It’s endlessly fascinating to track the fate of  the art which once adorned the closed churches of New York. Take the once great church of St. Ann, for example,  torn down by Cardinal Egan and now the site of an NYU residence. Artwork from this church has turned up all over the Archdiocese: in Somers in Westchester, at Cardinal Egan’s retirement lodgings (The Chapel of the Sacred Hearts) and, until recently, at the church of Our Saviour. The pastor of Our Savior, in turn, has commenced the exploitation of the church of St. Stephen for various artifacts. An altar from the extraordinary church of St. Thomas in Harlem now graces St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Now the parish of the Nativity had already lost its historic church in 1968. Its new church was one of the first post-Conciliar monstrosities in Manhattan – and, fortunately, because of the worsening financial situation of the Archdiocese, one of the last. But, this ancient parish having been closed under “Making all Things New,” much of what little art remained to it recently has resurfaced in the church of the Most Holy Redeemer – excuse me,”The Parish of Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity.”

(Above) This “painting” of the Nativity – from Nativity parish – now graces a wall at Most Holy Redeemer. With the helpful sign on the left: “Please don’t touch the picture!”

(Above) The splendid chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help now features two statues from Nativity parish.

(Above) “Our Lady of the Streets” once peered out from the facade of Nativity.

(Above) Maria SS.”Del Monte”, patroness of Racalmuto in Sicily. Many inhabitants of this town settled in Hamilton, Ontario. There – and in Racalmuto, of course – a major festa is held in her honor. This statue, dedicated in 19(17?) indicates that Nativity must have become a very Italian parish by that year. Now this statue stands here in magnificent surroundings but somewhat forlorn. Perhaps some of the Racalmutesi will take an interest in her?

Yesterday evening Canon Jean Marie Moreau, ICRSS, celebrated a farewell mass at Holy Innocents Church, New York. Canon Moreau has been in the New York area(New Jersey and New York) for five years; he is now heading to the island of Mauritius. After Mass there was an ongoing novena in honor of St. Ann, whose feast day is July 26. The ceremony included a procession around the church with a statue of St. Ann and the exposed Blessed Sacrament,  Benediction and veneration of a relic of St. Ann. A reception for Canon Moreau followed in the church hall.  (Information about the Novena to St. Ann at Holy Innocents posted here)

At St. Paul Church in Yonkers, a low traditional mass is celebrated every Sunday at 1:30, except the fourth Sunday, when it is at 2:30.
Weekday masses at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (not in bulletin).

Shown above, Fr. Leonard Villa.  Photo courtesy of Joanne O’Beirne.

Regarding our prior report – from the July 17, 2016 bulletin of the Basilica of St. John, Stamford:

LATIN LOW MASS: In the Extraordinary Form each Friday at 2pm. Everyone is welcome.

(The mass does not appear in either the mass schedule or calendar of the parish)

Some pictures from the mass for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel today. It was also the anniversary of this church being raised to the honor of a basilica.

(Above and below) After the mass, the clergy processed to the altar of Our Lady.