New York Archdiocese Sets Biggest Closing in Its 150 Years

NYT ^ | March 29, 2006 | Michael Luo

[NYer]

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York announced plans yesterday for the most sweeping reorganization in its history of more than 150 years, recommending the closing of 31 parishes and 14 schools throughout the metropolitan region.

At the same time, the archdiocese recommended creating five new parishes in Staten Island, Orange County and Dutchess County and constructing several new church buildings, mostly in northern Westchester County, Rockland County and Dutchess County, where many Catholics who have left the city have relocated.

The closings would hit the archdiocese the hardest in its southern parts — the Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan, Yonkers and central Westchester. The Bronx and Manhattan alone accounted for 17 of the 31 parishes that are to be closed.

The announcement had long been expected. For more than two years, archdiocesan officials have been studying how to deal with a growing shortage of priests, coupled with the changing demographics of the archdiocese, which in its entirety stretches from Staten Island in the south to the Catskills in the north. Some churches in the northern suburbs have been bulging at the seams, while others in the city have struggled to get by, often requiring large financial subsidies from the archdiocese.

"A lot of these are just no-brainers," said Msgr. John J. Jenik, pastor of Our Lady of Refuge in the Bronx and a member of a panel of lay leaders and priests convened by the archdiocese that recently reviewed the reorganization plans. "When you've got diminishing numbers of priests, large cash investments in places, dwindling numbers and economies of scale, it's not wise stewardship."

Each of the parishes and schools on the list of closings will have the chance to discuss their situations with archdiocesan officials.

[RobbyS]

I recall a comment in TIME when Paul VI visited New York. the reporter looked at the crowds, which were often more curious than enthusiastic and commented that it showed that Manhattan was no longer a Catholic island.

[Coleus]

I have yet to hear or read a sermon, read an op-ed, read a letter to the editor about the subject of vouchers or tuition tax credits from any bishop, priest, or religious clergy. I've also read very little about abortion and nothing about the IVF procedure.

Yet, I continually read from the USCCB, bishops, priests, religious clergy about liberal UN initiatives, supporting the UN, the school of the Americas, illegal immigration, the homeless and other very-liberal and social-justice causes.

They've advocated for every social program in the world which needed to be paid by the taxpayers, the middle class, those who normally would send their children to Catholic schools if they had some disposable income left over.

They reap what the sow.

[Cheverus]

Valid points, I think an arguement could also be made that the financial aspect goes much deeper.

In many cases around the Boston area when an Archdiocesan run school has closed an independent Catholic School has popped up in it's place.

There is actually a nationwide network of Independent Catholic Schools that do group fundraising.

You should also not discount "hokie" Liturgies driving people away as well....sure they were luke warm to begin with but at least they added to the Sacramental index.

Oh, BTW, I perused your about page: There is actually a Parish named for St. Gabriel Possenti in the Brighton Section of Boston. The plant is owned by St. Elizabeth's Hospital and it's staffed by Redemptorists.

[Antoninus]

Not to mention the Catholic homeschooling movement.

[Cheverus]

Um, and the "Truth about Touching" in Diocesan schools program which has increased homeschooling.

[Antoninus]

Um, and the "Truth about Touching" in Diocesan schools program which has increased homeschooling.

And will continue to do so. I've got 4 little ones under age 4 who will NEVER experience one of these programs.

[HitmanLV]

My old parish (St Anthony's in downtown NY W Houston/Sullivan) stopped doing its annual street festival a few years back and at that point I knew it was the end. A couple of years later they closed my old grammar school (on McDougal).

I was pleased to not see St Anthony's on the list of church closings or mergers, but it's got to just be a matter of time at this point.

A shame.

[Clemenza]

About time. Manhattan is filled with Churches now surrounded by secular yuppies.

Build Churches where your coreligionists actually live.

[Clemenza]

1. If you still live in the same crappy neighborhood after 100 years, uh, no comment.

2. Most of these Churches were built for immigrant communities that no longer exist, and now sit on some very valuable real estate in Manhattan. The Archdiocese is doing the right thing.

[SaltyJoe]

"...a sign of his abject failure to increase the flock."

I cannot possibly understand everything of why things happen the way they do. Correct me if I'm wrong, but even St Paul had trouble entering the hearts of certain communities (and spoke about being mysteriously blocked by certain forces, possibly diabolic?, from entering a territory).

People in certain areas of the world have blocked the Eucharist and others have, with hostility, turned against it. Sometimes the resistance comes from the clergy (like in Jerusalem when Jesus was actually in their presence), sometimes it comes from laity (like a crowned king of Europe wanting to divorce his wives). When resistance and insult become too much, history shows what happens to a people who reject God.

