Catholic Churches In Manhattan, Where Italian Immigrants Worshipped
 

 
 

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Our Lady Of Angels, New York, N.Y.
This parish was established in 1886 for the German Catholics of Harlem by the pioneer priest of the Capuchin Order, Very Rev. Bonaventure Frey (See Vol. I, pp. 129 and 131). From August 8 to the 22nd, Divine Services were held in Sylvan Hall, 119th Street and 2nd Avenue, about 40 people attending. On August 18 a brick residence, 227 East 112th Street, was purchased. This was used for a rectory and church, until a new brick church facing 113th Street was built on property which was purchased on September 2, of the same year. This property extends from the rear of the above-mentioned rectory to 113th Street. The church was completed within two months, and was blessed on November 21 by Archbishop Corrigan, D.D. From the fact that it was built so quickly, it may be readily seen that it was not intended to be permanent: owing, however, to the large influx of Hebrews, the Germans soon decreased as fast as they had increased, so that a larger church was not needed. The seating capacity is 600. In 1891 the sanctuary was enlarged. In 1905 beautiful large oil-paintings representing the life of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin, new windows and an altar-railing of brass were added to the church, and the expense, $5000, met by Mrs. Frances Gross. In 1906 a new vestibule was added, with two additional entrances.

Provisions were made at the foundation of the parish for Catholic education of the children by the purchase of property and buildings for school purposes at a cost of over $70,000. The Sisters of St. Agnes, whose motherhouse is at Fond du Lac, Wis., were put in charge of the school, which was opened on September 13, 1886, with an attendance of 60 children. The following year the number had grown to 260. The old school buildings were replaced by a massive brick structure in 1892 at a cost of $52,000. This school opened with an attendance of 360 children. In 1914 there are 530 pupils, of whom 140 are of German descent, 169 Irish, 126 Italian, and 95 Hungarian and mixed.

As early as 1888, a parish library was opened. It now contains over 2000 volumes of English and German books and is well patronized. It is free to all parishioners and members of any of the parish societies. Outside members contribute 50 cents yearly or $5.00 for perpetual membership.

The following societies are established: St. Bonaventure for men (beneficiary); C.M.B.A.; Confraternity of Christian Mothers; Young Ladies' and Men's Sodalities; St. Rose (girls); St. Stanislaus (boys); St. Vincent de Paul; People's Eucharistic League; the III Order of St. Francis; Sacred Heart Confraternity; Holy Name; C.W.B.L.; and School Society.

The following Capuchin Fathers were pastors of the church: Bonaventure Frey (1886-88); Luke Rasch (1888-91); Pius Wendl (1891-94); Lawrence M. Henn (1894-97); Timothy Grossmann (1897-1900); Albert Locher (1900-01); Anthony Adams (1901-06), during whose time the community house, hitherto a hospice, was made a monastery; Paul Reichcet (1906^09); Justin Hausmann (1909-12); and John O'Donovan. Father O'Dono- van, who is also guardian of the monastery, is assisted by Revs. Fabian Feths, Constantino Leyendecker, Damasus Wickland and Innocent Ferstler. The Fathers attend to the spiritual welfare of the Catholics of the Isabella Heimrath, a home for the aged at 190th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. They also frequently aid priests of the diocese on Sundays, and give retreats and missions. Since the convent was made a monastery (February 12, 1905), enjoying the various privileges of the Order, the Fathers are obliged to say the Divine Office in the choir.

The church celebrated its Silver Jubilee on November 12, 1911. The cost of the present property, with buildings, was $175,000. There are now 1500 parishioners, including school children. Since 1894, 194 conversions were made in the parish.

Our Lady Of Loretto, New York, N.Y.
This mission was organized on August 16, 1891, for the immense Italian population east and west of the Bowery and North of Broome Street, and was entrusted to the Jesuits. (See Vol. I, pp. 261-262, for further account of the foundation.) Father Nicholas Russo, S.J., the first pastor, was assisted by Fathers Aloysius Romano and Henry Longo. The church was dedicated by Archbishop Corrigan on September 27, 1892. By an odd coincidence the first church (burned on January 22, 1848) of the Jesuits on Manhattan Island was opened in Elizabeth Street in 1847, bearing the title of the Holy Name of Jesus. The Mission is within the parochial limits of St. Patrick's, the old cathedral. The church property of Loretto Mission is valued at §92,000, with a mortgage of $45,000.

