• AUGUST 23, 2010: Church Misson Co-Op Program Visit:  Worldwide faith concerns get renewed in our parish every time we welcome a missionary from far away to tell us of the church work there and to solicit our prayers and support.  This year Fr. Claudius will join us for Mass and speak of the church in Tanzania, East Africa. It provides the opportunity for solidarity with faithful in other parts of the globe and the visit is a grace to us all.

• AUGUST 28, 2010:  Mother Seton’s birthday. You are invited to a walking tour of Old New York beginning at 10:00am at the shrine.  Buy tickets online at www.WallStreetWalks.com or call "Zerve" at 212.209.3370. It is led by two shrine friends Annaline Dinkelmann and Marie Beirne.

• OCTOBER 16, 2010: The Sisters of Charity will have a special Saturday evening Mass, after their own tour and program on Ellis Island and we are invited to join them.

• NOV. 6, 2010 :"WOMEN&SPIRIT" -PARISH HERITAGE Mark your calendar. The parish event will be a group tour to Ellis Island (in our parish!) to visit the exhibit about the history of nuns in America. Lunch on your own, followed by a conference in our church hall. Two nuns will make presentations and a panel of nuns will share insights on the meaning of their life, and faith and work today –from 2-4pm. Evening Mass that day may be included. Details will follow.

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IT’S TIME; after much effort during these last few years, our architect got approval for the drawings and plans for the restoration of the parish house at 7 State Street from The New York Landmarks Commission. She also secured the required three estimates from the contractors to submit to the State of New York. When the choice is approved after vetting of the matching grant guidelines by the state, the work contracts can be signed and the work may begin. The time is very near.
We have half the cost of $1.200.000.00- in pledge and cash. Now we need $ 130.000.00 more in matching funds at the signing. Over the next few weeks, think about how you can contribute and enlist others to do the same.  Our façade, roof and windows in OUR 1792 “Watson House” building need re-pointing, replacement and restoration. The work can only be done with your help. When the flyers and envelopes become available in the next few weeks, plan how you will participate and publicize our very special project.

ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY DOLAN’S VISIT:  On Tuesday July 28 the parish was graced with a visit of the new archbishop to round out our participation of this year’s bicentennial celebrations commemorating Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s founding of the Sisters of Charity and her establishment of the convent at Emmittsburg, Maryland in 1809. The Mass to close the year was in conjunction with Sr. Katy Acoin, SC, her staff and clients of the Foundling’s Seton Pediatric Services and attended by the New York Sisters’ Congregation president, Sr. Dorothy Metz and the council from Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale. Sister Regina Bechtel, SC opened the occasion with an address recalling the remarkable service of the Sisters and the Foundling. She  highlighted its history as a continuing inspiration here at the shrine.  New to New York, the archbishop, when leaving the wonderful reception that followed said he couldn’t have been more impressed – again – with the quality and dedicated service of the sisters and the diocese he has been called to lead. He thanked everyone and asked us for all our prayers in his new task. Keep him in mind and in your own prayers.

NEW RADIATORS: Way back in December ‘08, in the weekend just before Christmas three radiators did not survive the electrical resetting after our 3 day power system failure. This week those 46 year old hot-air- electric fan units in the meeting room and sacristy are being replaced with new steam ones –finally- at a cost of $2100 each.  Your generous gifts from last year’s November Appeal covered the expense. Many thanks. 

“BELL RINGERS” The can- do committee has been working to get our bells to ring again. Carlos Pimentel and Kenneth Charkalis are leading the group.  They have gotten consultations from the bell system company’s rep that visited the shrine last month and are considering their options from his diagnosis of the system. They range from electrical overhaul, to striker repair, to digital and remote upgrading of the system. Stay tuned for the committee’s report and all our possibilities.

FR. NINO RASPANTI:  He will arrive again in our parish on August 16 and be able to stay with us until September 12.  As some of you know his term of office as the Rector of the Pontifical University in Palermo is ending this year. His previous visits have enriched our parish and we are glad to welcome him again.

