Blessed Sacrament Church (New Rochelle, New York)

Last updated
Church of the Blessed Sacrament
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament (New Rochelle).jpg
June 2016 view of the church
Blessed Sacrament Church (New Rochelle, New York)
40°54′21.8″N73°47′0.2″W / 40.906056°N 73.783389°W / 40.906056; -73.783389
Location15 Shea Place,
New Rochelle, New York
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website Blessed Sacrament Church
History
Status Parish church
Founded1874
Dedication Blessed Sacrament
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Style Gothic Revival
Completed1897
Administration
Archdiocese Archdiocese of New York

The Church of the Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic parish located in New Rochelle, New York. Blessed Sacrament was founded in 1874, and its present-day church building was constructed in 1897. Its predecessor, St. Matthew's Church, was founded in 1848. Blessed Sacrament Church is listed as a New Rochelle Historic Site. [1]

As of 1998, the church served 2,000 families. It educated students in the Blessed Sacrament School until a 1985 merger with St. Gabriel's High School to form Blessed Sacrament-St. Gabriel High School, which closed in 2013. [2] Blessed Sacrament Church also serves four local nursing homes and maintains Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

History

The first Catholic to settle in the hamlet of New Rochelle was Bernard Rooney in 1826. The first Catholic mass in the New Rochelle area was celebrated in 1836 by Rev. Eugene Cummiskey at the house of George Govers on Huguenot Street near Memorial Highway. [3] With more Catholics settling, Irish priest Fr. Matthew Higgins from St. Raymond's Church in the Bronx petitioned Archbishop Hughes to establish a church in New Rochelle in 1845. Archbishop Hughes agreed and purchased land on Drake Avenue, in the middle of the largest settlement of Irish immigrants in New Rochelle. In 1848, the church was constructed and named St. Matthew's Church in honor of Fr. Higgins. Fr. Edward O'Reilly was assigned in 1849 as the parish's first pastor. Four years later, Fr. Thomas McLoughlin succeeded Fr. O'Reilly as pastor and opened St. Matthew's Academy, the first Catholic school in New Rochelle, which was staffed by the Sisters of Charity. However, it remained open for only one year. To accommodate more parishioners, the church was expanded in 1851. Blessed Sacrament began in 1853 with a mission to Tuckahoe, which eventually became the Immaculate Conception Church.

A smaller, wooden church dedicated as the Church of the Blessed Sacrament was also built on Centre Avenue in 1874 in response to growing population of German Catholics in the Dutch Hill section of New Rochelle. Another school was constructed five years later with bricks salvaged by parishioners from the dismantled St. Matthew's Church, which later closed for financial reasons. Fr. McLoughlin opened Holy Sepulchre Cemetery on Highland Avenue in 1886.

In 1890, lightning struck and set fire to the Blessed Sacrament church. The building was destroyed, with only the bell and cellar surviving. St. Matthew's School was used for church functions in the interim. The parish began construction on the present-day stone, Gothic Revival church, which was completed and dedicated in 1897. This building was made larger to account for a growing number of Italian immigrants now living in the West End of New Rochelle. The interior of the new church was decorated with 53 oil paintings by reputed artist Francesco Baraldi, while the depiction of the Blessed Sacrament above the altar was painting by G. Caponi. [4]

Ursuline nuns from the College of New Rochelle began instructing children in religious education who attended public schools in 1914 and continued to do so until 1995.

Fr. McLoughlin died while saying mass at the foot of the altar in 1902 and his nephew, Fr. Thomas P. McLoughlin (who parishioners referred to as "Young Father Tom"), assumed the role of pastor. During his time, a new school building was constructed in 1923. "Old Father Tom" was buried where the church bell fell during the fire that destroyed the original wooden building.

