Our Lady of Vilnius Roman Catholic Church stood on Broome Street in Manhattan at the Entrance to the Holland Tunnel since 1910. Cardinal Egan locked it on February 26, 2007. It was demolished in 2015. I live here even though it is gone, serving food for thought at a virtual "kavine."
"An intelligent person fights for lost causes, realizing that others are merely effects." e.e. cummings
The resourceful and resilient All Hallows seniors nearly lost the opportunity to gather as a class for the last time when their prom was almost cancelled because not enough students could afford the tickets. They reduced the ticket price by finding a less costly venue and began to raise money on their own.
Why can't some of the greater than $1 million raised in the failed attempt to keep the school open be used to send every senior and his or her date to the prom for free? They deserve it, especially the young women of Saint Barnabas who were sent to All Hallows when their school abruptly closed.
The Vatican overruled Cardinal Dolan's decree extinguishing St. Mary's as a parish and merging it into the parish of St. Peter-St. Denis. But this is Canon Law and, unfortunately, there is not a Canon PD to call when it is violated. Therefore, it is a very good sign that the weekly bulletin header reads "Immaculate Conception - St. Mary's Church.
As opposed to the previous week's, which was headed "St. Peter's - St. Denis and Immaculate Conception Church."
The little church at 52 Main Street in Hastings on Hudson, NY began its life in the 1800s serving a Baptist congregation. In 1914 it was consecrated by Vicar General Msgr. Joseph Mooney and began its 93 year life as the Parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Hastings on Hudson, NY. The parish was born of the efforts by the sizable Polish community to have a place where they could worship in a manner consistent with their culture and traditions. Over time the congregation evolved into a mix of descendants of the original parishioners, immigrants from everywhere and random Catholics who appreciated worshipping with a small but enthusiastic community in a structure reminiscent of a country church.
The little building was sold, then painted in vibrant purple and orange when it opened as "The Purple Crayon Center for Learning and Social Innovation." This institution evolved into Purpl, "an incubator for people to build lives they're passionate about." Purpl closed, the building was put on the market and the bright colors faded. After a long period on the market (for approximately $1 million) the building was withdrawn. It was later repainted and Purpl was resurrected for a while before being sold.
I am very happy to see that it is once more a church where immigrants are gathering to worship Jesus Christ and spread the Good Word. Welcome to Iglesia Milej de El Salvador!
An activist trying to save his parish once used the slogan "1011 is our 9/11." Sadly, this saying will be obsolete when the Arch moves out later in the year and Vanbarton begins the conversion to residential at 1011 First Avenue.
Forwarded on behalf of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.
Media Contact: Gerald J. Wutkowski, Jr. Director of Communications and Digital Media Office of the Superintendent of Schools Archdiocese of New York
Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary School in East Harlem to Close at the End of the 2024-2025 Academic Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6, 2025
NEW YORK – The Superintendent of Schools Office has announced that Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary School in East Harlem will close at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
As part of the Archdiocese’s ongoing School Viability Study, Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary was initially identified for closure due to ongoing challenges in meeting sustainability benchmarks. “In response, school community members worked hard to boost enrollment and demonstrate the school’s viability. We are deeply grateful for those efforts.” said Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York, in a letter to school families.
Unfortunately, despite these efforts, enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year is currently at just 63 students, well below the level needed to keep the school operational, even when including pending applications.
“Please know that this decision was made with much prayer and discernment, rooted in our desire to nurture and strengthen Catholic education for generations,” Sr. Mary Grace emphasized. “We recognize how painful this is. Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary has been a place of faith, learning, and love for generations.”
To support affected families, every student will be offered a seat at another Catholic school. During this transition, Mr. Christopher Quito, Enrollment Director, will work directly with families to provide guidance and assistance. Mr. Anthony Biscione, Regional Superintendent for the Manhattan School Region, will also be available for non-enrollment-related concerns.
Families can reach Mr. Quito via email at Christopher.Quito@archny.org. Additionally, the bilingual parent helpline is available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at (646) 794-2885. Mr. Biscione can be contacted at (646) 794-2006.
The Manhattan School Region will also host a School Fair on a later date to help families explore nearby Catholic schools, including Our Lady Queen of Angels, St. Charles Borromeo, and Our Lady of Lourdes. Representatives from these schools will be present to answer questions and guide families through available options.
I lived in Washington Heights for 4 years and worked there for many more. For 2 of those years I lived across the stree from St. Elizabeth's, where Bishop Walsh was then Pastor. Unbeknownst to me, John, who I hadn't yet met, worked there in a Catholic Charities Clinic. Several years later when I met John I learned that he knew Bishop Walsh. Whenever the two met they would chat. John always remarked that he seemed less happy since becoming a bishop. After he was named Rector of St. Joseph's Seminary I would meet him in the corridor when I arrived for choir practice. I still worked in Washington Heights and learned that he he had visited patients frequently enough to know them by name. So far he is the only bishop who was more to me than a mitered figure in the hierarchy or a name on high-quality letterhead. We need more shepherds like him.
Before the last senior class has left the building a deal has been made to sell the school, my departed mate's alma mater, for $24 million. It makes me very sad, having visited the school often and met the promising young men of the student body.
It is hard to accept that this school, loved and supported by alumni, could not be saved to provide even more young men a quality education.
According to Commercial Observer All Hallows Institute President, Ronald Schutte, signed for the seller. Where does the $24 million go?
The Wisconsin Council of Churches took exception to the formation of President Trump's "Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias," stating in an open letter dated March 11, 2025:
"We, the undersigned, urge the federal government to protect the religious liberty of all people and we strongly condemn the rise of Christian Nationalism, a dangerous conflation of fundamentalist Christianity, conservative politics, and fierce patriotism which distorts what it means to be an American citizen and an engaged Christian in society."
Furthermore,
"This executive order is a threat to the religious pluralism enshrined in the constitution and does not protect Christians; rather it aligns the federal government with Christian Nationalism."
If the papacy doesn't pan out for Cardinal Dolan, he can return and join Bishop Barron and Dr. Phil on Donald Trump's newly formed religious liberty commission.
After proposing that he, himself, should be successor to Pope Francis, Donald Trump suggested that Cardinal Dolan be given the keys to the kingdom.
This would be untimely for St. Mary's, as the Dicastery for the Clergy recently revoked the Cardinal's July decree extinguishing St. Mary's as an independent parish and reducing it to a secondary church in the parish of St. Denis-St. Peter.
Most sources have not included Cardinal Dolan on their shortlists of "papabile," but God works in mysterious ways and so do other forces.
"Information previously available on other diocesan websites simply disappeared in 2024 for no apparent reason. For example, the link to the financial summary of the Archdiocese of New York disappeared between 2023 and 2024. As a result, New York lost 25 points between 2023 and 2024 and received a 2024 score of 12 points out of 100. This was the lowest score of any diocese in the USCCB."
