84. St. Emeric

Address: 185 Ave. D (@ E. 12th St.)
Phone: 212.228.4494
Weekend Mass Times: Sat: 4pm; Sun: 10am, 11:30am (Spanish)
Weekday Mass Times: M-F: 9am, 7pm (Spanish) (on Thursdays only at 9am!)
Confession: Sat: 3-3:45pm; Before each weekday and weekend Mass
Exposition: Everyday 9am-9pm
Adoration: Every first Friday 9pm-6am
St. Emeric of Hungary

BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

Somewhere in Alphabet City, on a dead end of Avenue D, sits the church of St. Emeric, found amidst the factory area of the lower east side, dropped in the middle of industrial smokestacks and a neighborhood - the last outpost between the city and the east river. The smokestacks spill out pure white sinister clouds on this sunny, cold Sunday morning, and this whole neighborhood feels like a strange distant land to me - even though my home is only eight or nine miles away.


I was happy to find this outpost, as that is what it felt like until I actually entered the church. It's funny, this trek, which brings me to all these places I've merely located on a map, that remain just that - points on a map - until I actually make the visits there. I'm always ecstatic to finally find them, to see what's there. Sometimes I am happy, pleasantly surprised by what I find - some kind of special place to have witnessed, and sometimes the churches are merely churches, not much else than simple basic points of interest that remain marks, insignificant, in my mind.

St. Emeric had something going for it though, especially the 10am youth Mass I attended this morning. Mistaken, I thought I'd be arriving late for a 9:30am Mass but found myself instead twenty minutes early for the 10am. Those twenty minutes revealed something so important to me - a kind of energy and excitement in the air, an electricity, like that you would witness before a big show or rock concert. The growing congregation was excited, and seemed to look so forward to what was to come. By the time Mass began, the church was nearly full. It was a good place to be for Mass, and everyone was quite into it.



Though the new year has brought with it new joys and fresh hope and much to look forward to, and I overall feel very positive about 2010, there is something not quite right with my chi lately. I'm off, somehow. My impatience grows. I find myself moreover angry all the time - and this is certainly not how it used to be with me. I'm short with people - my friends and family. Strangers set me off. Crowds on the street. Traffic. The trains. Everything. A mere symptom of simply intaking too much Curb Your Enthusiasm lately, or a growing trait of my personality?

Though I feel good about this year, there is something I'm still missing. So angry. So scared.

God help me.

Additional images:

83. Church of the Resurrection

Address: 276 W. 151st St. (@ 7th Ave.)
Phone: 212.690.7555
Weekend Mass Times: Sun: 10am, 12pm (Spanish)
Weekday Mass Times: M-F: 7:30am; Thu: 7pm (Spanish)
Confession: Sun: 9:30am, 11:30am
Adoration: Wed: 7pm
Constructed: 1907
About the Organ


FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT

"The Church of the Resurrection was founded in 1907 to serve Catholic residents of Central Harlem, which at that time was predominantly white. A modeset building containing the church, school and rectory was built the next year, opening in 1908. By the 1930s, the demographics of Harlem evolved to include many hispanic and black residents, but it was not until the 1970s that the Rev. Lawrence E. Lucas was named as the first African-American pastor of the church (and one of the first in Harlem). In 2007, this parish was scheduled to be consolidated with the Church of St. Charles Borromeo." (from NYC Ago's website)

Journeying to these churches each week is often a struggle, and there is always doubt in my mind. Entering new places can be for me intimidating, (though exhilarating,) and sometimes along the way I wonder whether if it would be better that day should I just head back home to grab some more (much needed) sleep, or meet up with friends, catch a movie instead... Usually I end up going and I am always grateful I have.

Snow covered the city this morning. En route to the church I stopped by a friend's apartment and forced him to come with. We trudged through the snow and sludge - it was cold - heading southeast toward the Church of the Resurrection. Uptown turns slightly confusing sauntering eastward so we found ourselves delayed. Eventually we arrived.

This is the last uptown church on my list and most likely the last black Catholic church I have to visit. It was strange - I expected more congregation in attendance, but perhaps the snow kept the parishioners away. There were about 20 of us total in the pews, as well as a lively choir - VERY lively considering the frigid temperatures outside. Attending the gospel churches, I realize there is no way to leave here without a smile on my face and warmth deep in my soul - there is so much energy and faith!

*Fool's Mass

I attended another staging of Dzieci's Fool's Mass recently and was again overcome by its power, humor, sweetness and devotion . It shows, in a very dramatic and humorous manner, precisely how we should encounter and participate in the actions and rituals of the Mass: with excitement, enthusiasm and vigor. It's a lesson about faith and the awe of the faithful.

If you live in this city, you should not miss out on seeing this production.

If you are a Catholic not living in this city who has ever been to Mass and either been elated or confounded by what you experienced there, travel here to NYC this year to see one of these shows. You will not be sorry by what you find there.

Included below is a list of upcoming shows from their website:

Thursday, December 17th, 7:30pm
Union Theological Seminary (in the Lampman Chapel)
3041 Broadway (@121st st)
New York City

Friday, December 18th, 7:30pm
The Old Stone House
336 Third Street (bet. 4th & 5th aves)
Brooklyn, NY

Sunday, December 20th, 11am
The Cell Theatre Company
338 West 23rd Street (@8th Ave)
New York City

*All photos taken from Dzieci website.