More than 300 parishioners and guests of the Archdiocese of New York’s southernmost parish packed Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) in Tottenville to celebrate the church’s 125th anniversary on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan celebrated the anniversary Mass, joined by concelebrants including Bishop Thomas Deenihan of Meath, Ireland; the Archdiocese of New York’s Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne; Msgr. William J. Belford, VF, Staten Island; former OLHC pastors Father Jarlath Quinn and Fr. D. Francis Dias; and current pastor Fr. James Ferreira.

Fr. Ferreria previously served as Cardinal Dolan’s secretary for five years.

The parish traces its history back to Masses said by Rev. James M. Byrnes at a local firehouse in 1892. OLHC was formally incorporated in 1898. A fire destroyed its original location in 1985, with the current church dedicated in 1990 by Cardinal John O’Connor.

Also assisting at the Mass was Deacon John Singler, who has been a member of OLHC for 55 years and a deacon for 35.

“One of the best things I do, one of the things I relish as archbishop is visiting parishes, alleluia. And there’s a special pizzazz when the parish is celebrating an anniversary. This is Our Lady Help of Christians, one of our great parishes in Staten Island, we’ve got about 40. They’re celebrating their 125th. There’s always a tangible sense of pride and gratitude and joy, so they’re good things,” Cardinal Dolan said in an interview with The Good Newsroom.

One parishioner found himself a member of OLHC after an earlier experience with the church earlier in life. “I met Deacon John Singler when he first became a deacon 35 years ago when I was just a teenager. I maintained some friendships out here in Tottenville. Years later when I got married, my wife and I bought a house in Tottenville, and now we’ve been members of the parish for four years. We came back because we loved it so much,” Joseph Caccavo told The Good Newsroom.