Some pictures of Most Holy Redeemer Church on East 3rd Street, New York, taken over the course of two decades. Since August of last year, the Archdiocese has locked this magnificent church. As of today its fate is unknown.

(Above and below): The chapel of relics with the “entire body” of St. Datian.

(Above) The New York shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

(Above) The tower of the church of St. John the Baptist.

Thanks to an attentive reader, we recently learned that the Capuchin order had left Midtown Manhattan, effective June 30, 2026,  after 174 years. Their original mission at St. John the Baptist church had been expanded in 2013/15 to take over Holy Cross church on 42^nd St. Like many aspects of Making all Things New this merger didn’t make obvious sense: there are two other parishes located in between the parish’s two “worship spaces.”  As could be foreseen,  the experiment did not last long.

On its website the order has posted  a not very encouraging  statement from the “Provincial Minister” explaining the reasoning for the Capuchins’ departure:

There are many factors that went into our decision to withdraw from your parish, none of which might adequately satisfy your disappointment. One of the most evident challenges we face as a Church is the shortage of priestly and religious vocations, especially in northeastern part of the United States. This challenge has given us opportunities as Capuchins to reflect upon and renew our way of life that will inspire young men to live the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis as a Capuchin. However, it has also demanded that we make difficult choices in the ministerial commitments we have as a Province.

Farewells are never easy, especially when the reasons don’t seem fair. We have left several parish communities over the last decades, and none have made this any easier, not only for the parishioners, but also for the friars who served so diligently those communities.

…

 Despite this challenge, I hope you will hear my sending-forth encouragement for you all: please don’t let our departure diminish your faith in Jesus Christ.

The Provincial Minister could not attend the “Farewell Mass” (the “Mass of Thanksgiving for the Capuchin Franciscans”)at St. John the Baptist. 1)

Regarding the move:

On June 30, 2026, a history came to an end. A history which began on June 28, 1840, when Rev. Zacharaia Kunz, OSF celebrated the first Mass at the Roman Catholic Church of St. John. A history which entrusted the church to the ministry of the Capuchin Province of Hungary in 1852 and subsequently  in 1870 to the American Capuchin Order. A history which survived two fires, too many wars, economic upheavals, financial instability .

Parishioners at St. John’s were privileged to have been brought into the Franciscan family of noted saints and ordinary friars. Over the years they have worshipped and interacted with some of the most extraordinary friars of the province , each  in his own unique way, touching  both parishioners and the many commuters who seek solace at St. John’s. The parish record books, some written in German script, bear testimony to all those connected to this special church. 2)

The parish is now under direct Archdiocesan administration. One immediate consequence of the change in management has been a reduction in the number of masses at Holy Cross church:

Please note that beginning September 7, there will no longer be a 12:15pm Mass on Mondays, and no Masses on Tuesdays at Holy Cross. 3)

(Above) Holy Cross church (2011).

We do not know whether the exit of the Capuchins is a prelude to the closing and sale of one or both churches. Consider the effects of the abandonment in 2019 of Most Holy Redeemer church (East 3^rd Street) by the Redemptorists. And despite its architectural merit- and the presence of the shrine to Padre Pio –  the church of St John the Baptist has been rumored for years now to be a likely candidate for closing.  It is a tregedy – for generations churches like St. John’s which had long ago lost their resident populations sustained themselves by the many commuters who stopped by for devotions or the sacraments. But the need Catholics once felt for these “commuter churches” in the city has dimished as the general practice of the faith has declined.

(Above) St. Mary’s, Grand St. (Photo 2009).

The Capuchins, however, retain a foothold in the city at their parish of Our Lady of Sorrows on Stanton St. on the Lower East Side. Indeed,  in 2024 they even expanded their presence by assuming responsibility for the nearby historic –  by New York standards – parish of Saint Mary on Grand St.  How secure Is, however, the continued existence of these two poor churches – given the dire financial situation of the Archdiocese – and the declining numbers of Capuchins? Neighborhood activists have tried to assure preservation of the more ancient of the two churches by obtaining on 4/7/2026 the landmarking of St. Mary’s by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission – a struggle now in progress for Most Holy Redeemer church.

For our most recent post on St. John the Baptist church, see:   https://sthughofcluny.org/2025/09/the-fate-of-the-churches-around-penn-station-ii.html The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny (9/26/2025); for St. Mary’s see:  “The Churches of New York XXIV: In the Beginning,” The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny(4/26/2012)

1. “Capuchins conclude 174 years in Midtown,” capuchins-ofm.solutionsoftware.com (6/2026 with statement of Provincial Minister Br. James Peterson and photo gallery of Farewell Mass)
2. Brandes, Barbara, “A Church says Goodbye,” christinthecity.nyc ( 2026 – parish website)
3.  “Holy Cross- St. John the Baptist, christinthecity.nyc  (2026 – parish website)
4. “Our Lady of Sorrows brings St. Mary’s Church into the Fold,” capuchins-ofm.solutionsoftware.com  (2024)
5. Livak, Ed, “Landmarks Preservation Commission Designates Church of Saint Mary as an Individual Landmark,” thelowdownny.com ( 4/7/2026)

(All accessed 8/27/2026)

(Above) The former church of Our Lady of Guadalupe today. Sometime after 2012 an elaborate repainting of the facade was carried out. (photo 8/19/2026)

(We continue our discussion of the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, now threatened with destruction:

The Sale of Our Lady of Guadalupe, etc. (8/18/2026)

For our description of this parish in its old and new homes: 

The Churches of New York XXX: A Tale of Two Churches (12/14/2012))

The former church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Founded in 1902, it quickly had to be expanded, a second townhouse (left) was acquired for a rectory and in 1921 a Spanish-style facade was added.

