(Above) The Memorial to 9/11 (and Fr. Mychal Judge) at St. Francis of Assisi Church in 2012. I note that in this and other pictures the “gold-plated rose” is not yet present.
In regard to St. Francis of Assisi, a well-informed reader has kindly pointed out that the opening times of the lower church were restricted after a monstrance was stolen in 2018. (It was later recovered – I note a gentleman once frequently encountered at the TLM in New York was involved in the recovery). In 2018 the church made this announcement:
For Your Safety and Our Security
The New Year didn’t start very happily for us because on Tuesday morning, January 2nd, at approximately 7:20 AM, a monstrance was stolen from the altar in the lower church. The Blessed Sacrament was not in the monstrance at the time. The police were called and they are investigating the theft.
As you are probably aware, security issues have risen over the past few years. We having been working hard to enhance the security and safety of our buildings and property with video surveillance and other measures. However, incidents like this are almost impossible to prevent because we cannot patrol every inch of the property at every moment.
We have decided to try to limit access to parts of the church when they are not in use.
Effective immediately, the lower church will be open only during the following hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:30 to 8:30 AM; 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM; 4:00 to 5:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:30 to 5:30 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 4:00 to 5:30 PM
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the upper church Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 11:30 AM and 1:00 and 4:30 PM.
We regret having to put these measures into effect, but we are concerned about your safety as well as the security of our church and buildings. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, and remember, if you see something, say something.
“New Safety Measures- St Francis of Assisi”
I do not know if these exact times are still in force. Even AI is stumped when asked about the current opening times at St. Francis. And the dire security situation does not seem to have improved since 2018:
New York City police are searching for a man accused of stealing a gold-plated rose from a Manhattan church memorial honoring the victims of 9/11.
The metal flower had served as the centerpiece of a memorial at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, whose long-time pastor, Father Mychal Judge, was crushed by falling rubble while praying for victims and rescuers on the morning of the attack. …
The memorial, which rests on a base of twisted steel leftover from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, arrived at the church 22 years ago, he said, through a donation coordinated by a local ironworkers union. …
It was dedicated to the former pastor, Judge, as well as a parishioner, Carole LaPlante, who was also killed in the attacks.
Following his death, the priest’s admirers urged the Catholic Church to grant him sainthood, pointing to his efforts in pushing the church to be more welcoming to LGBTQ people. (my bolding)
Offenhartz, Jake, “Gold-plated rose stolen from NYC 9/11 memorial honoring influential pastor,” apnews.com (November 21, 2024)
Perhaps these events have discouraged visitors. Perhaps some are not “on board” with the recent direction of the parish as compared with its traditional role as an all-purpose Catholic devotional center for those traveling in and out of Manhattan. And is there the same demand for such a “commuter church” at a time where Catholic devotional life is in overall decline? Our reader also pointed out that the declining number of clergy has also contributed to the reduction of both opening times and hours of the sacrament of penance. In any case, St. Francis of Assisi today is a less active place than it was in the 1980’s.
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