Catholic New York

Joining Auxiliary Bishop John O’Hara, third from left, and Msgr. Peter Finn, administrator of Blessed Sacrament parish, along with eighth-graders from Blessed Sacrament School, were Martin Susz, director of energy management for the archdiocese, far left, and New York State Assembly member Michael Cusick.

Pilot Renewable Energy Program in Five Parishes Good for Environment, Finances

The Archdiocese of New York and five of its parishes—three on Staten Island and two in Yonkers—are working cooperatively with Con Edison Solutions on a renewable energy pilot program featuring … more

By JOHN WOODS | 11/7/18

St. Catharine of Alexandria parish in Blauvelt just concluded its 150th anniversary.

No Shortage of Willing Volunteers at 150-Year-Old Blauvelt Parish

Msgr. Francis McAree considers it a blessing to serve as pastor of St. Catharine of Alexandria parish in Blauvelt for the past five years. “They are eager to help. If I had to ask, I didn’t … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 11/7/18

Bishop Jenik Steps Aside From Ministry After Abuse Allegation

An allegation of abuse made against Auxiliary Bishop John Jenik has been found credible and substantiated by the independent Lay Review Board. The bishop has denied the “allegation of inappropriate behavior” made by a single victim based on alleged incidents that took place decades ago. more

11/1/18

Father Daniel O’Hare, parish administrator of Holy Name of Mary-Assumption, plants a tree following Mass.

Holy Name of Mary in Montgomery Nurtures ‘Like a Second Family’ for 150 Years

Patricia Imbriani has been attending Mass at Holy Name of Mary in Montgomery for 49 years and understands what makes the 150-year-old church special. “It’s like a home. You feel like you … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 10/25/18

A crowd gathers for Mass celebrated by Cardinal Dolan in the Crypt Church.

Archdiocesan Pilgrimage To National Shrine in D.C.

For the third time, pilgrims from the Archdiocese of New York, this time 300 of them, traveled along with Cardinal Dolan to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Oct. 6. In Mary’s House, there are more than 70 chapels and oratories relating to the Blessed Mother and peoples from around the world. more

10/10/18

Sister Bette Ann Jaster, O.P., tosses seeds into the air at Mariandale following a Sept. 28 press conference in which the Dominican Sisters of Hope announced a conservation easement to prevent future development of 34 of the 61 acres on their Ossining property.

Dominican Sisters of Hope Preserve Much Of Mariandale From Development

The Dominican Sisters of Hope have agreed to a conservation easement that will preserve 34 of their 61 acres of land along the Hudson River in Ossining from future development. The sisters made … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 10/10/18

Cardinal Dolan blesses the new St. Mary’s parish center in Washingtonville Sept. 7. The 7,000-square-foot center has 10 classrooms for religious education and parish offices.

Washingtonville Faithful Welcome New Parish Center

Cardinal Dolan blessed St. Mary’s new, 7,000-square-foot parish center in Washingtonville Sept. 7. “It was terrific. It could not have gone smoother,” Father Jeffrey Maurer, pastor of St. … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 9/12/18

Father Barrios, who was born and raised in Cuba, receives the offertory gifts.

Cathedral Celebration

Our Lady of Caridad del Cobre, patroness of Cuba, was honored at a Spanish-language Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral Sept. 9. Father Julio Barrios, chaplain and teacher at DePaul Catholic High … more

9/12/18

Cardinal Dolan addresses congregants at the historic St. Peter’s Church in lower Manhattan during the Vigil Mass he celebrated Sept. 8. To the cardinal’s right, in green chasuble, is Father Jarlath Quinn, pastor of St. Peter and Our Lady of the Rosary parish, who was a concelebrant.

St. Peter’s Honors Past, Highlights Future After 9/11

St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street “isn’t just about the past, it’s about the present and it’s about a future,” Cardinal Dolan said at the Vigil Mass he celebrated there Sept. 8, the … more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 9/12/18

Father Anthony Pleho, nursing home chaplain of Holy Rosary and Nativity of Our Blessed Lady parish in the Bronx, celebrates a morning Mass on Aug. 24 at East Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the Bronx. Doris Werni, a volunteer of the parish’s nursing home ministry, standing at right, served as lector.

Bronx Parish Advocates for Aged With Bountiful Nursing Home Ministry

Fifth of a series On any given week, the Nursing Home Ministry of Holy Rosary and Nativity of Our Blessed Lady parish in the Bronx graces the aged with the gift of time—times … more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 8/29/18

Mount Alvernia Retreat Center in Wappingers Falls will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a Mass and barbecue Sunday, Sept. 16. The retreat center, with conference rooms, dining area and 52 rooms for retreat visitors is at left, and the 200-seat chapel is at right.