(Above) From these small beginnings… Perhaps surprisingly, in those early days the nascent “Spanish-American” apostolate in New York enjoyed significant institutional and financial backing. The Assumptionist order, which founded the church, was French, but their initial leadership in New York had had years of experience in Latin America. Their second church, and the second “Hispanic” church in Manhattan, Our Lady of Esperanza far to the north on West 156th Street, was financed by gifts from wealthy individuals (many non-Catholic) and the Spanish royal family and aristocracy. The 1921 addition to Our Lady of Guadalupe was the work of Gustave Steinback, one of the most important architects of Catholic churches in the interwar period. Let us also remember that this church was founded in the aftermath of the 1898 Spanish-American War, in which the American press (if only briefly) had demonized the Spanish (like the Germans later and the Russians today).

(Above) The desolate parish announcement board. The Assumptionists left the parish in 1998. (photo 8/19/2026)

(Above) Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard’s. (photo 8/19/2026)

But what of the parish itself, now “Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard’s”? In 2003 the Archdiocese had moved it ino the church of St. Bernard. This parish, once grand, had by that date only an aging handful of parishioners – the effects of demographic change, economic troubles – and 40 years of Vatican II. In connection with this move, a thorough repainting and redecoration of the interior – of remarkable incompetence – was carried out. This was superimposed on the remnants of an earlier decor – mosaics, marble, statues and murals – which seems to date primarily to the years 1890-1920. Since 2012 work has continued and an attempt, if inadequate, made to remedy some of the worst features of this “restoration.”

(Above) The chancel or sanctuary today (8/19/2026): (below) on 3/2/2011. Note that some murals have been repainted and a tabernacle, a sanctuary lamp and a large, suspended crucifix added. As recently as 2012 the Blessed Sacrament was reserved – disgracefully – in a room in the rear of the church (the former baptistry?)

In addition to restoring a tabernacle, angels were removed. (Above) Photo 2/23/2012); (below) 8/19/2026)

(Below) I cannot say the new murals are more than a marginal improvement over their predecessors – despite the unusual subject.

The church, like St. Paul in East Harlem, is a treasury of Hispanic devotions. Below are some of them.

(Above) This image, I believe, was in the old church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

(Above and below) Our Lady of Quinche from Ecuador. As church after church has been closed in the Archdiocese, the Ecuadorians have had to repeatedly move their Madonna – from St. Ann on East 12th Street to St.Veronica and now to St. Bernard’s.

(Above) This fine reproduction – in contrast to what is seen on the reredos – may be the original image displayed in the old Church. Today it is in the back of the church. (photo 8/19/2026)

UPDATE: I now very much doubt this- the original image was a painting sent by a bishop in Mexico to the church shortly after it opened.

The aesthetic shortcomings of the recent art of St Bernard’s are particularly glaring in the context of three outstanding windows of the transept and chancel, installed after a disastrous fire in 1890. The 1910 catalogue of the Tiffany Campany lists among its products the above window of the Resurrection and notes it was in place by 1891. But the company’s catalogue also clearly states the same of the windows of the Crucifixion and the Nativity (below). But the latter two windows, although of exceptional quality, are executed in a syle completely different from Tiffany’s – they remind me of later stained-glass from England. How can this be explained? Does the 1910 catalogue reflect an order that was in fact never completed – or did the editors simply make a mistake? Did the church later replace the original Tiffany windows? Or did Tiffany on occasion produce glass to the designs of other artists? I leave it up to the connoisseurs to decide!

Has the fusion of the two parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Bernard’s been a success?  The jury is still out, even after more than 20 years.  The merger involved the loss of the historic sanctuary (which, in addition, was not at all badly decorated!). A painful loss which is now being felt once again by the Spanish-speaking community. Too, the post-merger redecoration of Saint Bernard’s has been an abysmal failure. On the other hand, in contrast to the past, St. Bernard’s is now generally open. That seems characteristic of Latin American churches in the city today, with their many devotions inviting passersby to prayer. A visitor will generally find one or two people at prayer.  To that extent, we can be grateful.

Sources in New York City have received word that the Archdiocese of New York, faced with financing an $800M settlement for clerical sexual abuse,  is proceeding to the sale of several properties: 

Rallying to Save Our Lady of Guadalupe, Now Even More Imminently Threatened, villagepreservation.org (8/13/2026) (with links to presentations and a petition to landmark the building)

Kelly, Keith J., “Archdiocese Plans to Sell Church, 2 West Side Catholic Schools”chelseanewsny.com (8/14/2026) (also reporting on other recent sales by the Archdiocese)

These are churches and schools which had been previously closed. The Archdiocese reportedly responded by  issuing a statement – which I cannot locate  – stating that it is “merely” taking out a loan collateralized by six unnamed church properties.  (Kelly, Archdiocese Plans to Sell Church, supra). Yet in a decree of 1/1/2023 Cardinal Dolan had in effect already put Our Lady of Guadalupe up for sale.

