Almost exactly ninety years ago, on Sunday, June 24, 1917 the church of Our
Lady of the Snow on Blue Point Ave. was dedicated by the then Bishop of Brooklyn,
Charles E. McDonell. What a historic coincidence, that this year 2007, June 24 also
Falls on a Sunday…the 90th birthday of this lovely local church building!

This 1917 church is used now –a- days primarily for weekday Mass, baptisms,
Weddings, funerals and the 7:30 am Mass on Sundays.

On Palm Sunday, 1967, a nearly – disastrous fire gutted the sanctuary of this church but,
thanks to the heroic & prompt response of the Blue Point Fire Department, the building i
tself was saved.

Inside this church today, the hardwood pews are all original, as is the tin ceiling,
the wainscoting, the ceiling beams and the choir loft. But perhaps most importantly,
the beautiful and meaningful stained glass windows are also original to the 1917 church
building. Minimal repair work was done to the stained glass windows during the church
renovations in the early 1990’s.

One large circular “rose window,” five feet in diameter, faces Blue Point Ave.

There are also twelve impressively large and beautiful stained glass windows;
six on each side of the nave, which depict various Biblical scenes and allegories.
And there are nine smaller stained glass windows in the 1917 church.

The names of the donors of these windows ninety years ago remain hand painted
on each window.

However, after ninety years, the stained glass windows are showing their age.
They are fragile and weak. There are cracks, chips and small holes in them. Some are
difficult to open, close and lock properly. Some have actually pulled away from their
wood and lead base. The windows are not insulated and they are not protected from the
elements.

Under the leadership of Rev. Edward R. D’Andrea, pastor of Our Lady of the Snow, and a
Renovation Committee made up of Christine Cusack, Dennis McCarthy, Ernie Smith and Gene Horton,
these stained glass windows will be lovingly refurbished, restored and preserved for future generations.

Over the next few weeks, each window will be carefully removed and painstakingly
restored. Durham Studios in West Hempstead, N.Y. has been contracted to do the work.