In 1940, Fr. Matthew Delaney became pastor and founded a boys' high school, which was staffed by Christian Brothers. Msgr. Francis Shea took over as pastor in 1947. He purchased and renovated a building on Beauchamp Place in 1963, which came to be the new location of the high school. Because Msgr. Shea was well-liked in New Rochelle, Beauchamp Place was eponymously renamed Shea Place. One year later, Msgr. Shea died and was buried near Fr. McLoughlin on the grounds of the church. [5]

The Blessed Sacrament School was merged with St. Gabriel's High School in 1985, forming Blessed Sacrament-St. Gabriel High School. At its peak, Blessed Sacrament enrolled 250 students in its elementary school, 277 students in high school and educated 600 public school students in its CCD religious education program. The school was closed in 2013 along with several other schools in Westchester County by the Archdiocese of New York.

Recognizing several structural deficiencies and the notable aesthetic value of the church, a major restoration project was undertaken by the parish with the assistance of the archdiocese in 2011, which cost just under $1 million. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Agnes Cathedral (Rockville Centre, New York)</span> Church in New York, United States

St. Agnes Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Rockville Centre, New York, on Long Island. It is the seat of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The Most Reverend John Oliver Barres is the ordinary bishop of the Diocese and pastor of the Cathedral parish. The Saint Agnes Cathedral School is on campus with the Cathedral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of the Scapular Parish</span> Church in Michigan, United States

Our Lady of the Scapular Parish is a Roman Catholic personal parish that specifically ministers to Polish immigrants and those of Polish descent. Our Lady of the Scapular Parish was established on August 1, 2013, as a result from a merger of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (1899–2013) and St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish (1914–2013). The activities of the parish are located at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Wyandotte, Michigan, Wayne County, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Family Catholic Church (Glendale, California)</span>

Holy Family Catholic Church is a Catholic parish located on Elk Avenue in Glendale, California that consists of a Catholic church and a grade school. It formerly hosted an all-girls high school. Founded in 1907, it is the oldest parish in Glendale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Andrew's Catholic Church (Pasadena, California)</span> Church in California , USA

St. Andrew's Catholic Church is a Catholic church in Pasadena, California. Founded in 1886, it is the oldest Catholic parish in Pasadena and one of the oldest in Los Angeles County. Its Romanesque Revival campanile bell tower is visible for miles and is one of the landmarks of Pasadena. The interior of the current church, built in 1927, was modeled after the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, while the façade was modeled after the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, down the hill and slightly upriver from Santa Sabina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padre Serra Parish</span>

Padre Serra Parish is a large Catholic church in Camarillo, California, established in 1988 after the beatification of Father Junípero Serra. For its first seven years, Padre Serra's parish celebrated Mass in a room at St. John's Seminary. In July 1995, a modern 16,300-square foot church, without pews or kneelers, and with a centrally located altar, was opened. As of 1995, the parish had more than 5,000 members. In 2007, Padre Serra Church became the home parish of the first married Catholic priest in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. William Parish (Lawncrest)</span>

St. William Parish is a Catholic church founded in January 1920 in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania, neighborhood of Lawncrest. The parish originally served 70 households. The Parish elementary school was opened in 1924.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Most Holy Trinity Church, Mamaroneck</span> Church in New York, United States

Most Holy Trinity Church, located on the Boston Post Road, is a historic Roman Catholic church in the Latin rite parish of Most Holy Trinity-Saint Vito in the Archdiocese of New York, in Mamaroneck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Raymond's Church (Bronx)</span>

St. Raymond's Church is a parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at Castle Hill Avenue at Tremont Avenue, The Bronx, New York City. The parish was established in 1842. It was dedicated on the feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus, on August 31, 1845, thus getting its name. There is a stained glass window, on the right side if you are looking at the sanctuary, of St. Raymond Nonnatus and the men who took him hostage.

