Gathering to Save St. Mary's at Washington Park in Getty Square Tomorrow Evening

 I don't know who planned this, but God bless them.  I am spreading the word:

Help Keep St Mary's Standing - Write to Yonkers City Council Members in Support of the Landmark Application

St. Mary's Church is already a landmark to anyone who has spent any time in Yonkers, but to make sure that it continues to stand and inspire future generations, an application for legal landmark status is on its way to a vote by the Yonkers City Council.

Please write to all of the Council members and Mayor Spano telling them, from your heart to theirs, why St. Mary's is important to you, your family and the City of Yonkers.

Here's a list of the Council members and their contact information: Yonkers City Council Members

Here is a sample letter that you can personalize:  Sample Letter to Yonkers Officials

The Latest on St. Mary's in Yonkers - Stand by to learn how you can help it stay open

 In January the Archdiocese informed the parishioners of St. Mary's that St. Mary's church would be closed as of July 1st and that the parish would be merged with St. Dennis/St. Peter.

Many people were shocked, saddened and outraged by this, as covered by News 12 Westchester: Longtime parishioners of Yonkers church stunned at possible closure after 175 years

Some action oriented folks stepped up and submitted an application to the City of Yonkers to grant St. Mary's landmark status.  The Landmark Preservation Board unanimously approved the application and it will now go to the Yonkers City Council for a vote.

After this occurred, the archdiocese stated that St. Mary's will remain open, but will have only 1 Sunday Mass every week in English.  No more Masses in Spanish and Arabic

People, parishioners, former parishioners and others who love this church are getting together and brainstorming to keep the church open and all of its communities inside it.

By changing its plans, the Archdiocese of New York has shown that its intentions are not engraved in stone.  Everything can change because, after all, we believe in the Holy Spirit.

The St. Mary's Story ala CBS News

Yonkers' Oldest Catholic Church in Jeopardy of Closing

Dot Zero: "Cathedral on Hudson" St. Mary's is in Jeopardy

 

St. Mary's is a massive, beautiful and very old church literally in the heart of downtown Yonkers, NY.  It houses a diverse and devout community descended from the vigorous and resilient immigrants that built the city over generations.  After feting its 150th anniversary in person last October, Cardinal Dolan announced an intention to close it as of 7/1/2024.  Yonkers native and author Patricia Vaccarino lays it out for us:

https://www.prforpeople.com/news/world-views/april-2024-magazine