Monday, August 27, 2012

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. As of February, 2015, the school's Facebook page is current.
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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.
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Friday, May 18, 2012

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.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

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. The informative parish website is linked HERE.
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Repairs to the facade are underway in this May, 2012, photograph.  The Bx41 local bus, providing frequent service from The Hub at East 149th Street, stops near the church at East 171 Street. The Bx41 Select Bus Service stop is further south, at East 170th Street. 


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.

Monday, February 20, 2012

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.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

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.  


Saturday, February 4, 2012

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. 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.
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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.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

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

As of August 1, 2015, the Archbishop has merged this parish with that of St. Rita of Cascia at 448 College Avenue. This church no longer has regular weekly services.  





The address of St. Pius V parish was 420 East 145 St., Bronx NY 10454.  The church remains on the south side of East 145 Street, just east of Willis Avenue. According to the notice from the archdiocese, it may be used for special occasions. The above photo is from 2012. The symmetrical design is evident: a church with two towers, the rectory to the left, the convent to the right.
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See page 476 for the 1906 establishment of the parish of St. Pius V. The 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.



In January, 2012, this banner hung on the former convent.






Also, please see my post about the merged parish. The archbishop's decree of merger is linked here.


Sunday, January 8, 2012

St. Anselm, Tinton Avenue


On the northwest corner of East 152nd Street and Tinton Avenue stands the church of St. Anselm. The rectory address is 673 Tinton Avenue, Bronx NY 10455, telephone 718-585-8666. Originally a Benedictine parish of German heritage, the parish is now served by Augustinian Recollects with Spanish and Latin American roots.


To the left of the church is this shrine of Nuestra Madre de Guadalupe and her appearance to San Juan Diego in 1531.


To the left of the church is this Lourdes Grotto.


In Msgr. Shelley's book, see pages 216 and 219 for the 1891 foundation of St Anselm parish, by Benedictines from Collegeville, Minnesota. The present church was built in 1917. See page 606 for the parish becoming a Hispanic parish.
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On 12.9.2013, the New York Times printed an excellent article, "Bringing Back the Artistic Beauty of a 19th-Century Church," by David Gonzalez.  I have linked the article here, but over time, it may receive a different URL in the archives of nytimes.com.  The church suffers from deterioration and some previous inconsiderate attempts at repairs.  The article describes the work of pastor, conservator, and parishioners.  When I visited the church, it was obviously of Byzantine inspiration, but I had not realized that its domes imitate Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.  The article explains details.
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The A.I.A. Guide says the church was designed by Anton Kloster. I cannot determine whether he was from Collegeville, Europe, or New York.  I received the following comment from Dan in January, 2011: 
"Something odd is happening here. I have also seen St. Anselm's attributed to Anton Kloster, about whom I can find nothing. However another architect, Gustave E. Steinback has indicated in documents to the AIA that his firm did St. Anselm. There is also a comment in the Liturgical Arts Society from 1953 by the editor who had worked for Steinback at the time that also attributes the work to Steinback. I wonder if Mr. Kloster might have worked for Mr. Steinback?"  Many thanks for the comment. 
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Any photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.




The school is located at 685 Tinton Avenue, Bronx NY 10455, telephone 718-993-9464. The school's website is linked here.  The newer building to the right is part of the school.
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Better photos of the church and school are on this Bronx Photo site. 
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An article appeared August 2, 2023, explaining that Catholic Charities will build a 12-storey apartment house in the church parking lot at 671 Tinton Avenue. The building will offer 126 apartments, many with supportive services. The lot is on the northwest corner of Tinton Avenue and East 152 St.