Now the former church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is of great historic value, for this modest structure was the first church for the Spanish-speaking peoples in New York City. Later of course these nationalities became totally dominant in most Manhattan  Catholic parishes. In 2003 the Archdiocese moved the parish of Lady of Guadalupe into the nearby, much grander but semi-defunct, originally Irish church of Saint Bernard’s. The old Our Lady of Guadalupe was supposed to serve as a parish, and later an adult education, center. That now appears to be coming to an end – unless the opposition that is stirring can prevail.

 I am always, however,  surprised at the selective nature of politicians’ indignation.  The sale of St. Benedict the Moor – the first black church in New York, and later an early center of the  Archdiocesan “Hispanic” apostolate,  did not arouse such a reaction. Nor did the closing of  other major churches  – such as Most Holy Redeemer –  which in recent decades had served primarily Hispanic congregations. But I am glad for the (rather late) reaction.

(Above) A 2009 photo of Our Lady of Guadalupe.(Below) in 2012. The church was built into a foermerly elegant 19th century townhouse – a facade was added later. Based on photos I have seen, the facade seems to have been recently garishly painted – we will have to investigate ourselves.

Aside from the former Our Lady of Guadalupe, two impressive school buildings of the once grand educational system of the archdiocese are said to be up for sale. These schools have all been closed relatively recently.

(Above) An angel looks down from the facade of  the former Guardian Angel school in Chelsea(closed 2023). Photo from 2016.

(Above) an event easy to predict: reports indicate the first of the buildings of the massive St. Michael’s parish complex near the Hudson Yards  – a school closed in 2010 – is now up for sale.

(all accesssed 8/18/2026)

Saint Francis Xavier’s, previously described,  has been in the hands of the Jesuits since its foundation in the 1840s. Other churches in Manhattan that have remained under the control of the same religious order from their origins include: Saint Ignatius Loyola (after a very early archdiocesan phase!) (also the Jesuits), Saint Paul the Apostle (Paulists), Our Lady of Pompeii(Scalabrinians). But a whole series of other parishes, formerly archdiocesan, have more recently been transferred to religious orders.  This has become especially common as clerical manpower in the archdiocese has grown scarcer and scarcer. The most egregious example is not in Manhattan but in Westchester, where the whole town of Port Chester (formerly four parishes) has been entrusted to the Salesians.

Saint Paul’s in East Harlem is one of these newer religious order parishes. 1) Originally an archdiocesan parish of the first magnitude,  its founding Irish population disappeared generations ago,  In 1998 the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) assumed direction of the parish. By that year Spanish or, formerly, Italian, Harlem was, at least in the eyes of the Archdiocese, mission territory. The IVE is a new institution founded in Argentina in 1984. It has spread throughout  the world and seems to specialize in the more exotic “peripheries” like Tadjikistan (“Tachikistan,” as a sign here used to inform us)or Gaza.  The chapter at Saint Paul’s is the Ven. Pierre Toussaint Community. In 2015 St. Paul’s was combined with the closed parish of the Holy Rosary (East 119^th Street).

I regret to report, however,  that the IVE has had issues similar to those faced by all too many recent foundations of charismatic leaders and which Celine Hoyau has chronicled in her book The Betrayal of the Fathers. 2) The founder of the IVE, Fr. Carlos Buela, was removed from office. It seems that many of his disciples at the IVE cannot reconcile themselves to that treatment of their founder. 3) The troubles of the IVE, however, have continued even into this year, with Rome intervening and new issues arising in Chicago. 4) 

(Above) From the facade.

.

Saint Paul’s, built in 1907-08, is indeed a very large church. Once one gets beyond the grandiose facade, however, the architecture and furnishings of the church are less distinguished. The interior resembles a very large lecture hall – some post-Conciliar iconoclasm in the sanctuary reenforces that impression. Some items of the décor, like the stained-glass windows, are of lower quality than those found in other churches contemporary with this one. Not everything that was created in the golden age of the architecture of the Archdiocese of New York is absolutely first class!

In evangelization, however, the parish of Saint Paul is much more successful. For starters, the church is open – on my recent visit I had first stopped at three or four (archdiocesan) parishes all of which were closed. Second, the cavernous interior of this church provides sufficient space for is a vast array of “Hispanic” devotions. Seemingly every nationality is catered to! And these shrines are clearly still objects of continuing devotion.

(Above and below) Two of the devotional images at St. Paul’s.

While I was visiting the church,  a sister of the order affiliated with the IVE – dressed in religious habit – was instructing a group of school children. For there is still an active school associated with this parish (the “Academy of St. Paul and St. Ann School”).

In the vestibule is a chapel that I assume originally was the baptistery. When I was last here in 2012 it had been converted into a shrine of Our Lady of Lujan ( a devotion in the Argentinian home of the IVE). It has since been “repurposed”  for eucharistic adoration.  A number of people were quietly praying before the Eucharist. A desk in the vestibule is staffed to supervise the situation. 

(Above and below) Perpetual adoration.

(Above) Photo of the same shrine taken 7/2/2011.

Thus, “flying below the radar,” St. Paul’s is exercising an apostolate in some respects similar to the highly publicized developments so many blocks to the south at Saint Joseph’s in the Village or Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral. Of course, the Hispanic working class or poor of St. Paul’s are not as interesting to the media as NYU students! It is a shame that the troubles of the IVE cast a shadow over the good that is being done.

