St. Barnabas' Church (Bronx)

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The Church of St. Barnabas
St. Barnabas Church, The Bronx IMG 6741 HLG.jpg
General information
Architectural styleItalianate
Town or cityWoodlawn Heights, The Bronx, New York City
CountryUnited States
Completed1911[1][2]
ClientRoman Catholic Archdiocese of New York

The Church of St. Barnabas is a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at Martha Avenue near East 241st Street in Woodlawn Heights, The Bronx, New York City. The parish was established in July 1910 by the Rev. Michael A. Reilly, separated from the Bronx parish of St. Frances of Rome.[1] It is one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese.[2][3][4]

Buildings[]

The church building was built 1911. The Italianate church was dedicated by Cardinal John M. Farley in November 1911.[1] When opened, it accommodated 700.[1][2] A temporary school was opened in 1911, with 200 students, staffed by seven Sisters of Charity nuns.[1] Opposite the church, a convent for the Sisters of Charity was opened in January 1913 at a cost of $8,000 (which in 1914 still had a debt of $5,500).[1] In 1914, the parish numbered around 1,000, and the property was valued at $100,000, with a debt of $59,500.[1] The chapel and high school building were erected during the pastorship of Msgr. George McWeeney (1947-1965).[3] During the 1980s, up to 22 masses were celebrated in the parish each week.[3] The rectory, parish center and high school chapel were renovated during the pastorate of Msgr. Timothy S. Collins (1986-1994).[3]

Music[]

The church has had at least four organs over its 100-year history. The first was installed by the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, Vermont around 1911.[2] The second was created by of Boston, Massachusetts in 1890, installed around 1948 and restored in 1988.[2] The third was installed by of Duluth, Minnesota in 1985.[2] The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company of Paterson, New Jersey installed the present organ in 2009.[2]

Parish Schools[]

St. Barnabas Elementary School is located at 413 East 241st Street, Bronx, NY 10470. The school has full pre-kindergarten programs, and includes grades from pre-k to eighth grade. Mr. Jonathan Morano serves as Principal (2015–Present) of St. Barnabas Elementary School and Mr. Stephen Marositz serves as Vice Principal (2018–Present).[5] St. Barnabas High School is located at 425 East 240th Street, Bronx, N.Y., 10470. It is an all-girls Catholic parish school that offers a college prep program to young women in Grades 9–12.[6] During the 1980s, there were over 1500 enrolled in the parish elementary school and 800 enrolled in the high school.[3] The high school has since been independent from the parish as of September 2015.[7]

Pastors[]

  • 1910-1947: Msgr. Michael A. Reilly (1873-1947), the first pastor was the New York City-born Rev. Reilly, who graduated from St. Francis Xavier's College and Dunwoodie Seminary. He was ordained in 1898 and served as assistant at St. Peter's Church (Poughkeepsie, New York) until being transferred to the in 1902 where he remained until 1910, when he founded St. Barnabas. Under his pastorship, he built the church, the schools, the convent, and the rectory, and the parish became one of the largest in the Archdiocese.[3] Consequently, he was elevated to the position of monsignor and died in 1947.[3]
  • 1947-1965: Msgr. George McWeeney, erected the new high school building and chapel were erected.[3]
  • 1965-1986: Msgr. John J. Considine[3]
  • 1986-1994: Msgr. Timothy S. Collins, transferred to become pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Manhattan (The Mother Seton Shrine).[3]
  • 1994-2003: Msgr. Francis X. Toner, reorganized parish services and served until his death.[3]
  • 2003–2015: Msgr. Edward M. Barry[3]
  • 2015–Present: Father Brendan Fitzgerald

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Remigius Lafort, S.T.D., Censor, The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. Volume 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 on Religious Communities of Women.. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.384.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g NYC Organ Website (Accessed 16 February 2011)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Official Church Website Parish History (Accessed 16 February 2011)
  4. ^ See Thomas J. Shelley, The Archdiocese of New York: the Bicentennial History, (New York City: Archdiocese of New York, 2007)
  5. ^ "St. Barnabas Elementary". Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  6. ^ "St. Barnabas High School". Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  7. ^ DosSantos, Juliann (April 30, 2015). "St. Barnabas High School to Become Independent". Catholic New York. New York. p. 12. Retrieved 2016-06-19.

External links[]

Coordinates: 40°54′7.5″N 73°51′55″W / 40.902083°N 73.86528°W / 40.902083; -73.86528

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