Sunday, April 6, 2008

23. St. Catherine of Genoa

(mass times & church info last updated 04/04/2016)
Address: 506 W. 153rd St. (between Broadway and Amsterdam)
Phone: 212.862.6130
Weekend Mass Times: 
Sat: 5pm (English), 7pm (Spanish)
Sun: 9:30am (English, Family Mass), 11am (Spanish), 12:30pm (English), 5pm (Haitian Creole)
Weekday Mass Times: 
Mon-Fri: 8am (English), 7pm (Spanish, except for Monday Federal Holidays)
Saturday: 9am (Spanish)
Confession: Sat: 4pm-4:30pm
Post-Church Activity: Investigating Trinity Church Cemetery (though barred by the gate)
Links:
Official Website
Catholic New York Article (2012)
Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Catherine of Genoa
Life and Doctrine of St. Catherine of Genoa
Medieval Saints with New York Catholic Churches
New York's Landmark Conservancy
Trinity Cemetery


"It's a dreary day and this is a dreary church."

That's what I had planned to write as I walked to St. Catherine on this chilly overcast day. My hangover had something to do with it too, I guess - since my 40 day Lenten fast from booze I can't handle the stuff like I used to.


When I walked into the church, however, I knew I couldn't end up writing that - because there was nothing dreary about the church - except the lack of congregation. It's a mostly wooden church with beautiful stained glass that was somehow bright despite the cloudiness of the day.



When I departed - the clouds were still there, however the day wasn't so dreary anymore.

A hymn sung at church today...

Christ Be Beside Me

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me, King of my heart.
Christ be within me, Christ be below me,
Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me, shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising, light of my heart.

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me,
Christ be on all tongues telling of me.
Christ be the vision in eyes that see me,
In ears that hear me Christ ever be.

Looking over the wrought iron fence of the Trinity Church Cemetery at the immense Episcopal church across the way - Church of the Intercession, I believe

4 comments:

  1. i was an alter boy here years ago...when the church was packed.
    do you have any pictures outside that i could post on my blog?
    thank you

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  2. I was also an alter server there years ago. I miss it so much. And the church was always packed, but at that time the school was still open.

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  3. We are celebrating our 125th Anniversary in October, hopefully you can attend. Call the office for more information 212.862.6130.

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  4. I did my first holy communion with I was 8 years old at this church. And graduated from 8th grade from school.

    ReplyDelete