Sunday, February 22, 2009

56. Holy Rosary Church (Now St. Paul's - Holy Rosary)

NOTE: In 2015 this church was set to close and be merged with St. Paul Church (Spanish Harlem) as part of the Archdiocese of New York's great closings & mergers of 2015. This combined parish is called St. Paul's Church - Holy Rosary. Only St. Paul's was to remain open for regular Masses and other events, however it seems that regular Masses are indeed continuing here during this transitional period. If you have any news about this closure/merger or lack thereof please feel free to write in the comments section at the bottom of this post. 

(mass times & church info last updated 03/22/2016)
Address: 444 E. 119th St.
Phone: 212.534.0740
Weekend Mass Times:
Sun: 9:30am (Spanish), 11am (English)
Weekday Mass Times:
Mon: 8am (English, in the chapel)
Thu: 7pm (Spanish, in the church)
Fri: 8am (Spanish, in the chapel)
Links:
Old, Original Holy Rosary Website
New Official Parish Website
Holy Rosary Church of New York
Holy Rosary Church Restoration Website
New York Times Article
YouTube Clip
Our Lady of the Rosary Church

I underestimated how far east on 119th Street Holy Rosary Church lies and found myself briskly walking this Sunday morning to get there on time, a feat I missed accomplishing by a few minutes. As I rushed through the streets of Harlem I could hear multiple religious services going on in a variety of churches; the sounds floating through the cold, rainy air. It was a dreary day and I myself felt dreary as well - have in fact been a bit dreary lately; my relationship seems dreary too, something is amiss.

I reached the church only to find the front doors closed to me. A kind old man pointed me through a side door and there I found a basement hall converted into a temporary church. I couldn't understand why they weren't celebrating up top (it wasn't until after the Mass that a woman explained the church had been closed for renovations for the past six month and services had been held down here this whole time.)

It was a strange celebration, not least because (I believe) it was half English and half Filipino. But there were times of great joy there in the basement among the fifteen or so in the congregation at this 12:30pm Mass - the songs that were sung, read off from an overhead projector, were fun and joyous. I must admit, at first being put off that we weren't in the grand main church I had read a little bit about, I was in a (dreary) mood, and the pastor seemed to be delivering less of a good news homily and more of a laundry list of grievances concerning the behaviors and practices of the parishioners of the church. But as the Mass went on and concluded and I walked out into the cold misty weather, I felt very bad for this parish. They are, in a sense, locked out of their house of worship, waiting for renovations to conclude (some of which are not even begun, perhaps.) Since the economic collapse some of their donors have fallen through and who knows how long this endless wait of theirs will go on?

The juxtaposition of last week's visit to newly renovated St. Ignatius Loyola compared to the basement of Holy Rosary is such a contrasting image to me.

As we enter into Lent this week I am going to, among other things, keep this church of the Holy Rosary in mind and pray that their church receive the pledges and donations it needs to complete the work.

I ask you to do the same and, if possible and if you are able, to even perhaps do more?



additional photos...
(8/3/2013)

Once again I am attempting to complete this blog by taking better photos of some of the churches I visited early on in this journey. Today I headed far east once more and arrived at Holy Rosary Church to once again find the main church doors locked. I called the church to see if 8am English Mass was going to happen and luckily a nice man on the other end told me it was taking place in the rectory. I wandered into the tiniest of chapels, richly decorated, with an old priest standing behind the altar, praying to himself and 3 empty pews. He looked up and asked me, "English or Spanish?" I told him English, and he proceeded saying Mass in English. When it came time for the readings he had me read them. Just me and this old Mexican priest — it was quite a special occasion. Later a young mother and her child joined us as well. After Mass, I asked about the main church and he told me it was still closed, under repairs. Even though my intention was to see the main church and photograph the interior, I am very happy I went to this quiet, intimate Mass this morning. Even though my girlfriend and I stayed out quite late last night having beers in Brooklyn, something woke me up this morning and told me to get off my butt and head to Spanish Harlem and go to this church. I will just have to come back another day if and when the main sanctuary is repaired and ever opens up again.  Afterwards, I decided to take advantage of where I was and hit two other nearby churches. I journeyed on to St. Ann Church after taking these new pictures...










21 comments:

  1. I find it frustrating when I go to visit a parish and have a similar experience, but that is the way it goes I guess. I was wondering when you where gong to post this week, I look forward to them.

    God Bless

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  2. Please continue to pray for our little church. We are at a cross roads right now and may be merged with another church.

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  3. Holy Rosary Parish is very much alive! Come join us for Mass on Sundays at 9:30am (Spanish) and 11:00am (English). Vibrant music ministry strengthens both masses!!

    Also, we are planning to take a parish photo on the steps of the Upper Church on Sunday, Feb. 9th at 10:30am. Be there!!

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  4. PARISH PHOTO on the steps of Holy Rosary's Upper Church this Sunday February 9th at 10:30am.
    (444 East 119th Street btwn. First Avenue and Pleasant Avenue. near Costco/Target shopping center. M15 bus to 116th street or 120th street. Go to Mass before you go shopping!!)

    All current parishioners, former parishioners, friends, neighbors and well-wishers are welcomed!! Smile with us and spread the news that Holy Rosary Church is very much alive!

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  5. We have a very special mass planned for this Sunday, Feb. 16th at 11am in the Lower Church. Don't miss it!! (Of course, our 9:30am Mass is amazing as well.) Please join us and support us! Come for the Word, stay for the Love!!