OVERDUE THANKS: to all of you who made contributions to our 1st Annual 4th July Yard Sale. It realized a profit of $908. for the Historic Preservation Fund. It couldn’t have been done without all your help.  Special thanks go to Rosemary, George and especially Diane for their extra efforts and time on the day itself to make it such a success.

OLD CELL PHONES:  Continue to bring any and all of them to the church office. They are salvaged for parts, recycled and some are outfitted as 911 emergency phones for seniors and shut ins. The parish receives a small rebate for each one returned making it worthwhile all around. Tell your friends!

BAPTISMS: Since our last bulletin there is news of five baptisms.  The new infants on occasion add to our Sunday acapella choir and make what one spiritual commentator said we all should do, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” ( There is still hope for a parish choir.)  We welcome the families of Salvatore DiPietro, Samuel Shottes, Romy Carta, Declan Reilly and Alexis Foley.

YEAR OF THE PRIEST; Tuesday August 4th was the feast of St. John Vianney (The Cure of Ars). The Holy Father, Benedict XVI has designated him as the patron and proclaimed this year “the year of the priest.” As in the past the popes designated other topics in other years viz, The Family, St. Paul, Evangelization, which is to say he invites us all to join in his special intention for the next twelve months.  The prayers we raise can be of gratitude for those we have known, or even  our own parish’s pastors we commemorated with the plaque for our  125th anniversary,  We can keep in mind those priests working in obscure places – as did the Cure of Ars, and those others in remote parts of the world and  those who are troubled, aged and infirm – that they receive the graces they need today. And finally we can pray even for each other – in the priesthood of our own baptism – as we live our lives in  Christ’s love as his daughters and sons for the grace of perseverance in faith that we all need.

E-BAY:  If you are skilled in its workings, contact Fr. Meehan.  He was told that e-bay is the last refuge to his ongoing elusive search for an item we need for the Watson House restrooms. Call or email him anytime in the office.

MASS SCHEDULE:  Weekdays at 8:05 AM; 12:15 PM and 1:05 PM.  Saturdays there are no scheduled services – except weddings and tour events. 

SUNDAY MASS @ 11: 00 AM.  A reminder: this year August 15 ,The Assumption  is celebrated in the calendar but is not a day of obligation because it falls on Saturday. If you live downtown you may wish to join the annual Assumption Feast Day  Procession on Sunday August 9th  beginning at 1:45 PM  in Transfiguration Church at 29 Mott Street.

BULLETIN APRIL ‘09
EASTER: At the end of Lent after using all our fingers and toes – and thanking God, the Easter mystery of eternal life may mean a bit more to us all. It is a time to renew the grace and faith of our own baptism –the faith and wonder of each of us being a God-child.

SATURDAY MAY 9, 2009 --- 2ND ANNUAL HERITAGE HALL SYMPOSIUM:
In our own church hall all are invited to attend. The program begins at 9:30 am and ends at 4:00 pm Morning presentations will feature Mother Seton topics and the afternoon will focus on the history of immigration and our parish. It features the collaboration of The Irish History Roundtable.and the Pace University students who are taking an on- site history course this semester who will make their presentations as well. Their own service component of the course is to digitalize our parish’s archival material. Theirs is a priceless contribution under the direction of Dr. Marie Iacullo.

ALMSGIVING: the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Project ends this week. The small change which we all know adds up goes a long way. Through faith our contributions give hope in solidarity and the charity is a benefit to those in need throughout the world, Remember to bring in your mite boxes this week.

SISTERS OF CHARITY BICENTENNIAL: It is 200 years since Mother Seton took her vows and began the convent of the Sisters of Charity. We began the celebration here on her feast day January 4th. The sisters have continued their bicentennial year program at the shine – “2nd Tuesdays” The next one here is on May 13 at the 12:15 Mass followed by coffee hour discussion. All are welcome. A calendar of all the other remaining events: prayer services and university lectures are listed on our website. The year culminates in July with a jubilee weekend celebration at the shrine in Emmitsburg Maryland.

