About St. Rita of Cascia and St. Pius V Parish · Bronx, New York
St. Rita of Cascia and St. Pius V Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx, New York City, under the Archdiocese of New York. The parish was founded in 1900 and the church at 448 College Avenue was consecrated in October 1904, established by Archbishop Michael Corrigan in honor of St. Rita of Cascia shortly after her canonization by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900. Today it serves a predominantly Spanish-speaking community, with most Masses celebrated in Spanish and one English Sunday Mass, and is pastored by Rev. Pablo González. The parish is distinguished by its long-running collaboration with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa of Calcutta), who live and work in the parish, and by a strong outreach to the poor through food distribution, blood pressure and breast cancer screenings, and other works of mercy.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- St. Rita of Cascia (with St. Pius V as co-patron following the 2015 merger)
- Rector
- Rev. Pablo González (Pablo González Maestre)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Rita of Cascia is a welcoming, missionary parish rooted in over a century of service to the Mott Haven community of the South Bronx. Worship is predominantly bilingual (Spanish and English), with a strong Eucharistic devotional life centered on a weekly Jueves Eucarístico and monthly Viernes Eucarístico de Santa Rita with adoration and veneration of the relic of St. Rita. The parish partners with the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa for catechesis and outreach to the poor, and runs ongoing programs for children ages 3 to 16 preparing for Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation, plus free blood pressure screenings and an annual free breast cancer screening for women in need.
Mass times at St. Rita of Cascia and St. Pius V Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Bilingual Spanish/English)
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Bilingual Spanish/English)
- Saturday: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Bilingual Spanish/English)
- Thursday (Jueves Eucarístico): all day, during Adoration
Adoration times
- Thursday (Jueves Eucarístico): 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- First Friday of month (Primer Viernes – 2000 Ave Marías): 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Third Friday of month (Viernes Eucarístico de Sta. Rita – Adoration, veneration of the relic of St. Rita, confessions all day): 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Hora Santa / Holy Hour: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
St. Rita of Cascia Parish was founded in 1900 by Archbishop Michael Corrigan of the Archdiocese of New York, the very day St. Rita of Cascia was canonized by Pope Leo XIII. The cornerstone of the church at College Avenue and East 145th Street was laid in November 1900 and the building was consecrated in October 1904. The founding pastor, Rev. Charles Ferina, D.D. (1900–1909), was assisted by Rev. Patrick Mannion and Rev. A.D. Cunion, and during his tenure he founded an Italian mission at 150th St. and Morris Ave. that grew into the parish of Our Lady of Suffrage. The parish has been served by a succession of pastors including Fr. James P. O'Brien (from 1910) and Fr. Bergin (1940–1947), and since 2012 by Fr. Pablo González, who also pastors the merged community of St. Pius V.
- Founded 1900 by Archbishop Michael Corrigan
- Cornerstone laid November 1900; church consecrated October 1904
- First pastor: Rev. Charles Ferina, D.D. (1900–1909)
- 1971: Missionaries of Charity arrive in Mott Haven and establish presence at the parish
Merger with St. Pius V (2015)
On August 1, 2015, the Archdiocese of New York merged the parish of St. Pius V into St. Rita of Cascia, forming today's combined Parish of St. Rita of Cascia and St. Pius V. The former St. Pius V church — a red-brick Romanesque building designed by architect Anthony F. A. Schmitt, built 1906–1907 at 420 East 145th Street — was desacralized for secular use effective November 30, 2017. The St. Pius V parish itself had been established in 1906 with Fr. Francis M. Fagan as its first pastor, opened a parish school in September 1913, and operated St. Pius V Girls' High School from 1930 until its closure in June 2011.
- Merger effective August 1, 2015
- St. Pius V parish founded 1906; first pastor Fr. Francis M. Fagan
- St. Pius V Girls' High School opened 1930, closed June 2011
- St. Pius V church desacralized November 30, 2017
Catechesis & Faith Formation
Catechesis is at the heart of the parish's mission, carried out in collaboration with the Missionaries of Charity. Children from age 3 to 16 receive a complete faith formation preparing them for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. The parish also partners with Seton Education Partners' El Camino after-school program, which provides catechism, homework help, prayer and Scripture to children attending Brilla College Preparatory Charter School in Mott Haven.
- Catequesis for children ages 3–16 (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Missionaries of Charity collaborate in catechesis
- El Camino after-school program with Seton Education Partners (uses Faith and Life series from Ignatius Press)
- Annual group baptisms of catechism students (e.g., 29 schoolchildren baptized at the El Camino annual ceremony)
Missionaries of Charity Presence
Since 1971, the Missionaries of Charity founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta have lived, prayed and worked in the parish. They collaborate directly in the catechetical program and in the parish's outreach to the poor, embodying the parish's mission to 'show God's love in the world, especially to the poorest of the poor and sinners.'
- Missionaries of Charity arrived in Mott Haven in 1971
- Collaborate in catechesis and service to the poor
- Maintain a residence at the parish
Outreach & Charitable Works
Pastored by Fr. Pablo González, a priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid serving through the Pontifical Mission Societies (Obras Misionales Pontificias), the parish has an active outreach to those in need in the South Bronx. Programs include weekly distributions of food and personal-care items, twice-monthly free blood pressure screenings, an annual free breast cancer screening for women, and direct assistance with rent, food, debts, school tuition and school materials. The parish has partnered with the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute and other donors to expand its reach beyond parish boundaries.
- Weekly food and personal-care distribution to low-income families
- Free blood pressure screenings twice a month
- Annual free breast cancer screening for women in need
- Direct financial/material assistance: rent, food, debts, school tuition, school supplies
- Partnership with Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI)
Clergy & Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Pablo González, who has served as pastor since 2012 and oversaw the 2015 merger with St. Pius V. Fr. González is a priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid working as a missionary in the Bronx with the Pontifical Mission Societies (Obras Misionales Pontificias / O.M.P.).
- Rev. Pablo González (Maestre) — Pastor, since 2012
- Priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid; missionary with O.M.P.
Special Devotions & Notable Events
The parish places particular emphasis on devotion to St. Rita of Cascia and to the Eucharist. The monthly Viernes Eucarístico de Santa Rita centers on adoration and veneration of the relic of St. Rita. The parish has also hosted special Masses in honor of Blessed Carlo Acutis, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Espaillat, with the gift of a relic of Blessed Carlo (a hair fragment) to the parish from Archbishop Sorrentino.
- Monthly veneration of the relic of St. Rita of Cascia (Third Friday)
- Blessed Carlo Acutis relic veneration Mass with Bishop Joseph Espaillat
- 2,000 Hail Marys devotion on First Fridays
Visit & Contact
St. Rita of Cascia and St. Pius V Parish is located at 448 College Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451, in the heart of the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx. The parish rectory can be reached by phone at 718-585-5900, and the official website is santaritabronx.com.
- Address: 448 College Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451
- Phone: 718-585-5900
- Website: http://www.santaritabronx.com
- Neighborhood: Mott Haven, South Bronx
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Ferina, D.D.1900–1909
Founding pastor; laid the cornerstone in November 1900; church consecrated October 1904. During his tenure he founded an Italian mission at 150th St. and Morris Ave. that became the parish of Our Lady of Suffrage.
- Rev. James P. O'Brien1910–
Succeeded Fr. Ferina; exact end date not published.
- Fr. Bergin1940–1947
Listed among mid-20th-century pastors.
- Rev. Pablo González (Maestre)2012–present
Current pastor; priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid serving as a missionary with the Pontifical Mission Societies (O.M.P.) in the Bronx.