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Text and photos
By Gregory A. Shemitz
The easternmost Roman Catholic church on the North Fork, St. Agnes is
one of the oldest parishes in the diocese, pre-dating St. Agnes Cathedr=
al
in Rockville Centre. Its roots were =
formed
in the mid-1800s when the East End was considered missionary territory,
with priests from Brooklyn reportedly
visiting four times a year to celebrate Mass. It wasn’t until 1884
that the parish dedicated its first church, a white-shingled structure =
that
remains in use today after undergoing several renovations through its
history. The church was further beautified when a memorial garden,
featuring a gazebo and decorative flower beds, was created in 2002.
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Once regarded as a summer destination, Greenport h=
as
seen its year-round population increase in recent years, with a spike in
the number of retirees and day laborers. Members of these groups are se=
rved
by St. Agnes, a multiethnic faith community comprised primarily of
blue-collar families. As part of its efforts to minister to the needy, =
the
parish is actively involved with Maureen’s Haven, a nonprofit
organization that shelters and supports the homeless on the East End. Once a week, from November through Ap=
ril,
St. Agnes houses and feeds the homeless in its auditorium.
An annual parish barbecue is one of the highlights of the St. Agnes soc=
ial
calendar. The festive event, which takes place on the lawn next to the
memorial garden, is held on the Saturday prior to the Labor Day weekend=
.
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