(mass times & church info last updated 08/08/2012)
Address: 1834 3rd Ave. @ 101st St.
Phone: 212.289.5589Weekend Mass Times:
Sat: 7:15pm (Spanish)
Sun: (Spanish) 8am, 11am, 12:30pm
Sun: (English, from September-May) 9:30am
Weekday Mass Times:
Mon-Fri: (Spanish): 9am, 7:15pm
Sat: (Spanish): 9am
Post-Church Activity: Sat: (Spanish): 9am
(I had to go to work today - blech!)
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This church on the edge of Spanish Harlem and the Upper East side is small and simplistic. It is a mostly Spanish speaking community it serves and this morning attending the 9:30am Sunday English mass I wondered if I would have been having a more energetic spiritual experience if I had chosen to attend one of the many Spanish speaking masses it offers. I've attended Spanish churches before and though I speak barely any Spanish, there is still such a strong sense of why one is there during the praise and festiveness of a Spanish Mass. On that note, I've also observed that English language Masses at these Spanish churches are always somewhat subdued and very very mellow. I guess the root of all this is language barriers.
This is the smallest and most bare church I've attended in New York City - the decor is standard and certainly no where near the ornateness of St. Paul the Apostle or St. Francis Xavier. As I sat there it did strike me that a lesson could certainly be learned in this. This small square structure up on 101st street, with it's simple Stations of the Cross and standard Catholic statues and stained glass windows practices the same things that go on each week in those other churches I've been to - same rituals, readings, format and celebration of the Eucharist - just without all the grandeur I saw in the others. What does all that mean to a worshipper?
I know on many instances of walking into a church I am just so happy and thankful to be there at all, feeling the peace and presence that accompanies it. Other times it feels really great to be in a beautiful and grand structure - almost as if one feels God so much more because of the grandness. And isn't that why churches were once built so immense and inspiring - to glorify and praise God? But isn't a simple room with nothing more than prayer just as good?
Today I realize (if I hadn't before) that the New York City stratosphere of status and wealth is exemplified in all these churches just as it infiltrates every other aspect of life here.
Hello
ReplyDeleteandrew. I just found out a few days ago that I was baptized at this church. I would like to visit NYC and see this one in person. But what a strange name.
HOLY AGONY, doesn't sound like a happy,friendly church. Why did they pick a name like that, do you know ?
Hello Eddie:
DeleteI have no idea why they picked that name. But certainly, they could have chosen this name from the Agony of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the Mt. of Gethsemane. It is a Holy Agony, because our Lord is Holy, as well in this agony, the Lord was struggling to accept the Passion and suffering He was facing. But at the end, He accepted it, accepted the Will of the Father, in the midst of the Agony, and by His acceptance, we could be saved.
That's a possible answer, based on what can be reflected from that mystery of the life of our Lord. I hope it could help you.
God bless you.
Hello, I have a question that doesn't belong to that post. I'm an Italian student and I'm writing my master's thesis about spanish language spoken by puertorican people. I have to find 40 puertotican to send them my questionnaires(that are about what language they speak (English or Spanish)depending on the situation in which they are. This questionnaires are anonymous (they don't have to put the name, only the date of birth and the date in which they arrived in America or if they are born in America). I contacted many University in Ny but I,m reaching a dead end. I necessarily find someone that can help me to put me in contact with some puertorican people? Somebody can help me?
ReplyDeleteThis is my e mail: zukkerina3@libero.it
If somebody can help me please contact me I really need help. Thanky you