Fr. Peter Purpura’s resume is quite impressive with much accomplishment for his young years. He was born on August 1, 1981 to Catherine and Peter Purpura and he is the fifth child in a family of seven children. His hometown is Breezy Point, New York where he attended grammar school at St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor. He went on to Archbishop Molloy High School and graduated in the Class of 1999. He then attended St. John’s University where he earned a University Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

His Seminary Studies included the Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception Douglaston, Queens and the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City State from 2003 to 2007.

Fr. Peter was ordained a deacon on October 5, 2006 at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City State. He was ordained a priest on June 30, 2007 at St. James Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York. His advanced studies include a Bachelor’s in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome Italy in 2006, and a Licentiate in Canon Law from The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in 2009. In September 2009 he was nominated to enter the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome, Italy in preparation for the diplomatic service of the Holy See. Fr. Peter completed a Doctorate in Canon Law at The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome Italy.

Fr. Peter Purpura arrived at Our Lady of Hope in mid-June of 2010. He stated that he always looked forward to Sunday Mass and its prayerful connection to Our Lady of Hope parishioners. He believes that through the prayerful celebration of the Sunday Mass we may all grow in our faith and desire to serve God more faithfully in our daily lives. After returning to Rome in 2012 for Post Ordination studies, Fr. Peter was installed as Pastor of OLH on September 7, 2019.

We wish Fr. Peter the best of luck at Our Lady of Hope. It is obvious that his strong faith, a desire to serve and his spiritual connection to God will guide him through this new assignment. We have no doubt that the friendly parishioners at Hope will embrace his efforts as he embarks on his new journey. God Bless Fr. Peter Purpura and welcome back to Middle Village!

Information for this article was taken from Lorraine Sciulli’s original 2010 article welcoming Fr. Peter to Middle Village and was updated by Christina Wilkinson.