About St. Catherine of Genoa · New York, New York
The Church of St. Catherine of Genoa is a Roman Catholic parish in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, serving the area roughly between 148th and 160th Streets from Edgecombe Avenue to Riverside Drive. Founded in 1887 at the direction of Archbishop Michael Corrigan on the 150th anniversary of the saint's canonization, the parish began as an Irish-immigrant community and today is a multi-ethnic congregation with Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole. The present church, built 1889–1890 to designs by architect Thomas H. Poole, is a striking golden-brick, gabled landmark called a "unique star" of the neighborhood by the AIA Guide to New York City. It belongs to the Archdiocese of New York and continues to serve African-American, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Haitian and European-descended parishioners from its 153rd Street campus.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Genoa
- Rector
- Msgr. Kenneth Smith
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Genoa is one of Upper Manhattan's most welcoming multi-ethnic parishes, with weekend Masses in English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole reflecting the diversity of Hamilton Heights. Active ministries — religious education, Hispanic ministry, and parish groups now housed in the former school building — give parishioners of every age and background a way to belong. Whether you grew up in the neighborhood or are new to the city, the parish offers a richly Catholic home with deep Manhattan roots going back to 1887.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Genoa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Also during rectory office hours, or by appointment (También durante horas de oficina, o por cita)
History of St. Catherine of Genoa Parish
The parish was established in the summer of 1887 at the direction of Archbishop Michael Corrigan, on the 150th anniversary of the canonization of St. Catherine of Genoa. Founding pastor Rev. Edward F. Slattery set the original boundaries from 145th to 161st Streets and from St. Nicholas Place to the Hudson River. The first Mass was celebrated on October 16, 1887 in the Atheneum on 155th Street, until a permanent church could be built.
Building the Church (1889–1890)
A plot at West 153rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue was purchased, and Archbishop Corrigan laid the cornerstone in the spring of 1889. The completed church was dedicated that same autumn to designs by Thomas H. Poole. Although the parish always intended to build a larger church at 152nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, it has remained in the original 1889–90 structure for more than 135 years.
- Cornerstone laid: spring 1889
- Church dedicated: autumn 1889
- Architect: Thomas H. Poole
- Planned larger church (152nd St. & Amsterdam Ave.) never built
Architecture and the 1893 Hutchings Organ
Architect Thomas H. Poole designed the church in an Eclectic style that the parish itself describes as Dutch Colonial Revival. Critics note its Venetian Gothic and northern European influences, topped by a stepped Belgian gable. The façade is golden-hued brick with ogee-headed openings and a deep porch sheltered by a bracketed entryway. The church contains a George S. Hutchings organ, Op. 308, built in 1893.
- Architectural style: Eclectic / Dutch Colonial Revival
- Wide crow-stepped (Belgian) gable
- Ogee-headed openings and bracketed entryway
- George S. Hutchings organ, Op. 308 (1893)
Parish School (1910–2006)
A parish school run by the Sisters of Mercy opened in 1910. In 1937, under Rev. John J. Brady, a four-story brick schoolhouse (the "Annex") was built at 508–510 West 153rd Street to designs by Jules Lewis and dedicated in 1938. By 1946, classes were consolidated in the Annex and the original school became Bishop Dubois High School. The parish school finally closed in 2006.
- Sisters of Mercy school opened: 1910
- Annex schoolhouse built: 1937 (dedicated 1938)
- Annex architect: Jules Lewis
- Parish school closed: 2006
A Multi-Ethnic Community of Believers
The parish began as an immigrant Irish community and today continues to serve immigrants of diverse backgrounds. The current congregation includes African-American, Puerto Rican, Dominican and Haitian parishioners, as well as a growing number of people of European background moving into the neighborhood. Mass is celebrated in English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole, making St. Catherine of Genoa one of the most linguistically diverse parishes in upper Manhattan.
- Languages of Mass: English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole
- Parish boundaries today: 148th to 160th Streets, Edgecombe Avenue to Riverside Drive
Ministries and Religious Education
Since the parish school closed in 2006, the former school building now houses the religious education program and many parish groups and programs. The parish maintains an active Hispanic Ministry serving Spanish-speaking parishioners.
- Religious Education Program
- Hispanic Ministry
- Parish groups and programs (in the former school building)
Clergy and Parish Leadership
The parish is served by a Monsignor as pastor. Day-to-day parish operations are run from the rectory at 506 West 153rd Street.
- Msgr. Kenneth Smith — Pastor
Visiting the Parish
The parish campus sits on West 153rd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, in the heart of Hamilton Heights. The church is at 504 West 153rd Street, with the rectory next door at 506 West 153rd Street. Rectory office hours are posted in both English and Spanish.
- Church: 504 West 153rd Street, New York, NY 10031
- Rectory: 506 West 153rd Street, New York, NY 10031
- Phone: (212) 862-6130
- Fax: (212) 491-6272
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Wed 9 AM–4 PM; Thu–Fri 9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward F. Slattery1887
Founding pastor; established the parish under Archbishop Corrigan and celebrated the first Mass at the Atheneum in October 1887.
- Rev. John J. Brady1930s
Oversaw construction of the four-story brick schoolhouse (the Annex) at 508–510 West 153rd Street, dedicated 1938.