1. For our prior article on this church see “First in Harlem,” The Society of St Hugh of Cluny (2/12/2012). The website of “St. Paul & Holy Rosary Church “ is stpaulchurchive.org; that of the IVE America is iveamerica.org. NB: St. Paul’s (East 117^th Street) is not to be confused with the church of St. Paul the Apostle on the West Side!
2. See our review, “The Betrayal of the Fathers.”
3.  Carlos Miguel Buela, en.wikipedia.org. 
4. “Pope Francis Intervenes in Two of the Most Vocationally Flourishing Congregations: The Incarnate Word and the Women’s Branch,“ Zenit 1/11/2025; Payne, Daniel, Chicago priest removed after ‘inappropriate conversations’ with children, women, EWTN News  (5/12/2026). Association of the IVE with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick didn’t help: McCarrick gave $1, million to scandal-hit religious order, Angelusnews.com (from CNA, 2/17/2020).

All sites accessed 6/26/2026.

It was reported that an exhibition (“Twilight of the Idols”) that had been scheduled for the Sheen Center had been cancelled at the last minute and relocated to Saint Francis Xavier parish. The artist in question, Fr. Nick Leeper SJ, is a member of the Jesuit community there and a teacher at Xavier high school next door. I accordingly set off an early June to take a look at what was going on. You could imagine my disappointment when I found the exhibition had closed at the end of May after a run of only a few  weeks. But my visit gave me the opportunity to reacquaint myself with this parish.

As to the exhibition,  I provide some links to enable the reader to assess this art for himself.

Barone, Camillo, “Controversial art show canceled at NY archdiocese venue finds home at Jesuit parish,”  National Catholic Reporter (5/20/2026)

Leeper, Nicholas Kerestan,  “Twilight of the Idols,” www.nkleeperssj.com (05/2026)

I cannot say I find this show impressive– a tired imitation of Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.  In the best case, it’s like a National Lampoon satire of the 1970s. And, speaking ecumenically,  I wonder what the Orthodox or the Copts think of such a direct parody of their traditions (Roman Catholics have long since lost any such sensibilities). By the way, a perceptive observer wondered whether the Sheen Center cancelled the exhibition not because of any offense it might have given to the pious, but rather for the clearly perceptible misogyny of many of the show’s images.

Yet, I thought to myself, could there indeed be – cached subconsciously perhaps – an angle of liturgical and cultural self-criticism present here that a traditionalist can sense ? Fr. Leeper’s pictures seem to equate Catholic religious art with secular advertising. Now, already in 1981, Alfred Lorenzer associated the introduction of the Novus Ordo and the associated “massacre” (Cristina Campo)of Catholic symbols with our age’s all-encompassing dominance of the images of the advertising industry.  And another commentator – whose name escapes me – compared the Novus Ordo itself with a television show, with the priest as moderator. Perhaps “Twilight of the Idols” was too self-revealing for the Church today!

St.  Francis Xavier parish otherwise is relatively unchanged from some six years ago. Only the political and “woke” aspects, already present everywhere then, have become ever more dominant and pervasive. All is politics, race, LGBT, feminism, migrants, yoga, Zen, etc. Perhaps the only discordant element is this parish’s attempt to throw fragments of traditional art into the “mix”:  the architecture and paintings of the church (except for the sanctuary), the covers of the bulletins…. It’s a change from the aggressive iconoclasm of the 1960’s and 70’s.

As always seems to be the case, the church is empty except for one or two individuals. The only sound heard in the vast space is the tinkling of a fountain emptying into the baptismal pool set before the former high altar. The parish website shows us that the parish yoga group spreads their mats out here in the “sanctuary.”

(Above) In the narthex hang tapestries commemorating advocates of economic, racial and sexual politics.

(Above and below)A set of paintings has been distributed around the church embodying a program that appears to be unique in Catholicism:  figures of the Catholic faith selected on racial grounds (they are not white). Well, you could argue about the inclusion of Oscar Romero or Rose of Lima  – but as “Hispanics” they qualify as “people of color.”

(above)The side altar/memorial to the victims of AIDS seems to have been expanded with elements taken from the closed church of St. Veronica where the original AIDS memorial was located. 

As always,  the bulletin of St. Francis Xavier parish is memorable –  here are some recent selections:

Bulletin of 6/21/2026:

Intercessions:

For all who live in our country: that the anniversary of Juneteenth on June 19 that we observed at our 11:30am Sunday mass will help us honor the proclamation of the full emancipation of 1865 of enslaved people in our country, we pray…

For all who live in our country: that the 105th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Riots will help us remember that we have not eliminated racism in our culture and society, we pray…

Bulletin of 6/07/2026: 

Happy Pride Month! …. will start the meeting for queer womyn with a presentation covering a combination of the history of drag in New York City and some gender performance theory. This presentation will culminate in practical application and exploration—the first ever Catholic Lesbians Drag Night, featuring performances from your lesbians truly! Regardless of whether you are performing, you are invited to play around with your gender expression and attend dressed with that in mind. We also will participate in Dyke March as a ministry and NYC Pride March as a parish. 

Pride March

Sunday June 28 – Church of St. Francis Xavier will continue our tradition of partaking in the Pride March. We will begin with a blessing of our Marchers at our 11:30 AM Mass. A gathering to view the Pride March is in the works. More details to come. If you would liketo join us for viewing or (to) march…..