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  6. Hello Friends and Neighbors! Don't forget to join us for Mass this Sunday at 9:30 am and 11:00 am. Stay for our Parish Meeting at approximately 12 noon so that you can learn more about our wonderful parish!

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  7. Visit the new website for Holy Rosary Church East Harlem!!

    https://sites.google.com/site/holyrosaryeastharlem/home

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  8. Let Us Pray!

    For the physical, emotional and spiritual health of all the parishioners of Holy
    Rosary. For the financial, physical and spiritual uplifting of Holy Rosary
    Church, Rectory and convent Building. For those that are being called to return
    or go for the first time to Holy Rosary Church, may they willingly listen to the
    Calling.

    Thank you God for your Grace and Guidance.
    AMEN

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  9. Holy Rosary East Harlem's next parish meetings will take place on Sunday, April 6th at 12 noon (after 11 am Mass) and Saturday, April 12th at 11am. Join us in our landmarking initiative and the potential restoration of our Upper Church. All are welcomed!!

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  10. Meeting on Sunday April 27th after 11 am Mass!! See everyone then!

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  11. We are asking every single parishioner and family to take this week to look into their hearts, pray, meditate, cry, talk, etc. Next week, Holy Rosary Parish will vote on our possible options, which are:
    1) Do we stay on our course as the parish of Holy Rosary with our three part financial plan of action for our parish, sacramental and management work plan, and work toward that goal? OR
    2) Do we accept and agree with the Archdiocese’s preliminary recommendation for Holy Rosary Parish to consolidate with St. Paul Church and work towards that goal?
    We ask you to also write from your heart why you are here at Holy Rosary and not elsewhere. If you would like to share it with us, please bring it next Sunday and put it in a special basket we will have for our Stories (Do forget to write your name and sign it). Find the answer in your heart, be brave, and answer out of love and faith. Do not answer out of anger, or out fear. Do not be undecided; you need to be clear about your answer when you vote next Sunday.

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  12. 1 Peter 3:13-16 it states:
    Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness 'sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

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  13. Save the Date! On Saturday, July 19th Holy Rosary will be conducting an Oral History event to collect all of the amazing stories that this parish has generated for 130 years! Tell your story, tell your ancestors' stories, and, most of all, preserve these stories of who we are and who we were for the future children of Holy Rosary East Harlem! Visit our new website: https://sites.google.com/site/holyrosaryeastharlem/ Join us in the Lower Church and add your talents to our landmarking initiative and restoration pledge drive! ALL Registered Parishioners must vote! All Parishioners (current and former) ARE WELCOMED! All neighbors, friends and well-wishers, JOIN US NOW BEFORE IT's TOO LATE!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Save the Date! On Saturday, July 19th Holy Rosary will be conducting an Oral History event to collect all of the amazing stories that this parish has generated for 130 years! Tell your story, tell your ancestors' stories, and, most of all, preserve these stories of who we are and who we were for the future children of Holy Rosary East Harlem! Visit our new website: https://sites.google.com/site/holyrosaryeastharlem/ Join us in the Lower Church and add your talents to our landmarking initiative and restoration pledge drive! ALL Registered Parishioners must vote! All Parishioners (current and former) ARE WELCOMED! All neighbors, friends and well-wishers, JOIN US NOW BEFORE IT's TOO LATE!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Save the Date! On Saturday, July 19th Holy Rosary will be conducting an Oral History event to collect all of the amazing stories that this parish has generated for 130 years! Tell your story, tell your ancestors' stories, and, most of all, preserve these stories of who we are and who we were for the future children of Holy Rosary East Harlem! Visit our new website: https://sites.google.com/site/holyrosaryeastharlem/ Join us in the Lower Church and add your talents to our landmarking initiative and restoration pledge drive! ALL Registered Parishioners must vote! All Parishioners (current and former) ARE WELCOMED! All neighbors, friends and well-wishers, JOIN US NOW BEFORE IT's TOO LATE!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Save the Date! On Saturday, July 19th Holy Rosary will be conducting an Oral History event to collect all of the amazing stories that this parish has generated for 130 years! Tell your story, tell your ancestors' stories, and, most of all, preserve these stories of who we are and who we were for the future children of Holy Rosary East Harlem! Visit our new website: https://sites.google.com/site/holyrosaryeastharlem/ Join us in the Lower Church and add your talents to our landmarking initiative and restoration pledge drive! ALL Registered Parishioners must vote! All Parishioners (current and former) ARE WELCOMED! All neighbors, friends and well-wishers, JOIN US NOW BEFORE IT's TOO LATE!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Teresa - what is the current status of this church? Is the main upper church open to visitors yet?

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    2. https://sites.google.com/site/holyrosaryeastharlem

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    3. Thanks for the link, I've added it as the link of the title of this post. But if someone goes to Mass at Holy Rosary now, is the main upstairs church open, or just the lower church? thanks

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    4. We have Mass on Sundays at 9:30 and 11 am in the Lower Church. Unfortunately, we are currently struggling to avoid being sold by the Archdiocese. We are working on landmarking and restoration, but cannot begin restoration until the closure issues are resolved.

      We look forward to seeing you soon! People who visit Holy Rosary East Harlem often feel a tremendous positive change in their lives and their faith! Until soon...

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    5. Please contact us at HolyRosaryEastHarlem119@gmail.com

      We have requested a written copy of the decree so that we might prepare our recourse. Pray with us! Holy Rosary is Alive!

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