An early 1900s Union City resident who was recognized for her religious devotion and her compassion for all those around her may be named a saint.
Mary Grace Bellotti is said to have been a beloved member of the community, praying for the sick, caring for the poor, and even delivering babies. She helped others find solace in the Catholic faith and assisted in several miracles, according to Michael Gigante, the vice president of the Mary Grace Bellotti League of Lay Apostles, a group of 700 devoted followers based in St. Mary’s Church in Staten Island that started in 1956. The group is currently petitioning for her canonization.
She prayed for the sick, cared for the poor, and even delivered babies.
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Before that, in 1967, Mary Grace was given the title of Servant of God.
According to the league, Mary Grace is said to have been devoted to her faith at an early age.
She was born in 1882 in Laurenzana, a small village in southern Italy. When she was 2 years old, her father Joseph left for the United States to begin establishing a life for his family. While he was away, Mary Grace and her mother made a three-day pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Viggiano, about 15 miles south of their village, where the Holy Mother appeared to her for the first time and told her that her father would soon return home. The Holy Mother also told Mary Grace to pray for the crippled boy beside her, and when Mary Grace did, the boy dropped his crutches and ran to his parents.
This is said to be the first miracle Mary Grace assisted.
Mary Grace never had a formal education; she learned the passages of the Bible verbally.
At 22 years old, Mary Grace immigrated to the United States, settled in New York City, and eventually moved to West Hoboken, now Union City, to live closer to her brother.
She became active in her new community, making embroidery pieces for local churches as well as wine when they could not afford to purchase it for Communion. She was also known as a wet nurse.
Mary Grace joined the congregation of St. Michael’s Monastery, which was rebuilt after a 1934 fire and is now the Hudson Presbyterian Church, at 2019 West St.
She also maintained a chapel at her personal residence, at 508 Fourth St., where she often encouraged people to pray to St. Gerard Maiella, the patron of mothers and motherhood.
Mary Grace chose St. Gerard Maiella as her own patron saint after she attended the St. Ann’s Festival in Hoboken held in his honor in 1913.
“She had a longing to sponsor a saint that wasn’t well known,” said Gigante. He added that a local priest also blessed holy water, medals, and prayer cards for Mary Grace to distribute among her followers because he acknowledged her as “an extraordinary servant of God.”
It is also said that Mary Grace had a sense of when someone was going to come to her for help.
“She was known as a faith healer,” said Gigante. “She would lead you in prayer, lead you in putting your spirit back in order, and God would heal you. She was the influence for the healing.”
He added that Mary Grace would tell her followers that “what you give to the churches you give to God and that is what you will find in heaven, your heavenly treasure.”
Mary Grace passed away on Nov. 10, 1927 and her funeral was held at St. Michael’s Monastery. Her house stayed in the family until 1970, when the chapel and all its relics were moved to a location in Keansburg, N.J., where her granddaughter currently lives.
The league often holds Mass in Mary Grace’s honor in several locations through the country.
Union City historian Kathie Pontus helped with the gathering of information for this article.
Amanda Staab can be reached at astaab@hudsonreporter.com.