a particular way of life rooted in conversion.
- Open to the unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation & First Communion
- Contact via the parish Religious Education office: [email protected]
Youth Ministry
The parish's youth ministry, the Young Catholic Leaders program, is a collaborative effort of St. Patrick's, St. Charles, and St. Clare parishes. The program empowers young people to grow in their Catholic faith and develop leadership skills within their families and communities.
- Collaborative program across St. Patrick's, St. Charles, and St. Clare
- Contact: [email protected]
Parish & School Staff
St. Patrick's is served by a parish and school team that includes clergy, school leadership, a director of religious education, music minister, parish secretary, bookkeeper, building superintendent, and school secretaries.
- Pastor: Rev. Robert W. Dillon ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Carmine Caruso
- Director of Religious Education: Maria Giura, PhD
- Music Minister: David Dragos, Ph.D. ([email protected])
- School Principal: Vincent Sadowski
- Parish Secretary: Judith Barravecchio
- Parish Bookkeeper: Theresa Cirelli
- Parish Building Superintendent: John Mattarella
- Religious Education Secretary: Darlene Iacono
- School Secretaries: Rosaria Borrometi and Lorraine Darretta
The Church Building & Landmark Status
St. Patrick's Church is one of Staten Island's historic Catholic landmarks — a small, dignified brick building in the early Romanesque Revival style that has remained relatively unaltered since its construction in 1862. The building is 71 feet by 40 feet and seats approximately 400 people. The parish website's Mass/Confession Times page describes Mass celebrated in the Church as distinct from Mass in the School Chapel (where the Saturday vigil is held).
- Early Romanesque Revival style, built 1862
- Designated New York City Landmark February 20, 1968 (LPC # LP-0400)
- Steeple added 1898
- Square buttresses, round-arched stained glass windows, slender polygonal spire topped with a cross
- Church at 53 St. Patrick's Place, Staten Island, NY 10306
- School Chapel at 3560 Richmond Road, Staten Island, NY 10306
Registration, Giving & Getting Involved
St. Patrick's welcomes new parishioners and encourages them to formally register with the parish — both to receive parish mailings and to make it easier to obtain sponsor letters for sacraments and annual contribution information for tax purposes. The parish supports online giving for ongoing support of parish programs and ministries.
- Online parish registration available via stpatrickssi.org
- Online Giving for weekly offerings
- School & Religious Education Program described as 'renowned for their excellence in education'
- Ministry Schedule portal for Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Lectors
Visiting & Contact
The Parish Office is located in the School Building at 3560 Richmond Road, with a separate entrance through the Schoolyard on Kensico Street. The office is open Monday through Friday 9:00am–4:00pm, with summer hours of 9:00am–3:00pm. For the Anointing of the Sick in danger of death, the parish provides an after-hours prompt on its main phone line.
- Parish Office: 3560 Richmond Road (enter on Kensico Street through the Schoolyard), Staten Island, NY 10306
- Phone: 718-979-4227 | Fax: 718-351-0824 (parish); 718-979-4984 (school)
- Religious Education: 718-979-1272 | Fax: 718-979-7637
- School Office: 718-979-8815
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Education email: [email protected]
- School email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stpatrickssi.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Barry1862–1877
Founding pastor; purchased the church site January 7, 1862; cornerstone laid March 17, 1862; parish incorporated March 25, 1863; transferred to St. Peter's, New Brighton in 1877.
- Father John H. Coffey1884
First resident pastor of St. Patrick's, with accommodations at a Catholic home for dependent children in New Dorp.
- Father James P. Byrnes1886–1908
Purchased the rectory house at St. Patrick's Place and Center Street; oversaw addition of the steeple in 1898.
- Fr. Thomas McLaughlin
Established St. Patrick's first elementary school in September 1930 and St. Patrick's Academy High School in November 1932.
- Msgr. Patrick A. Gallagher
Dedicated the 1968 school addition and convent to Archbishop Terence J. Cooke; supported the NYC Landmark designation of the church.
- Msgr. John M. McCarthyretired July 2014
Led the major 1982 church renovation and 1989–1990 school expansion dedicated by Cardinal John O'Connor; oversaw further parish improvements 2001–2010; presided over the 150th anniversary in March 2012.
- Msgr. Jeffrey P. Conwayinstalled October 2014
17th pastor; oversaw improvements to the church, school, and worship center in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
- Rev. Robert W. Dilloninstalled March 2023
18th and current pastor.