CARDINALS APPEAL: We have met our goal. It is a grace for us to be able to contribute to the common work and services of the diocese. What no parish can do by itself is accomplished with many working together. Thanks to those who donated to make it possible.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION: The architect’s drawings for the restoration of our parish building (The Watson House) have been submitted to the Landmarks’ Commission. When approved the work goes out to bid. In pledges and donations we have one half of our project’s cost. ($1,200,000.) A fund raising brochure is in the works which will be distributed widely so that the general public may appreciate and contribute to our historic preservation efforts.

NEW BISHOP: Timothy Dolan, the current archbishop of Milwaukee has been named to succeed Cardinal Egan who is retiring The parish will be represented by Mr. Mrs. V. Rosiello and Mr. Mrs. W. McDermond at the ceremonies of reception and installation on April 14th (Evening Vespers) and 15th (Mass) at the cathedral. It is a big job and he will need all the prayers we can offer for him.

EXTRAORDINARY REPAIRS: Since last bulletin –The November Appeal funds were a blessing. We had to replace the electric generators that blew after resetting due to the power failure in December. In February the ancient gas burner of the church heating system failed and was replaced. It couldn’t have been done without those funds. The appeal funds also covered the expenses for new altar cloths and linens. THANKS.

WELCOME: There have been two baptisms of new members of the parish: Alexander Marsilio and Jake Salvatore Di Pietro and two more soon. They are a blessing.Their presence is a sign that our Sunday choir may have a future. Don’t forget on the first Sunday of the Month there is a fellowship coffee hour that is worth joining right after the 11:00 am Mass.

The Thanksgiving Day seemed early this year, not often does November have five Thursdays. Everything this year will seem to be in an extra rush. Four Sundays but only 3 weeks in Advent and Ash Wednesday is February 6th. Despite all that we have a few weeks in church during Advent that we can pray earnestly for the grace of re-appreciating the presence of God in our own lives and the world in which we live as Christmas approaches. The darkness of the winter, the brokenness of the world, the coldness in the air prompt a faith that God’s grace can be understood as light, healing and warmth again for us. It’s a time to prepare as it were, in the night, for a knock on the door and the question of whether there’s room in the inn.

For the faithful it is a time to pray for the grace to remember that it is God’s will to live with us. It’s an opportunity to refresh the belief that our lives are graced and very blessed when His Word takes flesh again in our hearts, here and now. It’s a time of prayerful preparation just like the shepherds of old. The need we have today is to be attentive again to the angels’ song that they heard there and then. The Glory of God is revealed in Christ’s birth. The heavens and the earth are joined and we can rejoice in its hope. It is a time to pray for the strength of faith to open the door of the inn of our lives, and let each of us be blessed again by God’s presence and let it renew and refresh the lives we live in its joy, salvation and promise of Peace.

FAITH COMMUNITY: Three new members: Alice Miller, Addison Wood and Tristan Albano have been recently baptized. We surpassed the two baptisms of last year already. The babies are well known at Sunday Mass but there are serious doubts about whether the parish’s hope of a choir is realized in its new members. The three of them are not known (yet-) to sing much in church. Time will tell. We welcome them as a blessing to our parish community.

GIVING SUGGESTIONS: In our untypical parish we lack the usual round of activities to express the good will and generosity that is engendered by the season. No holiday pantry for the needy, visiting shut- ins, children’s pageant support, etc. A few among us may still have time, energy and interest to give of themselves in other ways.
New York Blood Center – Receives donations across the street in the concourse of 1 New York Plaza, Mon-Fri 7:30-2:30PM. You can call for an appointment 212-742-1343.
New York Cares-Receives the gifts of winter coats in good condition. Donations may be made again across the street at the Coast Guard Station, weekdays from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Grand Central, Penn Station, and Port Authority are all collection points weekdays between 7:30am and 9:30am weekdays. Police precincts –anytime.
Organ Donor –A gift you can give just by filling out one of the flyers we have in the office or when you renew your own driver’s license.
St. Nicholas Project: You can take an “ornament” from our parish “tree” which delineates a particular gift for a particular family’s clothing needs. Money donations are also received. In the middle of Advent there’s a youth group who will shop and wrap a gift in your name for distribution. The project is in conjunction with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. Deadline for participation is Dec. 10th