Juneteenth Liturgy

Sunday, June 14 | 11:30AM Mass

The eleventh Sunday of Ordinary time will see our parish honoring Juneteenth. The service will feature liturgical dance, a special music program, and a reflection by parishioner, ……, Organized by Racial Justice Group

Some religious aspects do remain: 

A few years ago, as part of the Eucharistic Revival called by Pope Francis, we organized presentations from leading experts on various aspects of the Eucharist. At core, we believe that Jesus is present in the bread and wine consecrated through the prayer of the community lead (sic) by a priest at the mass. (Bulletin 6/7/2026)

I also see that there is still loyalty being shown to a certain former Jesuit artist who achieved notoriety in recent years: Bulletin 1/4/2026

The influence of the culture of St. Francis Xavier parish is not at all confined to its parish boundaries or to the Chelsea neighborhood. It sits next to Xavier high school (for males) also administered by the Jesuit order. It has connections with the theology department of Fordham University. And, for Pride month, it publishes a newsletter in collaboration with like-minded institutions:

This newsletter is the result of a collaborative effort bringing together LGBTQ+ ministries and leaders from Catholic parishes seeking to build relationships, strengthen communication, and share ideas and opportunities for community across parish lines. Participating parishes currently include Church of St. Francis Xavier, Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, Saint Paul the Apostle Church, and The Church of the Ascension.

(For some reason St. Francis of Assisi, NYC, didn’t make the cut-SC)

Traditionalist readers of this blog should further consider that all these parish activities are more aligned with the Roman Catholic hierarchy than are their own. All is open and on the record. The bulletins and other publications of St. Francis Xavier parish are often signed and, as far as I can see, not subject to any ecclesiastical censorship. Whereas traditional masses often cannot be disclosed in parish bulletins, when they are permitted at all.  Just in the last couple of weeks, I have looked at several books and articles advocating aspects of traditional culture that are anonymous or pseudonymous. Yes, the art exhibition scheduled for the Sheen Center was cancelled by the Archdiocese at the last minute –  but then it was relocated to St. Francis Xavier,  which is a parish in good standing with the Archdiocese of New York. Like his predecessor, Archbishop Hicks must be fully aware of what is going on (as are the papal nuncio and the Vatican) but does nothing.

PS: Perhaps I should summarize my impressions of this parish. There are few churches where the triumph of Catholic progressivism – and therefore of the liberal civil society it represents – is as complete as in this parish. Uniquely, at St. Francis Xavier, the dominance of the progressive agenda in all its aspects also assumes visual form: not just in a gutted sanctuary, but in shrines, banners, tapestries, and paintings. At St. Francis Xavier, though, this culture of Catholic progressivism still coexists with elements of the past which have been retained and even restored: elaborate neo-baroque  stucco decoration, Tiffany stained-glass windows, and large-scale pictorial cycles  of the stations of the Cross and of Jesuit history. Thus, the clash between the culture of Vatican II, taken to its extreme, and the past of the Catholic Church and of the Jesuit order is nowhere else in New York as clear as here.

PS #2. I had mentioned the neighboring high school, Xavier. What has been the interaction of the high school with the parish? Looking at the school’s publicity, we see very nice pictures of boys and men  in ties,  jackets or sweaters, athletes and military cadets – all just like in the good old days! Yet, if we consult the online presence of the school, we see influences at work similar to those governing the parish –  if not as exclusively and aggressively:

Xavier Magazine: Winter 2026 Edition

Examples taken from the above publication:

-Criticism of the immigration policies of the Trump administration (by the school’s president) pp. 2-3

– The art of Fr. Nicholas Leeper SJ (including one particularly controversial image from his recent exhibition) is prominently featured and commended.  (p.6 and elsewhere in this issue)

-James Martin SJ addressed students.(p. 6)

-Students participated in a Catholic social justice conference  in Washington, and spoke  on “lessons from the Holocaust, fighting anti-Semitism” based on their experiences in Xavier’s Holocaust Studies program. (p.6). Students in the Holocaust Studies program had previously traveled to Poland. (p. 7)

-Xavier’s Gay-Straight Alliance sponsored a successful “Ally Week.” Former US Representative Mondaire Jones, at a “fireside chat” moderated by the president of Xavier, “spoke about his time in Congress, the intersectionality of being Black and gay, and the role politics plays in that experience.” (p.7)

-On the school’s list of prominent initiatives over the last 25 years  are the founding of the Gay-Straight Alliance in 2014 (of course, favorably mentioned by the New York Times) and of the Holocaust Studies Program in 2023. The same list does take note of the fact that the leadership (and most of the faculty) of Xavier has transitioned to the laity.  (article starting on pp. 22-23)

In conclusion, I would find it hard to distinguish Xavier from your average expensive private secondary school, whether religious or not. 

(Above) St. Brigid (Bridget) school in January 2013. Closed in 2019 and now to be sold.

The Archdiocese and secular media have now disclosed the magnitude of the settlement of sex abuse cases. The question now is how this money is to be obtained. One obvious source is the sale of Catholic schools and parishes. This is particularly so for Manhattan where the real estate values are the highest. This has been a process going on for many years which we have chronicled on this site. But now we may be coming to a climax.

(Above and below) Holy Name of Jesus parish’s former parochial school (with centennial plaque). Photo from 2014.

