About Saint Mary · New York, New York
The Church of Saint Mary, known as Saint Mary Grand, is a Catholic parish located at 438–440 Grand Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. Founded in May 1826, it is the third oldest Catholic parish in New York and the first church in New York City dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The parish is served by Capuchin Franciscan friars (O.F.M. Cap.) and serves a multi-ethnic, largely Hispanic congregation of approximately 500 families, offering Mass in English, Spanish, and bilingually. It is preparing to celebrate its bicentennial on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026.
- Established
- 1826
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (the first church in New York City dedicated to Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas McNamara, O.F.M. Cap.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
Saint Mary Grand welcomes people from every background to a neighborhood church that is still truly a neighborhood. Worship is celebrated daily in English, Spanish, and bilingually, with daily Mass, a daily Rosary open to all languages, and a 24-hour First Friday Eucharistic Adoration that begins with a bilingual Mass and concludes the next morning. The Capuchin friars emphasize brotherhood, dialogue, and shared decision-making through a reinstituted parish council with liturgy and activities committees. As the first church in New York City dedicated to Mary and the Lower East Side's oldest Catholic sanctuary — recently designated a NYC landmark — St. Mary's offers a place to worship, advocate, learn, and make friendships in the heart of Lower Manhattan.
Mass times at Saint Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (English, Spanish, and French)
- By appointment
- Special bilingual reconciliation services held throughout the year
- Greater availability during Lent
Adoration times
- First Friday 9:00 am (following 9:00 am bilingual Mass) through First Saturday 9:00 am — 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration
- First Friday (standard month) 9:00 am Mass through 9:00 pm — 12 hours of Eucharistic Adoration
- Tuesdays and Fridays: 9:00 am Novus Ordo Mass followed by Exposition and Benediction until noon
About the Parish
Saint Mary Grand is the first church in New York City dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, founded in May 1826 on Sheriff Street and rebuilt on Grand Street after the Know-Nothing fire of 1831. Today the parish serves a multi-ethnic, largely Hispanic congregation of about 500 families on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, with worship offered in English, Spanish, and bilingually. The parish is pastored by Capuchin Franciscan friars who emphasize brotherhood, dialogue, and shared responsibility through parish council and committees.
History
Founded in 1826 to serve Irish immigrants, the parish was first housed in a small clad church purchased from the 7th Presbyterian Church on Sheriff Street. Anti-Catholic arson in 1831 led the community to build a new sanctuary on Grand Street, with the cornerstone laid in 1832 and the church dedicated in June 1833 under the second pastor, Fr. William J. Quarter — later the first Bishop of Chicago. The building was enlarged in 1864 with a Romanesque red-brick facade and twin spires designed by Patrick Charles Keely, the most prolific church architect of 19th-century New York, and further modified by Lawrence O'Connor in 1871. The parish was designated an individual New York City landmark on April 7, 2026.
- 1826 — Parish founded on Sheriff Street; Fr. Hatton Walsh first pastor
- 1831 — Know-Nothing arson attack on Sheriff Street church
- 1832–33 — Cornerstone laid; present church dedicated June 1833 under Fr. William J. Quarter
- 1864 — Enlarged; Romanesque facade with twin spires by Patrick C. Keely
- 1871 — Further changes by Lawrence O'Connor
- 1868 — Fr. Michael McKenna serves as assistant pastor
- 1878 — Charles Edward McDonnell serves as curate (later Bishop of Brooklyn)
- November 2022 — Capuchin Franciscan friars assume pastoral care; Fr. Thomas McNamara installed as pastor
- April 7, 2026 — Designated an individual New York City landmark
- May 24, 2026 — Bicentennial anniversary (Pentecost Sunday)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is staffed by Capuchin Franciscan friars and lay employees who serve a multi-ethnic congregation in Lower Manhattan. Office hours are Monday–Friday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Saturday–Sunday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, except on holidays.
- Fr. Thomas McNamara, O.F.M. Cap. — Pastor (also pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish)
- Fr. Benedict Ayodi, O.F.M. Cap.
- Fr. Divya Karunesh, O.F.M. Cap.
- Fr. Carlos Cortez, O.F.M. Cap.
- Josie Mendez — Parish Office
- Jacqueline Bisonó — Parish Office
- Yvette Rivera — Religious Education
- Peter Pisani — Restoration and Maintenance
- Marta — Gift Shop
The Capuchin Franciscan Mission
The Capuchins (O.F.M. Cap.) took on pastoral care of St. Mary's in November 2022 at the Archdiocese of New York's request. Pope Pius XI once called the Capuchins 'the Marines of the Church' because they go where others hesitate to go. Fr. Tom has reinstituted the parish council, liturgy committee, and activities committee, drawing on the Capuchin charism of brotherhood, democracy, and consensus to give parishioners a platform for dialogue.
- Charism: brotherhood, accompaniment, and consensus
- Parish Council reinstituted
- Liturgy Committee and Activities Committee
- Bilingual liturgy reflecting the Hispanic majority
Sacraments
Reconciliation (Confession) is offered every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in English, Spanish, and French, with additional appointments and special bilingual services throughout the year. Greater availability is offered during Lent. Daily Mass and Sunday Masses are celebrated in English, Spanish, and bilingually, with First Friday and Tuesday/Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for Eucharistic Adoration.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm (English, Spanish, French)
- Reconciliation: by appointment
- Reconciliation: special bilingual services during the year and additional times in Lent
- Daily Mass and Sunday Masses in English, Spanish, and bilingual
Devotions & Daily Prayer
The parish prays the Holy Rosary daily at 8:20 am in all languages. The Bell of Saint Mary's — the first bell hung in a Catholic Church in New York — rings once a day at noon and on Pentecost for as many years as the community has assembled. It is suppressed during Lent until the Gloria on the Easter Vigil, as a religious nod to silence and contemplation of the Passion of Christ.
- Daily 8:20 am Holy Rosary (all languages)
- The Bell of Saint Mary's rings at noon and on Pentecost
- Bell suppressed during Lent until the Easter Vigil Gloria
- First Friday Devotions — 12-hour or 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration
Parish Ministries
Ministries at St. Mary's are organized under a parish council with committees and lay staff, embodying the Capuchin commitment to shared decision-making and dialogue. The activities committee brings together representatives from all parish groups, ministries, and societies to collaborate on parish life.
- Parish Council
- Liturgy Committee
- Activities Committee
- Religious Education (Yvette Rivera)
- Gift Shop (Marta)
- Restoration and Maintenance (Peter Pisani)
- Parish Office (Josie Mendez, Jacqueline Bisonó)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education is directed by Yvette Rivera. The parish offers faith formation for the multi-ethnic community and supports families in preparing for the sacraments and ongoing catechesis.
- Religious Education directed by Yvette Rivera
- Bilingual sacramental preparation
- Family catechesis in English and Spanish
Bicentennial 2026
The Church of Saint Mary will celebrate its Bicentennial Anniversary on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, marking 200 years since the parish was founded in May 1826 to serve Irish immigrants on the Lower East Side.
- Bicentennial Date: Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026
- Founded May 1826 on Sheriff Street
- Rebuilt on Grand Street after the 1831 Know-Nothing fire
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hatton Walsh1826–
First pastor; wrote a 13-page homily dedicating the church to Our Lady.
- Fr. William J. Quarter1833–
Second pastor; previously curate at St. Peter's on Barclay Street; later became the first Bishop of Chicago.
- Fr. Thomas McNamara, O.F.M. Cap.2022–present
Capuchin friar installed as pastor by the Archdiocese of New York; also serves as pastor of nearby Our Lady of Sorrows Parish at 213 Stanton Street.