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY; Fr. Meehan will conduct sessions on Thursdays from 12:15 to 1:00pm beginning November 29th and continue on Dec.6, 13, 20. It’s a new program so attendance will determine whether they are held in the meeting room or the hall.

OTHER NEWS: November 6th the area’s lower Manhattan churches held the diocese’s Bi-Centennial Mass at St. Bernard’s Church attended by 4 of our parishioners and hundreds of others. As the diocese celebrates its 200 years our own parish will be celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2008. It is a moment of grace for all of us. Our own celebration will take place in October ’08 and be anticipated by Mother Seton’s feast day celebration on Jan.4, 2008. Save the date.

CHURCH HALL On November 8th we had its inaugural event. On a rainy windy evening at 5:30PM there was a talk and book presentation by Mr. Chet Burger. We are featured in his Unexpected New York on page 39. (His book is available in the office).
While the basement has been used many times lately, now it is completed as a “self-contained multi-purpose hall” with the additions of running water, kitchenette and bathrooms. Funded by ordinary means and November Appeal over the years, as you know, it has been gradually cleared, plastered, painted, heated and furnished. It is now “plumbed.” There are hopes it will be turned into “Battery Heritage Hall” in service to, and in service of our parish mission with religious, artistic, social and cultural events.

UPDATE WATSON HOUSE RESTORATION: The documentation for the NY State Grant Appropriation is complete. In January we will begin in earnest to match the $360,000.00 we have received for the restoration of the façade of our parish house. We are still seeking corporate grants and welcome any leads or contacts from the congregation. We are hoping the work may begin in the spring.

COMING ATTRACTIONS “Restoration:” Or it could just be labeled “Doors “for now. After the auto hit our building on August 28th and demolished the basement doorway entrance and railings, some kind of message went out to the other doors. Both the door to the church basement and the porch door failed “in sympathy” The closing mechanisms ceased to work because of weather rotted wood on the church door. A new door had to be custom made. It is being installed this week. The porch door is part of the landmark and is another different question. Its elaborate door check in the threshold broke down. This unexpected emergency repair of door and frame turned into a preview of the spring ‘08 work. New drawings, funding, certification, and an application to the Landmarks Commission had to be submitted. We are promised an “emergency” consideration and an expedited approval. We can use money from a previous “drawings” grant surplus for the work because it is an “emergency.” and use all the patience we have under the circumstances because we cannot just go to Home Depot and do things in a hurry.

ARCHIVAL PROJECT : The parish’s founding is very connected to the 19cc Irish Women’s immigration records we have. There is no budget for the archival work. All the work of digitalizing has been done by student volunteers, including Ameri-corps. This January the work will continue when for the second time Pace University and Dr. Marie Iacullo will hold a history course on site. It is a slow process but rich in value. The 60,000 names we have are not just a great genealogical resource but
an inspirational example of church work and educational resource for the students. When they are complete everyone will be able to realize the wonderful history of our little parish on State Street.

NOVEMBER APPEAL: It is underway. We are grateful to those who have contributed. It means a lot to have your support. If you did not receive an appeal letter in the mail they are available in the vestibule. If you would like to receive occasional mailings please contact the office or send an email.

The links and resources of this website are offered in the sincere and simple effort to help you continue to stay in touch with the roots of your Catholic faith and in its more recent stirrings. Any one site can lead you to many others. You will experience in a short time a large range of information that will satisfy catholic tastes. May the Holy Spirit guide you. Come and visit us.