{"id":3490,"date":"2026-08-02T11:53:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/?page_id=3490"},"modified":"2026-08-02T11:53:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:53:21","slug":"our-lady-of-pompei-church","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/index.php\/our-lady-of-pompei-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Lady of Pompei Church"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our Lady of Pompei Church<\/strong> was founded to serve Paterson’s rapidly growing Italian immigrant community and has remained one of the city’s most important Italian-American Catholic parishes for more than a century.<\/p>\n

The parish is represented here: Our Lady of Pompei Church<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Founding<\/h3>\n

The parish began in 1916<\/strong> as a mission of St. Michael’s Church<\/strong>, established specifically to minister to the Italian families who had settled in Paterson’s Stony Road<\/strong> section. Many parishioners worked in the city’s silk mills, dye houses, and other industries, and desired a parish where they could worship in their native language and preserve their religious traditions.<\/p>\n

The mission was founded by Monsignor Felix Cianci<\/strong>, then pastor of St. Michael’s Church. It quickly became the spiritual center of the neighborhood’s Italian-American community.<\/p>\n

Becoming an Independent Parish<\/h3>\n

As the congregation grew, Our Lady of Pompei became an independent parish. On December 11, 1930<\/strong>, the parish was formally incorporated under the leadership of Father Didacus Roberto<\/strong>, who served as pastor from 1926 to 1951. During his long pastorate, the parish expanded its ministries, organizations, and educational programs.<\/p>\n

The Present Church<\/h3>\n

For many years the congregation worshipped in modest facilities. By the early 1960s, the growing parish needed a larger church.<\/p>\n

Construction of the present church at the corner of Caldwell Avenue and Dayton Street<\/strong> began in 1962<\/strong> under Father Silvius Mancini<\/strong>. The church was dedicated on August 17, 1963<\/strong>, by Bishop James J. Navagh<\/strong> of the Diocese of Paterson.<\/p>\n

The modern church features:<\/p>\n