Saint Aloysius

About St. Aloysius

Saint Aloysius Roman Catholic Church is a Jesuit-administered parish of the Archdiocese of New York, located at 209–217 West 132nd Street in Central Harlem. Founded in 1899 and worshipping in a William W. Renwick–designed Italian Gothic Revival church built 1902–04, it is today a trilingual English/Spanish/French congregation with a strong African-American Catholic identity and a tradition of gospel music. The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming community dedicated to Christian fellowship and worship.'

History

Founded in 1899 by Rev. John Aloysius McKenna at the direction of Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan to serve a growing immigrant population, the parish built its present church in 1902–04. By the 1930s the original German, Irish and Italian congregants had moved on; in 1935 St. Aloysius was reopened as the mission-church centerpiece of the Harlem Apostolate's outreach to the African-American community, and in 1947 it became an independent parish again. The New York Province of the Society of Jesus took over administration in 1984. In 2007 the church was designated a New York City Landmark.

• 1899 — Parish organized by Rev. John Aloysius McKenna
• 1902–04 — Church built to designs by William W. Renwick
• 1935 — Reopened as mission church of the Harlem Apostolate under Rev. William R. McCann
• 1940 — St. Aloysius School cornerstone laid
• 1947 — Parish regained independent status
• 1984 — Parish placed under Jesuit (New York Province) administration
• 1999 — 100th anniversary celebrated with NYC Council proclamation
• 2007 — Designated a New York City Landmark (LP-2164)

Architecture & Landmark Status

Designed by William W. Renwick — nephew of James Renwick Jr. and a specialist in ecclesiastical architecture — St. Aloysius is a richly ornamented Italian Gothic Revival structure. Its polychrome facade, considered one of Renwick's most important commissions, combines red brick, pale celadon glazed brick by the Grueby Faience Co., and glazed 'granitex' terra cotta with cobalt-blue accents by the New York Architectural Terra Cotta Co. Four sculptural reliefs depict the Holy Family, the head of Christ and angels, set against densely-glazed cobalt-blue backgrounds. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the church a Landmark on January 30, 2007.

• Architect: William W. Renwick
• Style: Italian Gothic Revival
• Built: 1902–04 (church); 1940 (school)
• Materials: red brick, celadon glazed brick (Grueby Faience), glazed granitex terra cotta (NY Architectural Terra Cotta Co.)
• Landmark Designation: LP-2164, January 30, 2007

Clergy & Staff

The parish is currently administered by Rev. Victor Emumwen, with Rev. Jim Pierce, S.J. assisting on weekends and Rev. Jean Dede among the visiting clergy. The parish staff includes Music Director Kenneth Thornton; Spanish Music Ministers Miricis Nunez and Rafael Perez Polanco; Coordinator of Religious Education Venice Hunter; Office Manager Ivonne Avila; and Plant Manager Bienvenido Rivas.

• Rev. Victor Emumwen — Administrator
• Rev. Jim Pierce, S.J. — Weekend Associate
• Rev. Jean Dede — Visiting Clergy
• Kenneth Thornton — Music Director
• Miricis Nunez — Spanish Music Minister
• Rafael Perez Polanco — Spanish Music Ministry
• Venice Hunter — CRE (Coordinator of Religious Education)
• Ivonne Avila — Office Manager
• Bienvenido Rivas — Plant Manager

Parish Life & Ministries

Parishioners are organized into active councils and teams that shape the life of the church. The Parish Council (Robin Harleston, Mercedes Baynes, Paul Anderer, Philip Mayo, Renotti Hill, Johmmiry Almonte, Venice Hunter, Jayvon Nixon, Justin D'Almeida, Raymond Rivera and Fr. Víctor Emumwen) governs pastoral priorities. Music is central to worship, with a gospel-oriented English choir under Kenneth Thornton and a vibrant Spanish Music Ministry.

• Parish Council
• Liturgy Committee / Comité de Liturgia
• Youth Ministry Team / Equipo de Ministerio de Juventud
• Parish Outreach / Alcance de Parroquia
• Technology Committee
• Religious Education (CRE)
• English / Gospel Music Ministry
• Spanish Music Ministry

St. Aloysius School

Established in 1940 and dedicated by Archbishop Francis Joseph Spellman in May 1941, St. Aloysius School is a pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade Catholic, Jesuit-sponsored school located on the parish campus. Originally staffed by the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (an order of African-American nuns), the school transitioned in 1990 from an archdiocesan parish school to an independent Jesuit-sponsored school with its own Board of Trustees. Its holistic, academically challenging curriculum is designed to serve at-risk inner-city children from the greater Harlem community, forming students of 'competence, conscience and compassion.'

• Grades: Pre-K through 8
• Sponsor: New York Province of the Society of Jesus (since 1990)
• Originally staffed by the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary
• Mission: educate the 'whole child' (body, mind, spirit)
• Notable alumnus: U.S. Congressman Charles B. Rangel

Sacraments

Information on celebrating the Sacraments at St. Aloysius is coordinated through the parish office. Inquiries about Baptism, Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick, First Communion preparation and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) can be directed to the Office Manager, Ivonne Avila, or to the Coordinator of Religious Education, Venice Hunter.

• Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
• Marriage — by arrangement with the parish office
• Anointing of the Sick — on request
• First Communion preparation — via Religious Education program
• RCIA — by appointment

Notable People & Legacy

St. Aloysius has shaped generations of Harlem Catholics and several nationally known figures. Congressman Charles B. Rangel — who served Harlem for decades in the U.S. House of Representatives — was an altar boy, lifelong parishioner and alumnus of St. Aloysius School; he personally advocated for the church's landmark designation. Rev. Joseph E. Price, the first African-American permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of New York, was a congregant, and Monsignor Owen J. Scanlon served as both assistant pastor and pastor. Composer and musician Daniel Coakley is also among the parish's notable members.

• Charles B. Rangel — U.S. Congressman, altar boy, parishioner and alumnus
• Rev. Joseph E. Price — first African-American permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of New York
• Monsignor Owen J. Scanlon — assistant pastor and pastor (1969–1979)
• Daniel Coakley — composer and musician