They prayed that their prayers would be answered and Mary-Joyce Bonsignore would come home safe.
Scores of St. Finbar Catholic Church members in Bath Beach fanned out over surrounding neighborhoods in Brooklyn on Sunday to look for the 88-year-old Bonsignore.
Her family said she has dementia and walked away from her house on 19th Ave. near Bath Ave. at 8:30 a.m. on July 17.
“She just finished her breakfast,” said her daughter, Maire Mason. “She was sitting on the front porch and her husband, Bob, went to go collect the garbage.
“I guess within 20 minutes she took off and went down the steps,” Mason added.
Bonsignore was last seen making a right toward Cropsey Ave., surveillance video shows.
The church had no problem convincing parishioners to join the search, which was planned out on Saturday.
“When I noticed that she hadn’t been found for five days, it bothered me,” said the Rev. Michael Gelfant.
“Within 24 hours, we had 100 people that were just here. We put the word out that we needed help. We’re very fast to help other people.”
The parishioners, with the help of the police and volunteer EMTs, trekked out in groups of 10 across Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights
“We’ve only seen her two or three times, but whatever we can do to help, we’ll do it,” said congregant Alex Morales.
Bonsignore, a member of the church for 30 years, has wandered away before — but never for this long, her daughter said.
“It’s surreal that she’s gone,” Mason said Sunday. “It’s a week tomorrow morning. There’s been no sign at all of her. Isn’t that crazy?”
Her mother loves to dance, play bridge and has master’s degrees in history and geology.
“She was way, way ahead of her time in many ways.”
The search did not bring Bonsignore home, but Mason is trying to stay strong.
“One minute I’m feeling great and hopeful, the next minute I’m like, ‘Oh my God!’ ” she said. “So it’s been quite a roller coaster. “
