The End Of the Churches: Still Standing

Compared to what we saw on our last visit in 2018, the shuttered church of St. Vincent de Paul has changed little. 1) Perhaps only the boards covering the windows have darkened – or have new ones been put up? The immediate neighborhood of the church on West 23rd Street seems ever more decrepit – is that what has slowed down demolition and new construction? Or is the developer only trying to assemble a larger plot?

What has happened is that the Jeanne D’Arc home, 253 West 24th Street – which until very recently still functioned as a a residence for women – has been shut down and sold:

The head of Red Apple Group scooped up 253 West 24th Street this week for $22.5 million after getting the go-ahead from the New York State Attorney General and long-time owner Jeanne D’arc Residence, which is tied to the Catholic Church.

“We got the approval of the cardinal, the pope, the attorney general,” Catsimatidis said.

“Does that make me eligible for sainthood?” he joked.

Red Apple needed the attorney general’s approval because the property was long-held by nonprofit the Jeanne D’Arc Residence, which was run by the Sisters of the Roman Catholic Congregation of Divine Providence. 2)

Now this residence was one of many institutions once affiliated with the parish of St. Vincent de Paul.

In 1896 Father Wucher (the pastor) established a home for French girls called the Jeanne d’Arc home …. The Jeanne d’Arc home, in charge of the Sisters of Divene Providence, has taken care of 12,487 immigrants, and 175 girls enjoy (1914) its hospitality. 3)

Today’s Catholics, with their notion of a “vibrant” conciliar parish, can hardly imagine the scale of the apostolates associated with a parish in 19th – early 20th century New York. In the case of St. Vincent de Paul, those included, in addition to the Jeanne d’Arc home, a “day nursery,” a parochial school, a childrens’ summer home on Staten island, a “home for destitute French women,” an academy, also on Staten Island, and a chapel on Washington Square South. The parish was also involved with the “French Hospital” on West 34th Street. 4)

So the Catholic parishes and institutions(schools, hospitals, residences etc.) once created for (and largely by) struggling immigrant populations are steadily disappearing from the face of New York City…..5)

1. The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny, “Waiting for the End” (2/24/2018). For a tour and description of the still-intact church see “The Churches of New York XX: Endangered Species” (2/9/2012).
2. Kavanaugh, Suzannah, “Catsimatidis expands Chelsea resi project with $23M deal: Red Apple Group head nabbed Catholic Church’s Jeanne D’Arc Residence” The Real Deal (8/29/2024) (Accessed 9/16/2024)
3. The Catholic Church in the United States of America Vol. III at 380 (The Catholic Editing Compny, New York, 1914)
4. Id.
5. Compare Centro Maria, another womens’ residence (and former parish) on West 54th street, also sold and recently demolished. Beling, Sarah, “Century-Old Hell’s Kitchen Church Residence, Parking Lot Make Way for Apartment Developments,“ w42st.com (5/10/2023) (accessed 9/16/2024) (Photos of demolition)