Mount Alvernia Retreat Center, a Franciscan Haven, Marks 50 Years

The Franciscan Friars’ decision to open a retreat center in Wappingers Falls after their seminary was relocated is still looking good 50 years later. The Mount Alvernia Retreat Center, a … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 8/29/18

Memorial Mass for Father Irwin Aug. 28

A Memorial Mass for Father Joseph Irwin, former pastor of Most Holy Trinity parish in Mamaroneck, will be offered Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. at St. Vito-Most Holy Trinity Church, 816 Underhill Ave. in Mamaroneck. more

8/27/18

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church approaches the altar during the Divine Liturgy at the 64th Holy Dormition (Assumption) Pilgrimage in Sloatsburg Aug. 12.

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Celebrates Divine Liturgy in Sloatsburg

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk discussed the greatest gifts of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in his homily to several thousand Ukrainian Catholics during the Divine Liturgy at the 64th … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 8/16/18

Children sing a song during St. Denis Vacation Bible School in Hopewell Junction Aug. 2. The four-day school, held in the St. Denis Parish Center, featured teachings of the Catholic faith, outdoor games and crafts.

Faith and Fun Ruled the Days at St. Denis Vacation Bible School

Marcello Greco and John Urbanowicz, who are both 11, are giving back to a parish Bible school that has given so much to them. They volunteered four mornings of their summer … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 8/16/18

Revolution of Change service project workers plant a garden outside the Catholic Charities Kennedy Center in Harlem Aug. 8. They are, from left, Adriana Mora; Richard Espinal, associate director for parish and community engagement for the Department of Social and Community Development of archdiocesan Catholic Charities; Daniel Genn, associate director of the archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry (partially obscured, in blue cap); Angel Martinez; Deacon Rodney Beckford, director of the Catholic Charities Kennedy Center; and Miguel Juarez.

Summer Program Guides Young People Into Call to Service

At the Catholic Charities Kennedy Center in Harlem, high schoolers participated in a pilot project called Revolution of Change, a summer service program sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Youth … more

By ARMANDO MACHADO | 8/16/18

COZY ATMOSPHERE—Parishioners attending Mass at the Church of the North American Martyrs in Lake Peekskill say they admire the Native American themes inside and outside of the Catholic house of worship. The mission church, an Iroquois longhouse replica, was founded in 1937. Left, Father Edwin Nwabugwu, a new parochial vicar at St. Columbanus in Cortlandt Manor, greets churchgoers as they leave after Mass July 22 at North American Martyrs, a mission of St. Columbanus.

In Lake Peekskill, Church Dedicated to Jesuit Martyrs Inspires Faithful

By ARMANDO MACHADO | 8/2/18

Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect emeritus of the Vatican Congregation for the Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, celebrated the solemn Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in East Harlem July 16.

East Harlem Tribute to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The 134th annual Religious Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was celebrated with a solemn Mass by Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect emeritus of the Vatican Congregation for the Divine Worship and … more

7/18/18

Father Urbano Rodrigues, parochial vicar, left, and Father Nikolin Pergjini, pastor, distribute the Eucharist during the weekly Albanian Mass at St. Lucy’s in the Bronx July 7. St. Lucy’s offers parishioners Mass in five languages each weekend: English, Spanish, Italian, Albanian and Creole. Father Pergjini, who was born and raised in Albania, added the Albanian Mass in 2009. The English and Italian Masses date back to the start of the parish in 1927.

In the Bronx, Faith in Five Languages for a Multicultural Parish

Second of a series St. Lucy’s parish in the Bronx offers Mass in five languages. That’s correct, five: Albanian, Creole, English, Italian and Spanish. Albanian since 2009, Creole since 2015, … more

By ARMANDO MACHADO | 7/18/18

Lesandro Guzman-Feliz wears his NYPD Explorers jacket in this undated photo.

Bronx Youth Group Leads Vigil for Slain Teen

The high school youth group of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, the Bronx, led a Memorial Vigil Against Gang Violence at the church in response to the murder of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who was stabbed in late June reportedly by a gang who had intended a different victim. more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 7/12/18

The sun shines brightly upon congregants as they pray during the street Mass outside St. Cecilia and Holy Agony Church on East 106th Street in Manhattan July 1. Father Peter Mushi, A.J., the pastor, served as principal celebrant and homilist.

St. Cecilia and Holy Agony Street Mass in Manhattan Draws 400 on Searing Sunday

The 96-degree temperature did not keep 103-year-old Justa Rodriguez or her 76-year-old son Emilio Rodriguez from attending the street Mass outside St. Cecilia and Holy Agony Church in Manhattan on … more

BY CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 7/5/18