One of the archdiocese’s oldest parishes concluded a year of celebrations of its 175^th anniversary on November 30, with about 200 parishioners attending the Saturday vigil Mass and gathering to mark the occasion.

“This parish was built by mostly the Irish, along with the Germans and Italians. There was no such thing as central heat, no electricity, and no running water,” said Monsignor Kevin J. Nelan, administrator of St. Bridgid-St. Emeric parish, setting the scene in his opening remarks of the bilingual Mass.  

The church, still in its original location on the east side of Tompkins Square Park, marked the laying of the cornerstone on Sunday, September 10, 2023, exactly 175 years after construction began. Archdiocese of New York Auxiliary Bishop Edmund J. Whalen, Vicar for Clergy, was the principal celebrant of that Mass.

In his homily, Monsignor Nelan expressed gratitude for the church’s parishioners today, and all who have come before. “‘On this rock, I will build my Church,’ all because of Peter’s profound faith. It was that same faith that allowed the people of the mid-1800s to want and desire to build a church here on this site. And as you know, in 1849 it was dedicated by then Archbishop [John] Hughes for the people,” he said, first quoting Jesus from Matthew 16:18. Archbishop Hughes was the first Archbishop of New York.

Monsignor Nelan noted that at the time of the church’s construction, Zachary Taylor was president of the United States. He exhorted his parishioners to look to the future. “It is not the building that counts. It is the faithful that come,” he said.

The Mass was concelebrated by Father Francis McGourn, a retired Maryknoll priest who serves as a weekend associate for the parish. Following the Mass, parishioners gathered in the church basement for dinner and a celebration of the church’s long history.

“It’s just amazing to think, 1849, and here we are, still surviving, considering this church was closed down and was days away from being demolished. A miracle happened,” Monsignor Nelan told The Good Newsroom, referring to an anonymous $20 million donation in May 2008 that saved St. Bridgid from being torn down and led to its restoration. The church was rededicated in January 2013 by Cardinals Timothy Dolan and Edward Egan.

“I hope that the neighborhood can thrive,” Monsignor Nelan said. “If we get some more priests and more evangelists, hopefully, we can build it up,” he said of the future of the parish.

Monsignor Nelan noted that St. Bridgid is now primarily a Spanish-speaking parish. It offers English and Spanish Masses each Sunday. St. Bridgid-St. Emeric is merged with Most Holy Redeemer-Nativity, which also offers English and Spanish Masses each weekend.