About St. Mark the Evangelist · New York, New York
St. Mark the Evangelist is a historic Black Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of New York, located at 65 West 138th Street in the northern Harlem section of Manhattan. Founded on April 25, 1907 and staffed by the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) since 1912, the parish describes itself as "the first Catholic church in Harlem to welcome people of African descent from the southern parts of the United States and from the Caribbean." Today it serves a multilingual community with Sunday Masses in English and French, a food pantry, a preschool, an active Gospel Choir, and a heritage library honoring African-American Catholic history.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Jean Pierre Kapumet Tambwe, CSSp. (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Mark the Evangelist offers something rare in the Archdiocese: a historically Black Catholic parish with deep Harlem roots, multilingual worship in English and French, a vibrant Gospel Choir and Liturgical Praise Dance, a food pantry serving new immigrants and the working poor, weekly Friday adoration, and a Pre-K/Montessori preschool. Whether you come for the heritage library, the French-language Haitian community, the ecumenical spirit of the music program, or the warm welcome of a parish that has opened its doors to all comers since 1907, St. Mark is "more than Sunday morning" — it is worship, service, and fellowship.
Mass times at St. Mark the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 4:00 PM
- Any day by appointment
Adoration times
- Every Friday from 12:15 PM – 3:00 PM
- Every Friday from 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Welcome to St. Mark the Evangelist
The parish describes itself as "the first Catholic church in Harlem to welcome people of African descent from the southern parts of the United States and from the Caribbean." Its mission statement — "We are more than Sunday morning. We are worship, service, and fellowship. We are a community of Faith. All are welcome!" — captures both its historic role and its present-day life in Central Harlem. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of New York's Central Harlem Deanery and is staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans).
- 65 West 138th Street, New York, NY 10037
- Phone: (212) 281-4931
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM
- Hall rental bookings: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 AM – 3 PM
Our History
Founded April 25, 1907 as a parish of the Archdiocese of New York, St. Mark was first served by diocesan priests. In 1912 Cardinal Farley invited the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) — an order called to serve Black people — to take charge, and Fr. Christopher Plunkett, CSSp was appointed the parish's first Black-welcome pastor. The 1914 brick church was designed by architect Nicholas Serracino. Mother St. Katharine Drexel funded St. Mark School in 1912, the first Catholic school in New York City for African-American children.
- 1907: Parish established in Harlem
- 1912: Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) arrive; Fr. Plunkett begins 19-year pastorate
- 1914: Brick church built (Serracino, $12,000)
- 1915: Parish hall erected
- 1912: St. Mark School founded by Mother Katharine Drexel ($500,000)
- 1922: Gladys Gibbs (Northcroft) becomes the first Black lay teacher
- 1932: Fr. Michael Mulvoy fights to hire Black workers on NYC buses
- 1967: Cardinal Spellman dedicates new Bishop Perry Auditorium
- 1994: Gladys Northcroft African-American Memorial Library opens; St. Mark Preschool blessed by Cardinal O'Connor
- 1996: Hall rededicated as Bishops Perry and Moore Hall
Pastor & Pastoral Staff
The parish is staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) and is currently led by Fr. Jean Pierre Kapumet Tambwe, CSSp, who serves as Administrator. In April 2018 the parish bulletin marked the Thirteenth Anniversary of his Ordination, indicating his long pastoral tenure.
- Administrator: Fr. Jean Pierre Kapumet Tambwe, CSSp
- Parish staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans)
Worship & Devotions
The parish keeps a robust devotional life beyond Sunday Mass, including a Friday Holy Hour, weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and Adult Bible Study on Wednesdays. Historically, the parish maintained novenas to Our Lady of Victory and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Tuesdays, Blessed Martin de Porres devotions on Fridays, and a first-Friday Holy Hour.
- Friday Adoration: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Friday Adoration: 12:15 PM – 3:00 PM
- Adult Bible Study: Wednesdays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday Confessions: 4:00 PM
- Bilingual (English/French) Sunday worship
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music is central to life at St. Mark. The 11:30 am Mass Gospel Choir, currently directed by James Foster (a master musician and Howard University graduate), has roots stretching back to director Scott Patterson and Nathan Warner (a professional jazz trumpeter who led both church and school choirs). The 8:30 am Sanctuary Choir, led by Louisa John, continues the parish's tradition of traditional, spiritual, and Latin chant repertoire. The parish also hosts a French Choir and a Liturgical Praise Dance ministry, and has organized ecumenical "Choir Day Concerts" since the tenure of director Dayton Selby.