There will be an underground Faith. If that Faith is dear enough in God's eyes, then angels will come to warn the faithful to flee the city before Justice arrives.

Of course, a city, people, nation and/or individual can repent, and God Mercy will forgive and forget all of their injustices.

The New York Archdiocese has the opportunity to better serve the Catholic community by relocating its main effort and mission. This doesn't mean that the Church has abandoned the city. I suppose it's similar to the statement that for those who have (Faith), more (Grace) will be given; and to those who have not (Faith), what little they had (belief) will be taken away. Of course, the heart that seeks the Sacraments will always find Jesus--He promised it so.

Plus, the Church should make a killing in real estate sales...and before the local or state government persecutes Catholics with draconian unfair taxes/fines and sinful unjust laws (example Oregon trying to sue Catholics for a priest's bad behavior, or liberals trying to force Catholic adoption agencies to slave trade children to homosexual activism).

Sometimes an Apostolic missionary must beat the dust from his sandals and clothes as he leaves a town full of hard hearts. In this present case, it seems to be only in degrees...so hopefully this big move will be seen as the wake call that locals need. They can either fill the pews, move to where the "Food" is, or stay where they want.

[Clemenza]

St. Anthony's aka that big building near Arturo's. ;-)

[HitmanLV]

About a block away, yes. :-)

[blu]

Ah, yes, the real estate value. Now, seriously, do you think the parishes will see any $$ from those sales? Hardly. But, maybe the archdiocese can use the money to settle some lawsuits (sorry, I'm not up on that area's abuse cases).

The church is the people. It's not the bishop or the archbishop. If these parishes can find a way to subsist then they should be allowed to remain open.

[fatima]

Did you have 2 sets of twins:)

[Cicero]

With any review like this there will always be a few mistakes, which I hope they correct. But I think this basically makes sense.

There are many reasons for the closings. The priest shortage is mentioned. But several other factors are probably more important. One is the disappearance of the old ethnic neighborhoods. Little Italy has gotten smaller. Little Germany has virtually disappeared. There are more blacks and fewer Catholic ethnics. Most of the Irish and Italians have moved to the suburbs.

A lot of young blacks like the kid in the picture have profited from going to Catholic parochial schools. But they are not Catholic themselves, and somebody has to pay for these schools. The NY state teachers unions have been especially vehement against any kind of voucher system, and the liberal judges have frequently shot them down. Same with the hospitals. Catholic schools and hospitals are serving mainly non-Catholics, and that can't continue unless somebody is willing to pay for it.

There are plenty of thriving Catholic churches in NYC. I attended Our Lady of Victories church down on Wall Street, and it was great. But other churches are nearly empty and simply don't support themselves--maintenance, heating bills, and all the rest of it.

[NYer]

Thank you for the excellent analysis of the situation. We in NY are not alone. Check out the other thread on Maida and Michigan. There has definitely been a shift in this country. Catholics have relocated to parts where no Catholic Churches existed and they have drawn on their heritage to erect new churches, oftentimes in the deep south.

As you pointed out, the first catholic settlers lived in 'ethnic' neighborhoods and built their churches to resemble those they left behind. It is not unusual in the northeast, to find several catholic churches within blocks of each other, simply because one was built by the Irish, another by the Italians and yet another by the Poles.

This is also true in the Eastern Churches where their 'ethnic' neighborhoods have also disbanded, though not to the extent of their Latin counterparts. The ongoing persecution of christians in the Near East ensures a constant flow of eastern christians to the west. Here they seek comfort and solace in 'their' catholic churches, to which RCs are also being drawn for the beauty and reverence of their liturgies.

As my pastor recently commented: The Eastern Churches are the same faith, just a different flavor.

[Clemenza]

Lets not forget that the majority of white folks in Manhattan don't attend Church, or even religious services of any kind. Yorkville (Little Germany) and the Mulberry Corridor (Little Italy) are expensive places to live these days, and tend to attract the secular and non-ethnic.

Interesting statistic is that the largest concentration of Italian immigrants (aka REAL Italians) in New York is on the Upper East Side. These tend to be wealthy folks in the arts and finance, many of whom are part of the jet set.

[right-wingin_It]

...They've advocated for every social program in the world which needed to be paid by the taxpayers, the middle class, those who normally would send their children to Catholic schools if they had some disposable income left over...

Excellent point. Right-On

[right-wingin_It]

I hope all these churches are gutted before they are sold, if they aren't going to christian community.

If sacramentals have to be disposed of properly, shouldn't the church be stripped before, some dude gets his hands on it and wants to turn it into some gothic looking bar or what have you?

[Clemenza]

Hey, the Limelight, which was converted from an Episcopal Church, was a pretty cool place.