A Roman Catholic Church in Long Island City is standing strong after the neighborhood’s many changes. NY1’s Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.

St. Mary's Church is a testament to generations of immigrants who built the industrial hub in Long Island City. Over the past 150 years the parish has been a stake hold in the community--through its many changes.

"When I came here almost 12 years ago, there were only two buildings down by the waterfront. Now there's 45 and counting," said St. Mary’s pastor, Rev. Ralph Barile.

The original church was built in 1865. Three decades later a fire destroyed the structure.

"That was one of the great tragedies. And of course it's been built up since then," explained Rev. Joseph Mulqueen, a priest at St. Mary's Church.

The church houses some original religious statues dating back to the 1800's.
The altar was renovated in the late 1990’s and includes a special artifact--marble pieces from the makeshift altar built for Pope John Paul II’s mass at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1995.

"This very altar is the altar on which a saint has celebrated mass," said
Rev. Mulqueen.

For the church community--it goes beyond just the physical building.
During a mid-week afternoon mass about two dozen people took time out for prayer and reflection; like life-long parishioners Mary Padula and her sister Josephine Montera.

"We're here so many years; we made all our sacraments here. And...it's like our home," said Mary Padula, who lives in Long Island City.

Father Barile says while the neighborhood around the church is changing--the parish is only growing.

"We have many young mothers, who are having babies, so we have many baptisms every Sunday. They are the future here at St. Mary's. They're getting involved," said Rev. Barile.

And for that, the original parishioners are grateful.

"Well it helps us because we didn't have that many people coming here. But now we have more parishioners, which helps a lot," said Josephine Montera, a Long Island City Resident.

The church is marking its 150th celebration with a special mass on September 12th--followed by a dinner dance at Riccardo's in Astoria.

For tickets or more information you can call (718) 786-0705.