Academy of Mt. St. Ursula

The Academy of Mount St. Ursula is the newer building above.  To the left, and joined to it is the older building, the former convent, with several educational uses.

See page 357 for the arrival of the Ursulines in The Bronx in 1855. They established an academy on Westchester Avenue, east of Eagle Avenue, Morrisania. In 1892, they moved the academy and convent to Mount St. Ursula in Bedford Park, between Marion and Valentine Avenues, where the staff of the academy in 2008 continues to educate girls of high school age. The mailing address and school entrance is 330 Bedford Park Boulevard, NY 10458.
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The website of the Academy of Mount St. Ursula is here. The international website of the Ursulines is here.

Elementary school tuition chart

Because some Catholic elementary schools are closing this June, and parents have to enroll their children in other schools, the Archdiocese has posted a series of detailed charts of the tuition in each remaining elementary school, plus what clubs, activities, and classes are available.  The charts are linked here, under the title of Placement Counselor Information.  Because these are 2012-2013 rates, I suspect that the link may be broken by September, so (I suggest) print now.  As far as The Bronx is concerned, there is quite a spread in rates.

Seven elementary schools to close in June, 2013

The Archdiocese issued a press release on 1.22.2013 titled "Local Boards and Reconfiguration Committees Issue Final Decisions." Rather than interpret the document, I ask you to read it here.
The seven Bronx elementary schools on the list are:
Blessed Sacrament, Beach Avenue
St. Anthony
St. Mary, Star of the Sea, City Island
Holy Spirit, University Avenue
Our Lady of Angels, Kingsbridge Heights
Our Lady of Mercy, Fordham
St. Jerome, Mott Haven

Open House at elementary schools

The Catholic New York newspaper has published on its website a list of 25 Catholic elementary schools in The Bronx offering Open House during January, 2013.  I have linked the list here.
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St. Mary School, Carpenter Ave., Wakefield

St. Mary School, described in the banner above, takes up the entire east side of Carpenter Avenue from East 224th Street to East 225th Street.  It is one block west of White Plains Road.  The address is 3956 Carpenter Avenue, Bronx NY 10466, telephone 718-547-0500.  The school's website, linked here is very helpful.
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In Thomas Shelley's book, please see pages 299 and 300 for the 1886 founding of St Mary parish, White Plains Road at East 215 Street, Williamsbridge. In 2007, the 1887 church was transferred to the Korean Catholic parish of St John Nam. The archdiocesan website shows this rectory address for the Church of St. Mary: 650 East 226 St., Bronx NY 10466, telephone 718-547-8000. This address is near the school in the Wakefield post office zone.
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This link from 2004 provides some history of the shared church.

St. John Nam, Williamsbridge

See pages 299 and 300 for the Korean Catholic parish of St. John Nam, which apparently was established in 1989 at some other location, and in 2007 moved into the church of St. Mary on White Plains Road near East 215 St, Williamsbridge. The rectory address is 3663 White Plains Road, Bronx NY 10467, telephone 718-231-2414.
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This 2004 link may give some explanation of the history of the two parishes.
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Above the outdoor schedule of Masses is the heading, "St. John Nam R.C. Church 1989.  St. Mary R.C. Church 1866."  The schedule was photographed in May, 2012.
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A block south of the church is the elevated station of the #2 White Plains Road train, which travels the Seventh Avenue Subway in Manhattan.  John Baptist Nam, 1806-1866, beheaded for his Christian faith, was canonized by Pope John Paul II.

The rectory is to the right of the church.

A statue of Mary is to the left of the church, which appears to have beautiful grounds.

St. Augustine & Our Lady of Victory, Webster Avenue.

The parish of St. Augustine and Our Lady of Victory worships in this church on the east side of Webster Avenue at East 171 Street.  The red building to the left is the rectory, at 1512 Webster Avenue, Bronx NY 10457, telephone 718-583-4044. Repairs to the facade are underway in this May, 2012, photograph.  The Bx41 bus provides frequent service from The Hub at East 149th Street. 

The above Mass schedule was photographed in May, 2012.  On Sundays, Holy Mass is offered at 9:30 and 11:30.  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Masses at 7 p.m.  Saturday at 9 a.m.

Symbols of the four evangelists surround the rose window: John and Matthew above, Luke and Mark below.

The cornerstone carries the date 1911.

For many comments about Our Lady of Victory parish and school, please see my earlier post.

For photos of St. Augustine's church and school, please see my earlier post.

Catholic colleges in The Bronx

Three Catholic colleges are located in The Bronx:
Manhattan College.
The College of Mount St. Vincent.
Fordham University.
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Questions or corrections?  Please email cjmcmann (at) msn.com and use the word Bronx in the title.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Fordham Road

See page 475 for the 1906 foundation of the parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentine. The church, on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Fordham Road, was dedicated in 1928. The rectory address is 2345 University Ave., Bronx NY 10468, telephone 718-295-6800. According to the AIA Guide, the church was designed by Delaney, O'Connor, and Schultz.  The above view looks north on University Avenue towards Fordham Road.  Left to right: an apartment house with scaffolding; a family services agency in a former school, the rectory, and the church, with its main entrance facing the busy intersection.

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A description of the church, its history, its organ, and photos is here. A website of Augustinian Fathers on the East Coast is here.

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The parish elementary school is located at 2336 Andrews Avenue, around the corner from the church. It seems to have one section per grade, with an enrollment over 300.

The sign at the rectory displays three languages of the parish: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.  Any photo may be enlarged by clicking on it. For the Mass schedule, please check the parish website here.  

Holy Spirit, University Avenue

The above photos were taken in February, 2012.

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See page 475 for the Church of the Holy Spirit on the east side of University Avenue, near West Burnside Avenue, founded 1901. Page 586 describes the successful efforts against abandonment, fires, and destruction, largely through the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. The neighborhood is busy with residents and shoppers.

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The rectory address is 1940 University Avenue, Bronx NY 10453, telephone 718-583-0120. University Avenue is also known as Dr. Martin L. King Blvd. The school entrance at 1960 University Avenue is adjacent to the church at the parish auditorium (and gym?), but classrooms are also above the church.  The school phone number is 718-583-1570. West Burnside Avenue zig-zags as it crosses University Avenue, and Holy Spirit is between the zig and the zag!

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The parish website, quite informative, is linked here.

The school website, also informative, is linked here.
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In the first decades of the 20th century, vacant land in The Bronx soon became scarce.  Several Catholic churches were designed as combination buildings, fitting a church within a school.  In this instance, it appears that the architect put three functions within five stories: a church, a school, and a lofty convent.

St. Pius V, East 145 St., Mott Haven

The address of St. Pius V parish is 420 East 145 St., Bronx NY 10454, telephone 718-665-6642. The church is on the south side of East 145 Street, just east of Willis Avenue.
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See page 476 for the 1906 establishment of the parish of St. Pius V. The present church, according to the A.I.A. Guide designed by Anthony F. A. Schmidt (more likely Schmitt), dates from 1908. Pages 584 and 586 describe the parish and other neighborhoods half-consumed by flames in the late 1960's and 1970's. However, in 2012, the Mott Haven is busy with residents and many small stores.  Buildings have been renovated or replaced.
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Michele Ghislieri was born in 1504 and served as Pope Pius V from 1566 until his death in 1572.

The above photo was taken in January, 2012.

This banner hangs on the former convent.

The symmetrical design is evident above: a church with two towers, the rectory to the left, the convent to the right.