Our Lady of Loretto Church, East New York, Brooklyn (1894)

Our Lady Of Loretto, Brooklyn, N.Y. — This was the fourth Italian church in Brooklyn and its foundation dates from 1896. Father Stephen Gesualdi secured a hall used by the Salvation Army, and soon transformed it into a Catholic church. It was enlarged and changed into the form of a Greek Cross, 30 feet by 100 feet in dimensions. The interior was furnished with oak pews, the gift of the German Church of the Annunciation, and the beautiful altar was the gift of the Church of Our Lady of Victory. Work was begun on the church in March, 1896, and it was soon ready for dedication.

Father Gesualdi was only 29 years of age when he started his pastorate. He had come from Italy five years before, and was appointed assistant to Father Peter Saponara at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg. He was never very robust and it soon became evident that he had entered upon his new work with an energy beyond his strength. He went to East New York, empty-handed, depending entirely upon what the generosity of the charitably disposed English-speaking people could do for him; because he knew that his own people had very little, if any, to offer him, but he succeeded, nevertheless, in leaving a frame church, and a rectory, and a parish in a fairly prosperous condition.

He died on February 16, 1902. He was succeeded by Rev. Vincent Sorrentino, who had been assistant for some time. He took up the work with zeal, and in October, 1906, the cornerstone of a new church was laid by Monsignor McNamara, V.G. On April 5, the church on Sackman and Pacific Streets was dedicated by Bishop McDonnell. The church cost about $120,000, and was built by Armezzani, Federici & Sons of Paterson, N.J. It is a perfect model of the Roman Renaissance style, and is decorated with beautiful paintings.

Father Sorrentino was born in Gragnano, Naples, on April 10, 1868. He made his ecclesiastical studies in his native country where he was ordained by Right Rev. Vincent Sarnelli, D.D., on May 23, 1891. He was for a time a member of the Theological Academy of St. Thomas In 1898, he came to the United States and was accepted by Bishop McDonnell. Before going to the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Father Sorrentino was assistant to Father Saponara. His parish now numbers 8000. The Sunday school is attended by 875 children and the church property is valued at $150,000. Father Sorrentino is assisted by Rev. F. P. Amitrano.

The Catholic Church in the United States (1914)