Important Prayer Vigil Tomorrow Morning to Save Most Holy Redeemer Church

This Saturday, parishioners and concerned Catholics will gather for a special vigil at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (5th Ave 50th-51st Streets) between 8:30am and 11am on the morning of the German-American Steuben parade, to highlight the closure of Most Holy Redeemer Church on 173 East 3rd St. If you only have an hour to spare, please aim for 9:15-9:30 (see details here). A strong, visible turnout would send a strong message. Please try to make it! 

See our reports on Most Holy Redeemer Church, a spectacular and historically important German-American church in the East Village: https://sthughofcluny.org/2011/03/the-churches-of-new-york-ix-vierzehnheiligen-on-the-east-river.html and also: https://sthughofcluny.org/2025/07/most-holy-redeemer-church-in-the-crosshairs.html

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation has been spearheading efforts to save the endangered church. The following information comes from this society:

Landmarking Campaign

This effort has received a tremendous amount of attention and support. Over 1,500 people have signed the petition asking the Landmarks Preservation Commission to declare the building a landmark. Letters endorsing a designation of the structure have been sent by Councilmember Carlina Rivera, Bowery Alliance, the Tenement Museum, historian Richard Panchyk, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and the Preservation League of New York State. Now, it is up to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to evaluate the merits of the church for a landmark designation. Please continue helping to spread the word about the petition!

Church Services

Most Holy Redeemer has closed its doors to the public and stopped providing regular services as of September 1st. Parishioners have been making a tremendous organizing effort to have their church resume services. Last week, a group of them delivered a letter to His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, requesting that the church be reopened and that Mass be celebrated at least twice a month—to which parishioners have a right under canon law. They have also been leading weekly vigils in front of the church every Friday at 7:00pm, which everyone is welcome to join (see details here).  

This Saturday, parishioners will gather for a special vigil at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (5th Ave 50th-51st Streets) between 8:30am and 11am on the morning of the German-American Steuben parade, to highlight the closure of this spectacular church. If you only have an hour to spare, please aim for 9:15-9:30 (see details here). A strong, visible turnout would send a strong message. Please try to make it! 

Program on the History of Most Holy Redeemer

On Oct 20th at 3:00, Village Preservation, EVCC, LESPI, and the Goethe Institute will host a program on the history and future of the Most Holy Redeemer. The discussion will review the cultural and architectural merits of the suite of buildings between East 3rd & 4th Sts. Save the date.