A memorial Mass in honor of Venerable Pierre Toussaint is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, inside Lady Chapel, behind the sanctuary of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, near where a portrait of Toussaint is displayed.

The Catholic Charities of New York Junior Board is organizing the Mass, with the theme of “A Legacy of Love and Service.” “Celebrate the life of a man who transformed the heart of New York through tireless devotion and charity,” the group said in announcing the Mass. The Cultural Diversity Apostolate, Archdiocese of New York, is assisting with planning.

Crypt accessible after Mass

The cathedral crypt will be open to visit immediately following the Mass. Toussaint is buried below the high altar with the New York archbishops.

Venerable Pierre Toussaint (1766-1853) was born enslaved in Haiti and died a freeman in New York City. He is credited by many with being a father of Catholic Charities in New York.

Toussaint, a highly successful hairdresser, was instrumental in raising funds for the city’s first Catholic orphanage and in founding the city’s first school for Black children. He also helped provide funds for the Oblate Sisters of Providence, a religious community of Black nuns founded in Baltimore, and played a vital role in securing resources to erect Old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Lower Manhattan, in the cemetery of which he was originally buried.

The principal celebrant and homilist of the memorial Mass will be Fr. Wesbee Victor, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Mary Immaculate, Staten Island. Fr. Victor is chaplain of the Haitian Catholic Ethnic Group, Archdiocese of New York, and chaplain of the Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Program. He is also an alumnus of the program.

Celebrant reflects on Toussaint’s legacy

“It is a celebration of holiness lived in ordinary life. As a former enslaved man who became a man of extraordinary faith, charity, and hope, he (Toussaint) reminds us that true greatness is measured not by status, but by love,” Fr. Victor, born in Haiti, told The Good Newsroom via email.

“Gathering in prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral is both an act of gratitude for his inspiring witness and a prayer that the Church may one day officially recognize him among the saints. His life continues to proclaim that holiness is possible for everyone, and that faith expressed through humble service has the power to transform both hearts and society,” the pastor added.

In November 2023, a portrait of Toussaint by artist Hunt Slonem was unveiled during the annual Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Fund Awards Dinner in Manhattan. It was later placed on permanent display at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, behind the sanctuary near Lady Chapel.

His image also appears on the multi-panel mural of the main entrance to the cathedral. The mural, by artist Adam Cvijanovic, was unveiled in September 2025. It depicts immigrants, first responders, and New Yorkers of consequence to the Church.

“A former enslaved person who became a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, Toussaint dedicated his life to uplifting others, particularly within the Catholic community of New York. His commitment to faith, education, and service continues to inspire new generations through the Pierre Toussaint Scholars Program, an initiative of the Archdiocese of New York,” the Catholic Charities website says.