PARISH HISTORY

A leading example of Irish church architecture, Saint Francis de Sales Church was designed by Patrick Charles Keely who is also architect of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. Mr. Keely was born in Ireland in 1816 and died in 1896. His father was a carpenter and builder who worked with Augustus Welby Pugin. When he was 25, Patrick emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn. Patrick's architectural career began about 1846. He designed over 600 buildings. The churches range from Nova Scotia to Louisiana and as far west as Iowa. Patrick Keely died August 11, 1896 and is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.

St. Francis de Sales Church in was built on top of Bunker Hill Street between 1859-1862 next to an 1830 Catholic Cemetery. St. Francis de Sales Church is believed to be modeled afater St. Munchins Church in Limerick, Ireland.

Today, Saint Francis de Sales parish serves more than 5,500 persons seeking spiritual growth.

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