The Parish of St. Christopher and St. Sylvia is a parish under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located in Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York. In November 2014, the Archdiocese of New York announced that the parish of St. Sylvia's Church in Tivoli, New York would merge with St. Christopher's. Although it would remain a church which may be used on special occasions, Masses and the sacraments will no longer be celebrated on a regular weekly basis at St. Sylvia's as of August 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary - St. Joseph Church (Poughkeepsie, New York)</span> Church in Poughkeepsie, New York

The Church of St. Mary is a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York City. It was established as a parish in 1873. In November 2014, the Archdiocese announced that St. Joseph's Church on Lafayette Place would merge with St. Mary's. Although remaining a church which may be used on special occasions, Masses and the sacraments will no longer be celebrated on a regular weekly basis at St. Joseph's as of August 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Catherine of Siena Church (Trumbull, Connecticut)</span> Church in Connecticut, United States

St. Catherine of Siena is a Roman Catholic parish in Trumbull, Connecticut, part of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of the Holy Angels (Gary, Indiana)</span> Church in Indiana, United States

The Cathedral of the Holy Angels is a Catholic cathedral located in Gary, Indiana, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Gary, and the home of Holy Angels Parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessed Sacrament Church (Seattle)</span> Historic Catholic church in Washington, United States

The Church of the Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic parish within the Archdiocese of Seattle serving Seattle's University District. It is the only parish in the archdiocese to be owned and operated by the Order of Preachers and is within the jurisdiction of the Western Dominican Province. The church's current prior is Fr. Augustine Hilander, and the current pastor is Fr. Dominic David Maichrowicz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parish of St. Gabriel and of St. Joseph (New Rochelle, New York)</span> Church in New York, United States

The Parish of St. Gabriel and of St. Joseph was formed in August 2015 with the merger of the Territorial parish of St. Gabriel on Division Street with the personal parish of St. Joseph on Washington Avenue, both in New Rochelle, NY. St. Gabriel is the parish church. However, St. Joseph "will maintain a regular schedule of Masses and the celebration of other sacraments". Both parishes were established around 1900 through the generosity of the Iselin family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Augustine's Church (Austin, Minnesota)</span> Church in Minnesota, United States

St. Augustine's Church is a Roman Catholic church in Austin, Minnesota, United States, located in the Diocese of Winona. Completed in 1896, both the interior and exterior have been well-preserved, showcasing a distinct Gothic Revival architecture style. The large sanctuary can accommodate more than 600 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immaculate Conception Church (Tuckahoe, New York)</span> Catholic parish in New York

The Church of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic parish church of the Archdiocese of New York located in Tuckahoe, New York. Founded in 1853, the parish is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Following a merger, the parish was reorganized as the parish of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Our Lady, including the respective two churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (Silver Spring, Maryland)</span> Church building in Silver Spring, Maryland, US

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. It was established by the Archdiocese of Washington in 1960, and is dedicated to John the Baptist.

The Church of St. Augustine is a Roman Catholic church located in Larchmont, New York. The parish having been founded in 1892, the present Gothic Revival church building was constructed in 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Bayonne, New Jersey)</span> Church in New Jersey, United States

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a Roman Catholic church in Bayonne, New Jersey. The name is a dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order, hence the name Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Founded by Polish immigrants in 1898, it grew to become one of the largest Polish congregation in the United States. Part of the Archdiocese of Newark, the parish merged with two others to become the Parish of St. John Paul II in 2016.

References

  1. Davis, Barbara (2006). "New Rochelle: A Tour Guide to Historically Significant Sites". New Rochelle Historical and Landmarks Review Board. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  2. "New Rochelle' s Blessed Sacrament High School Closes For Good". New Rochelle Daily Voice. June 21, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  3. Lafort, Remigius. The Catholic Church in the United States of America, Vol. 3: The Province of Baltimore and the Province of New York, Section 1: Comprising the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, Buffalo, and Ogdensburg Together with some Supplementary Articles. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.419
  4. Godfrey, Peggy (Fall 2004). "Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church". The Preserver. Vol. 3, no. 1. City of New Rochelle Historical & Landmarks Review Board. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  5. Poust, Mary Ann (November 5, 1998). "An Institution: Blessed Sacrament marks 150 years as a New Rochelle landmark". Catholic New York. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  6. Godfrey, Peggy (September 12, 2011). "Restoring the Most Beautiful Church in Westchester". New Rochelle Talk. Retrieved November 23, 2015.