Media report that at this moment two properties are being actively worked.1) The former school building (and convent) of Holy Name of Jesus parish at 200 W. 97th St. is being sold to the Rockefeller Group and Atlas Capital for $96 million. 2) The former parochial school of Saint Brigid on Tompkins Square is being marketed to luxury housing developers. The school was closed as recently as 2019. 3)

Regarding Holy Name of Jesus parish and its school, I wrote in 2014:

 But you soon notice that the church is just the center of a complex of buildings occupying a full block facing Amsterdam Avenue. …Then there is the impressive school building of 1904, with a former convent attached. A metal plaque commemorates the school’s 100th anniversary in 2005. Holy Name of Jesus School did not survive another ten years; it was closed in 2013. A ”De La Salle Academy” occupying several floors of the school also moved out to Holy Cross parish this year. Given the real estate values in the greater Upper West Side area, I would expect that this fine school building is not long for this world. 

Additional school closures have been announced, freeing up more buildings for sale. The Archdiocesan explanations for school closures are Orwellian: 

The Superintendent of Schools Office for the Archdiocese of New York on Monday provided an update on its ongoing School Renewal Plan process, a faith-filled initiative aimed at sustaining and strengthening Catholic education across the archdiocese….

“Just as Christ calls us to turn toward Him in faith, this season invites us to see God at work in our schools, creating new opportunities for growth and learning, and bringing hope to our students and communities.” Sr. Mary Grace Walsh wrote. The renewal plan follows a school viability study conducted during the 2024-2025 academic year and is part of an ongoing process to ensure Catholic education remains vibrant, accessible, and life-giving for generations to come….As part of the ongoing plan, three schools will close at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year: Incarnation School in Manhattan, Sacred Heart School in Hartsdale, and Most Precious Blood School in Walden.4) 

Cathedral High School, that, in September 2023, had to move out of the Archdiocesan headquarters building when that was sold,  is itself now being shut down. 5)  That frees up a building for sale that I believe was originally the parochial school of St. Francis de Sales parish. Second , Incarnation school in Washington Heights will be closing. 6) And even the successful school of Transfiguration parish (which includes the former parochial school of Saint James where Governor Al Smith received his education) is now being reduced from three buildings to two.7)

Certainly, this is just the beginning. I could think of other parishes with dual “worship spaces,”  or superfluous schools, convents or rectories, that may well be next. St. Michael’s parish with its surrounding complex of buildings next to the Hudson Yards, and currently closed, seems to me an obvious target. Most Holy Redeemer on East 3rd Street is already the subject of animated discussion. Another candidate that comes to mind is Sacred Heart parish in Hell’s Kitchen, merged with St. Malachi’s parish (perhaps including its school building, currently used by the active Blessed Sacrament school?).  I might also mention, among others, the parishes of St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Good Counsel, or Corpus Christi, now combined with Notre Dame.

Then there are the parishes targeted in previous waves of closures that for one reason or another were spared, such as  the above-mentioned St. Thomas More or Holy Innocents.  But really any parish or school is potentially at risk – regardless of how successful it may be. Remember the fight over the Archdiocese’s attempt to close St Thomas More – surely not an impoverished parish! 

And all of these actions are just the developments in the borough of Manhattan! Judging from the reaction so far, other than aggrieved locals, no one in the Catholic community seems to care.

1. Kelly, Keith J.,” Pastors Worry as Archdiocese Pushes $800 Million Sex Abuse Settlement,” ourtownny.com (5/5/2026)
2.  Ibid. See also Saltonstall, Gus and Muha, Laura, Upper West Side Church to sell for $96M  and become Housing,” westsiderag.com (2.2/2026) (As the latter article states, the church and rectory in fact were not sold)
3. Kelly, Keith J., “St. Brigid School in East Village Put on Block by Archdiocese,” ourtownny.com (5/3/2026).
4. Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York continue renewal, announce Key Changes, thegoodnewsroom.org ( 3/16/2026).
5. “Cathedral High School to close following the 2025-26 Academic Year,thegoodnewsroom.org (9/19/2025).
6. Kelly, Keith J., “Another Manhattan School to Close: Archdiocese,”  ourtownny.com (3/24/2026) In his informative report,  Kelly points out that the Archdiocesan claims of relocating students to other Catholic schools are unrealistic, given the distances involved.
7.  Ibid. Also,  Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York, supra Note 4.

The Wall Street Journal today returns to the theme of young Catholics attending Mass at Saint Joseph’s in the Village and at Saint Patrick’s basilica.

Bhutani, Anvee, “Gen. Z finds a home in Sunday Mass,” Page A3, The Wall Street Journal, (Monday 5/4/2026).

As in the case of the Epstein saga,  this report continues the trend of the mainstream news publications  –  and specifically the WSJ  – of simply commenting on news previously reported in online sources. 1)

The reporter describes a 6:00 PM Sunday Mass – certainly a welcome time for college students! And it seems that a number of them have come to this Mass after a pizza dinner an hour earlier. The reporter is struck by the fact that all the pews were filled, folded chairs had to be provided, the balconies were utilized and even then, some had to stand for the 90-minute service. The reporter, who seems unfamiliar with the Catholic Church, could not know that prior to Vatican II that seating situation was routine at the main Sunday Masses in ordinary parish churches. And also, that Our Lady of Pompeii,  a much larger Catholic church,  is located a little way down the Avenue and seems to be, relatively speaking, empty.

