St. Peter Catholic Academy, Bensonhurst

Again, those who write narratives for news on Channel 12 show ignorance of the neighborhoods of Brooklyn. St. Peter Catholic Academy is in Bensonhurst, not Gravesend.
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The website of St. Peter Catholic Academy has a full history (linked HERE) explaining the role of this elementary school, now sponsored by three parishes: St. Mary Mary Mother of Jesus, St. Finbar, and St. Frances Cabrini. The address is 8401 23rd Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11214.

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The June 15, 2022 issue of the Brooklyn Tablet has a half-page with photos of the thirteen graduates of St. Peter Catholic Academy.

John J. O'Malley, architect

In my visits to Brooklyn parishes, I have seldom encountered a sign or plaque giving the name of the architect who designed the church.  Fortunately, the Tablet has now run an article about the prolific architect John J. O'Malley, 1915-1970.  Please see the article HERE.  The occasion was his 100th birthday, with Mr. O'Malley's descendants visiting Cathedral College in Douglaston, which he designed.
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Much of Mr. O'Malley's work is evident in circular churches and chapels in Queens.  A Wikipedia article lists his extensive accomplishments, including apparently some renovations or extensions. It appears that his brand-new churches (contrasted with renovations) date from 1950 until his death in 1970.  Archbishop Molloy died in 1956, Bishop McEntegart retired in 1968, and Bishop Mugavero replaced him.  
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Many thanks to The Tablet and the O'Malley family for publicizing his life and work!
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According to the Wikipedia article, he designed the following churches in the borough of Brooklyn:
St. Sylvester, Grant Avenue, City Line, obviously built in the O'Malley era.
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St. Athanasius, Bay Parkway, 1963.  Note the unobstructed view of the altar and the bright, colorful interior and windows.
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St. Gabriel,  Linwood St. and New Lots Ave., obviously built in the O'Malley era.  The parish cluster is now called Mary, Mother of the Church.  This interior photo shows his style, with unobstructed view.  The parish has a Saturday vigil Mass and three Masses on Sunday.
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St. Mary Mother of Jesus, 1968, replacing a church destroyed by fire. A Tablet article dated 6.13.14 describes the fire and the beautiful new church, circular and wheelchair-accessible.
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St. Finbar, Bath Beach, but the church was built before 1912.  Mr. O'Malley may have designed the former school across the street.
--- Sts. Simon and Jude, listed as Bayside (Queens), but I think Gravesend (Brooklyn). There is a resemblance to the Douglaston seminary frontage.
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And other parish buildings:
St. Nicholas High School, Catherine St., Williamsburg, now renovated and in use by Queen of the Rosary Catholic Academy.
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St. Vincent Ferrer elementary school, Flatbush, now used for other purposes.
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St. Bernard parish school, near Bergen Beach.  This page names John O'Malley's firm as architect of the school, which opened in 1963 and continues in 2015 as a Catholic academy. Across the street is a circular church, but the parish history does not give a date.  It may have been built after Mr. O'Malley's sudden death in 1970.

August, 2013, changes in schools

This post is stale news because I did not notice a diocesan summary dated August, 2013.  In transforming elementary schools into quasi-independent Catholic academies, the diocese announced these changes:
St. Patrick School, Bay Ridge or Fort Hamilton, is now a Catholic Academy.  Please see the website here.
St. Peter Catholic Academy is the new name of  St. Mary Mother of Jesus - St. Frances Cabrini Academy, 23rd Avenue, Bensonhurst. For more description, also see this post.
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St. Anselm Catholic Academy is the new name of St. Anselm's parish school, 83rd Street, Bay Ridge.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Academy is the new name of St. Francis Xavier parish school, Park Slope.
St. Jerome Catholic Academy is the new name of St. Jerome parish school, Flatbush.
Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy now has one campus, at St. Jude's, Canarsie Road.

St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, Bensonhurst

Above is the church of St. Mary Mother of Jesus on 85th Street, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The second parish church burned in 1967, and this church was built in 1971, after the sudden death of its architect, John J. O'Malley. The rectory mailing address is 2326 84th Street, Brooklyn NY 11214, telephone 718-372-4000. In 2015, I cannot find the parish website, with Mass schedule, informative history, photos, and much other information. The parish dates back to 1889.  Please also see the parish Facebook page, which appears to be more current.
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Above, looking south on 23rd Avenue at 84th Street, we see St. Peter Catholic Academy. 
The school address is 8401 23rd Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11214, telephone 718-372-0025. The school has two buildings, seen here extending a full city block.
This is the third name the school has been called.  From about 2006 to 2013, the name was The Catholic Academy of St. Mary, Mother of Jesus - St. Francis Cabrini, serving the parishes of St. Dominic, St. Finbar, St. Frances Cabrini, Most Precious Blood, and St. Mary, Mother of Jesus.  In 2008, St. Finbar's parish, a mile to the west, closed its school, and in 2009, the diocese ordered Most Precious Blood school, a mile to the southeast, to close.
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The Sisters of Saint Joseph staffed St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, parish school from its beginning in 1914.

Above, looking east at the corner of 23rd Avenue (to the left) and 85th Street (to the right). Padre Pio can be seen waiting at the traffic signal. The red sign announces a cooperative program with St. John's University.




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