Father Russo died April 1, 1902, and Father Aloysius Romano was in charge until July, 1903, when Rev. William H. Walsh, S.J., was appointed superior of the Mission. He immediately began the erection of the small building connecting the church and school. This was the gift of Mr. Rocco Marasco, a rich property holder of the neighborhood, who although a Freemason was friendly "with the Fathers and brought up his family in the Catholic Faith. This building added one classroom to the boys' school, an outer sacristy, a small wing and a basement room to the church. It also made possible some very desirable changes in the church. The reed organ which had served since the opening of the mission was replaced by a fine pipe organ.

Loretto School was formally opened in the fall of 1892. With the additional classroom in the new building the school roll was increased and new teachers were added. It had been a common thing for parents to leave their children in Loretto School until they had made their First Communion and then to send them for the higher grades to the public school, under the impression that they would learn English better. This practice, injurious alike to the children and the school, has been entirely abolished. In the fall of 1904 three

Sisters of Jesus Mary took charge of the girls' school, and in 1905 a fourth Sister was added. The boys' school in charge of Miss Louise Rossi and eight lay teachers is also doing good work.

Our Lady Of Esperanza (Spanish) Manhattan, New York
No better proof can be asked than the success of the boys who go annually to St. Francis Xavier's High School and who stand among the first in the classes. Loretto School recently won the gold medal in a contest among all the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese for the largest number of American Penman Diplomas within two years. The combined school roll for 1914 shows 750 pupils. The congregation is entirely Italian. The records for 1913 show: 566 baptisms, 369 confirmations, 103 marriages and 69,550 communions.

Father Walsh was born on July 1, 1885, in New York City. He was educated in St. Francis Xavier's College, and entered the Society of Jesus in 1875. Assisting him are Revs. Joseph Gennaro, S.J., Henry Longo, S.J., Dennis Lynch, S.J., and C. Battaglia, S.J.

The Barat Settlement House was originated in the desire to provide the girls of the Mission with the means of earning their living otherwise than by working in factories. In February, 1905, two floors of 106 East Houston Street were rented by the Children of Mary of the Sacred Heart Convent, Manhattanville, who, assisted by competent teachers, taught the children daily after school hours. When the house was sold the school moved to a factory building opposite the church in Elizabeth Street.

Our Lady Of Mount Carmel, New York, N.Y.
This parish was founded in 1884 by Rev. Emil Koerner, P.S.M. Mass was said in a temporary chapel in East 111th Street, until the completion of the church in 1885. It is of Portland stone, seats 2000 people, and cost $200,000. Father Koerner built the rectory, and then in his endeavor for the completion of his school building, lost his life through the collapse of one of its walls. His successors were: Revs. Aloysius Monselli (1887-90); Michael Carmody (1892)"; Scipio Tofini (1893); John Dolan (1908), and Anthony Muller, all of the Pious Society of Missions. Father Muller is assisted by Fathers E. Mezzatesta, E. Messina, R. Sorgi, S. Tofini and Hugh F. O'Connor.

The shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is enriched by jewels donated by the parishioners. Most notable among these treasures are two solid gold crowns studded with precious stones, which were especially blessed by Leo XIII. On July 11, 1904, the solemn coronation was performed by Archbishop Farley in Jefferson Park. At that time, by special favor of Leo XIII, the Church of Mount Carmel was promoted to the dignity of a Sanctuary — the only Sanctuary of Our Lady in North America. In 1909 the 25th anniversary of the erection of the parish was solemnly celebrated.

The population, which numbers 25,000 Italians and 2000 Americans, shows an increase through which the Bohemians were moving in great numbers. The new church was dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and opened on August 7, 1887. It is Romanesque in style and cost $40,000 to build.  Since then the Redemptorists labored for the spiritual welfare of the Bohemian Catholics and, in spite of great obstacles and the opposition of numerous free- thinking societies, their labors were not unsuccessful. Of its members ten became priests and five Sisters. The parish records for 1913 show: 2700 baptisms, 600 marriages and 5200 weekly communions. In 1911 there were 1000 candidates for confirmation. The parochial school is conducted by 5 Sisters of Charity and 7 lay teachers, and has an attendance of 900 pupils.

 

Website: The History Box.com
Article Name: The Catholic Churches in Manhattan where Italian Immigrants Worshipped
Researcher/Transcriber Miriam Medina

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: The Catholic Church in the United States of America; The Catholic Editing Company-New York (1914)
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