- Gospel Choir (11:30 am Mass) — director: James Foster
- Sanctuary Choir (8:30 am Mass) — director: Louisa John
- French Choir
- Liturgical Praise Dance
- Historical directors: Edward Bonnemère, William Ward, Trudy Abar, James Wethington, Dayton Selby, James Wade, Scott Patterson, Nathan Warner
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Religious Education classes for sacramental preparation are held every other Sunday at 10:00 AM. Adult faith formation includes Wednesday Bible Study, scheduled from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM depending on the pastor's availability. The St. Mark Preschool (Pre-K / Montessori) has been part of parish life since its opening in the fall of 1994.
- Children's Religious Education — every other Sunday at 10:00 AM
- Adult Bible Study — Wednesdays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- St. Mark Preschool (Pre-K / Montessori) — opened Fall 1994
Outreach & Charity
St. Mark runs a Saturday food pantry and welcomes volunteers, with special need for male assistance on Thursdays to receive weekly shipments. Project Care and the parish's Eucharistic Ministers continue the historic outreach — begun by the Ladies Sodality and Les Six Amies — to homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes. Historically the parish also fielded a St. Vincent de Paul conference, the St. Mark Beneficial Society, the Holy Name Society (Senior and Junior), the League of the Sacred Heart, and the Solidarity of the Blessed Virgin.
- Parish Food Pantry — Saturdays 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Volunteer need: Thursdays (men) to receive shipments
- Project Care & Eucharistic Ministers — visits to homebound and nursing-home parishioners
- Office volunteers needed — Tuesdays 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Historical sodalities: St. Vincent de Paul, Holy Name, League of the Sacred Heart, Solidarity of the Blessed Virgin, Ladies Sodality, Les Six Amies
Heritage, Library & Facilities
The parish is home to the Gladys Northcroft African-American Memorial Library, founded in April 1994 to preserve African-American Catholic heritage, history, and experiences. The hall — now known as Bishops Perry and Moore Hall — honors Bishop Joseph Perry and Bishop Emerson Moore (the first Black Bishop in New York City and first Vicar of Harlem). A Pre-K/Montessori red-brick building, funded by Russell and Judy Carson, was blessed by Cardinal John O'Connor on November 4, 1994.
- Gladys Northcroft African-American Memorial Library (est. April 1994)
- Bishops Perry and Moore Hall (1967; rededicated 1996)
- St. Mark Preschool building (blessed November 4, 1994 by Cardinal O'Connor)
- 1914 brick church (architect Nicholas Serracino)
Sacraments & Mass Intentions
Parishioners may schedule a Mass intention for any day of the week or weekend — a beautiful way to honor the living or the deceased — by calling or visiting the parish office. Religious Education for children preparing to receive the sacraments meets every other Sunday at 10:00 AM, and students are expected to attend Mass at St. Mark on the alternate Sundays.
- Mass intentions available any day, on request
- Sacramental prep — bi-weekly Sundays at 10:00 AM
Visit & Contact
St. Mark the Evangelist sits at 65 West 138th Street in northern Harlem, Manhattan. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead or check the parish's official site and Facebook page ("St. Mark Church - Harlem") for the latest schedule.
- Address: 65 West 138th Street, New York, NY 10037
- Phone: (212) 281-4931
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stmark138.com/
- Facebook: St. Mark Church - Harlem
- Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Christopher (Charles J.) Plunkett, CSSp1912–1931
First Black-welcome pastor; built social hall and playground; 4,000 converts; oversaw 1914 brick church by Serracino.
- Fr. Daniel Killeen, CSSp1931–1932
Holy Ghost Father.
- Fr. Michael Mulvoy, CSSp1932–1940
Fought alongside Harlem leaders to hire Black workers on NYC buses.
- Fr. William Murray, CSSp1939–1945
Holy Ghost Father.
- Fr. Francis Fitzgerald, CSSp1945–1955
Marked the church's 40th anniversary in 1947.
- Fr. George Collins, CSSp1955–1962
Holy Ghost Father.
- Fr. Frank Schillo, CSSp1962–1965
Holy Ghost Father.
- Fr. Robert McCraley, CSSp1965–1970
Holy Ghost Father.
- Fr. Francis Philben, CSSp and Fr. Raymond Casey, CSSp1970–1971
Co-pastors.
- Fr. William McGuire, CSSp1972–1974
Pastor.
- Fr. Ward McLaughlin, CSSp1974–1977
Pastor.
- Fr. William Podobinski, CSSp1977–1979
Pastor.
- Fr. Patrick Bascio, CSSp1975–1985
Pastor.
- Fr. James McCloskey, CSSp1985–1987
Pastor.
- Fr. Leonard Tuozzolo, CSSp1987–1999
Long-serving pastor through parish's centennial era.
- Fr. Jean Pierre Kapumet Tambwe, CSSppresent (Administrator as of 2018+)
Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans); current administrator.