Bulletin Outside of the Transfiguration Church in Maspeth, Queens.
Tonight, March 20th officials from the Brooklyn/Queens Catholic Diocese along with Rev. Msgr. Joseph Calise, will hold a Town Hall style meeting, according to the pastor to “…. explain the situation with the Transfiguration Church property, more completely.” The meeting will take place at the church at 64-25 Perry Avenue at 7PM. With a post in the Transfiguration bulletin in February, the pastor explained that the condition of the physical structures on the property is weighing too heavily on the parish to maintain. The property runs from Perry Avenue through to Clinton Avenue where the rectory is located. The site is just short of an acre and Msgr. Calise, who says he is not sure it makes sense to keep it open, included the diminishing number of churchgoers at Transfiguration as a main reason for considering selling the property. It’s estimated that less than 200 people attend services at Transfiguration for Sunday services. “We’d love to keep the property,” he said, “but with the repairs so costly, I’m not sure it makes sense.”
Transfiguration Church has never had a school attached in order to help with the growth of parishioners, as does St. Stan’s a few blocks away. There are three churches within blocks of each other. Holy Cross, the Polish Parish on 56th Road and St. Stanislaus Kostka, on Maspeth Avenue, just two blocks away. St. Stanislaus School is a desirable elementary school in Maspeth, busting at the seams with enrollment according to officials at the Academy. The school has maintained an enrollment of more than 300 children for almost a decade. The families of the children attending the school help maintain parish life in the church.
According to Msgr. Calise, the 7PM meeting is open to anyone. Information will be shared and questions asked will be answered.