The reporter also makes the point that socializing seems to be a main benefit and even objective for those who attend Mass here. From the pulpit,  the priest says that he has heard that some attend Mass at St. Joseph’s not only to worship God:

“There is great excitement about falling in love with a pretty girl.” 

Now in today’s society that’s perhaps a sentiment to be commended!  But isn’t the evident interest in socializing expressed by the members of the congregation interviewed for this article more characteristic of a Protestant denomination?

Yet otherwise, all is not healthy in the Archdiocese of New York. Last week we learned from the secular media of the proposed amount of the settlement of sex abuse claims: $800 million. On May 1st, Archbishop Hicks issued a “message” in which he stated that he is “cautiously optimistic” the settlement will materialize. For Archbishop Hicks makes clear what the alternative is:

If a truly global settlement can be achieved, compensation will become available to victim survivors in the fastest, most comprehensive manner possible, without the need for lengthy painful litigation for victim-survivors or bankruptcy proceedings for the Archdiocese.2)

UPDATE:

A reader of this blog familiar with St. Jiseph’s shares some observations:

Hello Mr. Chessman, I’m a native New Yorker who has for the past few years regularly read your essays, book reviews, and blog posts on the Society’s website. While I don’t consider myself a capital-T traditionalist Catholic and I have not always agreed with the website’s perspective, I have my sympathies and I like to take in different points of view. It also helps that your website is among the few that regularly covers Catholicism in New York City besides the official archdiocesan channels. 

I’ve noticed that you’ve mentioned in quite a few recent posts the church I attend, St. Joseph’s in Greenwich Village, understandably so considering the media attention it has gotten this past year, coverage that shows no signs of letting up; a camera crew from PBS was over at the parish this past Sunday. I thought that you may be interested in a somewhat different perspective than what has been covered in most of the news articles.

For one thing, I attend the 11:30 A.M. Mass and have never attended the 6:00 P.M. Mass, which has gotten almost all of the news coverage. While the 6:00 Mass does have the highest attendance, the 11:30 Mass has been at or near full attendance as well. While attendees are still predominantly young adults, there are quite a few young families and even some older parishioners, including those who have been around since before the Dominicans took over. That mass has a choir that chants the propers and features polyphony from the likes of Byrd, Vivaldi, Lasso, etc. That same choir covers most of the Masses for non-Sunday solemnities, including the Triduum. I don’t have the finest ear so I can’t say if it’s better or worse than what I’ve heard at St. Vincent Ferrer or St. Josaphat’s, but I believe it’s quite beautiful and enriching to the solemnity of the Mass. 

I cannot comment on the feelings and inner convictions of every parishioner and I have been disappointed by some of the unnecessary comments made about traditionalist Catholics, but that’s thankfully not a sentiment I have personally witnessed and it’s not something I would tolerate nor something I believe the friars would encourage. I’ve met quite a few parishioners, including the guys I serve with, who are very sympathetic to tradition. 

I’m also aware that there may be some people who attend the 6:00 P.M. as an “event”, for lack of a better term. I would say that that kind is exceeded by those who are genuinely seeking to learn and grow in the faith. The Eucharistic devotion among the parishioners here is especially breathtaking. To give one example, the past couple of years the parish has hosted quarterly “NightFire” events, where the church is open all night to the public for Eucharistic adoration. The parish has produced at least two vocations to the priesthood and there are currently two former parishioners in formation for the Province of St. Joseph, alongside a couple of vocations to female religious life and several more parishioners presently discerning religious life.

It must also be said that the friars are truly exemplary and I think that the way they’ve been quoted by some of the secular media outlets have done them a disservice. They’re among the best preachers, confessors, and celebrants of the liturgy I’ve known, and the pastor Fr. Boniface deserves a lot of credit and has been very explicit in wanting to make St. Joseph’s a center of Catholic culture, as can be seen in its hosting of ArtHouse2B, the School of Sacred Music, and the Thomistic Institute, among other initiatives. 

Of course, it’s not like everything is perfect. I recognize the limitations that derive from the dominant liturgical/pastoral paradigm; as much as I believe eating pizza dinner before Mass is inappropriate, it’s likely those people are not violating the one hour fast before communion. Similar comments could be made regarding the contemporary music featured at the 6:00 P.M. Mass. But things are much improved from how they were two years ago, and are even more greatly improved than before the pandemic. I understand that there are aspects of the parish which will not be satisfying to traditionalists but I do believe that despite the hype, St. Joseph’s is a truly blessed place that I have been fortunate to participate in. That’s my two cents, anyway.

Thank you and God bless,

A Reader of the Society’s Website

1. See our previous report: “Looking for the ‘Catholic Revival.’” (5/26/2026) (summarizing earlier articles)
2.  “A Message from Archbishop Hicks,” thegoodnewsroom.org, (5/1/2026) . On the proposed settlement, see, e.g., DeGregory, Priscilla; Senzamici, Peter: and Troutman, Matt, “NY Archdiocese pitches $800M to settle child sex abuse claims — warns of bankruptcy if offer is rejected,” The New York Post (5/1/2026)

We read that the Archdiocese of New York convened an “emergency” meeting of the clergy, outlining to them the dire financial condition of the archdiocese confronted by sexual abuse claims. Parishes and schools will have to contribute to the settlement fund – or else the archdiocese willl have to file for bankruptcy.

