Welcome to Our Lady of Grace
Loving God & Loving Others
History
Believing in God’s Word and Spirit
In 1906, the parish of Our Lady of Grace, Howard Beach, New York, was founded and staffed by the Monfort Fathers. At the turn of the last century, residents of Howard Beach would have to travel to Ozone Park in order to attend Mass at Our Lady Gate of Heaven Church. Due to a lack of better train schedules, they would often arrive late and leave early. The sympathetic pastor of Our Lady Gate of Heaven finally arranged for the first Mass to be celebrated in Howard Beach by forty people in a small bungalow donated by Frank Von Der Linn of Ramblerville in 1906. As the number of summer residents in Howard Beach steadily increased, the bungalow soon became too small to hold services.
In 1909 the residents of the region raised money for a chapel dedicated to Saint Louis Marie de Monfort, the holy founder of the Monfort Fathers, to be built on the property donated by Frank Von Der Linn. Despite being erected on high stilts with a boardwalk, the high tides could still rise over the boardwalk of the chapel, requiring the parishioners to arrive by boat. When sand was dredged from Jamaica Bay onto nearby marshes in 1912, the marsh land was raised above the tidal level and channels and canals deepened. This caught the attention of real estate developers and home construction began in earnest around the area.
Mission
For God and for Our Lady
Our Lady of Grace is a faith-filled community spanning many generations. Nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, we accept Jesus’ Invitation to “Come follow Me.” As Christ’s presence in the world, we continue to build our relationship with God through loving service to others. We strive to bring forth the unique gifts of our parish family and to spread the Gospel for the greater glory of God.
Our Patroness
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Grace is a faith-filled community spanning many generations. Nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, we accept Jesus’ Invitation to “Come follow Me.” As Christ’s presence in the world, we continue to build our relationship with God through loving service to others. We strive to bring forth the unique gifts of our parish family and to spread the Gospel for the greater glory of God.
Pastoral Staff
Our pastoral staff
Rev. Marc Swartvagher, Pastor
Rev. Anthony Rucando, Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Mr. Alexander Breviario, Parish Deacon