Kelly, Keith J., “Archdiocese to Pastors: Raise Millions for Sexual Abuse Victims or Go Bankrupt,” ourtownny.com (4/25/2026).

Is it not characteristic of the Church that the archdiocese’s new awareness emerges only after a change in leadership? And that the new archbishop of New York was reportedly not in attendance at this meeting?

This article points out the real or potential impact of the financial crisis on the fate of historic churches in Manhattan. We have covered them in this blog : St. Columba, St. Michael, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Most Holy Redeemer… I fear that the archdiocese will put more and more properties on the market to stave off disaster.

(Above) St. Joseph’s in the Village.

I recently decided to check out for myself the recently reported Catholic revival downtown. First, I visited  one of the epicenters – St. Joseph in the Village  – around 2:00 in the afternoon on a weekday.  I found it padlocked. The much-publicized  perpetual adoration chapel of 2023 is accessible through the rectory. Exposition of the blessed sacrament in this chapel is  8 AM – 6 PM Monday through Friday. However, a key card is necessary to enter. That can be obtained two or three days after registering for an account  and requires the presentation of “a state ID and proof of address (no exceptions).” 1) An article on this church indicates that key cards will be given to parishioners and NYU students. 2) So, I doubt if I will ever be able to see the inside of this chapel!  (This concern for security may relate to one terrible incident some twelve years ago).

St. Joseph’s, of course is open at Mass times and for confessions. But, as the archdiocese stated at the time it sold the original NYU Catholic Chapel,  St. Joseph’s parish has taken over the role of a university chapel. I applaud the good work the Dominicans seem to be doing here. Yet attending a somewhat exclusive chapel with restricted hours and access has not really been the historic Catholic parish experience. 

(Above and below) Our Lady of Pompeii.

I headed further south to Our Lady of Pompeii. It is archdiocesan  – even if in the care of the Scalabrini fathers – and open. Our Lady of Pompeii remains a fantastic example of Italian-American architecture and decoration. It is literally crammed with images, statues and devotions. And this is how it should be! Because this church invites Catholics and non-Catholics, even outside of scheduled Masses, to stay and linger for quiet prayer, contemplation and devotion. People do go in and out of the church,  although I found only two or three remaining in the church at any one time.

(Above) Shrine to St. Frances Cabrini, who had contacts with this parish. ((Below) Window commemorating her mission to the US. In contrast to the recent movie on Cabrini’s life, the window correctly emphasizes the role of the Scalabrinian order (whose founder, Giovanni Battista Scalabrini – now also a saint – is somwehat incongruously vested in pontificals).

(Above) Some more recently canonized or beatified holy men and women are also commemorated at Our Lady of Pompeii: at top, Clelia Merloni (1861-1930) (Beatified 2018).

Years ago,  I had even looked upon Our Lady of Pompeii as a potential basis of a future Catholic revival. 3) But that apparently is not to be. The stirrings of orthodoxy one could find ten years ago in the  bulletin of Our Lady of Pompeii have disappeared  – indeed, online I cannot find a bulletin at all. The archdiocese closed the  parochial school in 2020.  As these images show, even the dominant artwork of the church -the fresco in the apse, completed as recently as 1985 –  has now suffered significant damage.

(Above) Immaculate Conception Church.

Heading north to East 14th St., I came to Immaculate Conception parish. Now Immaculate Conception parish has not only survived but it (or its pastor) has absorbed or taken over the direction of six or so other east Village parishes – most recently,  Most Holy Redeemer. Until not too long ago,   the neighborhood of this parish (Stuyvesant Town)  was one of the last remnants of middle-class Catholicism on the island of Manhattan. Perhaps because of this heritage – and the closing of other parishes – the statistics for collections as set forth in the parish bulletin seem respectable by the standards of New York Catholic churches. However, just as at Our Lady of Pompeii, the parochial school recently(2023)has been closed. When I visited, Immaculate Conception church was open but only a handful of worshippers was present. 

(Above) Immaculate Conception church with “Catholic” altars and statues added.

(Above) One of the fine “Protestant” windows ( this church was constructed for an affiliate of Grace Church (Episcopal). (Below) An example of the much more recent inept “art” of the archdiocese.

Thus, my initial report on the revival is mixed. Two archdiocesan parishes are impressive artistically, remain open for prayer – but unfortunately, at least on weekdays, seem to frequented by relatively few faithful and otherwise show signs of decline. In contrast, St. Joseph’s, currently under the guidance of the Dominicans,  is achieving noteworthy growth – and garnering media attention. Yet is a relatively closed, chapel-like environment really representative of Catholicism? Perhaps the solution is to head north to the parish of St. Vincent Ferrer – combining the evangelism of the Dominicans with the most beautiful church in New York!

(Above) A noteworthy feature of the exterior of the church is this water fountain – dry as long as I can remember. (Below) A quote ( Isaiah 55:1) above the fountain.

(Below) The fountain commemorates a little girl who died in 1894.

1. “Sign up to be an Adorer.” 
2. Caldwell, Zelda, “The Holy Spirit is Moving in Manhattan,” National Catholic Register (4/5/2026)
3.  The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny, The Churches of New York LXXVIII: “The Italians of Greenwich Village…”

(All accessed 4/26/2026)