Wednesday's parting shot

A view of the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

Father Seán is leaving the East Village

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy

After three years in the East Village, Father Seán Connolly is moving to a new parish.

During his time here, he served both St. Brigid-St. Emeric on Avenue B at Eighth Street and Most Holy Redeemer-Nativity on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

"These parishes have become a true spiritual family, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together in both uniting and growing these two communities," he wrote in a recent church bulletin. "Yet, the needs of the Church extend beyond the limits of our neighborhood, and our archbishop, Cardinal Dolan, along with his priest personnel board, must look for new and creative ways to meet the needs of the faithful with fewer priests able to serve."

He said that he has been tasked with a new mission to be the pastor at the Parish of St. Margaret of Cortona – St. Gabriel in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. Wednesday is his last day here.

Msgr. Kevin Nelan, the pastor of Immaculate Conception on 14th Street at First Avenue, will become the administrator of St. Brigid-St. Emeric and Most Holy Redeemer-Nativity, "taking on the responsibility of providing priests to serve the sacramental needs of these two parish communities."

I appreciated Father Seán's kind, thoughtful presence in the neighborhood. He did what he could to help cut through the city's endless maddening bureaucracy at the former St. Brigid School on Avenue B and Seventh Street, which NYC has been leasing from the Archdiocese of New York for incoming asylum seekers. 

In a most memorable adventure last fall, Father Seán took me on a tour of Most Holy Redeemer's 232-foot tower, up a steep spiral staircase to see the restoration work of the clocks.

Father Seán will be missed here.

In his letter in the church bulletin, he said the feeling is mutual.

"I wish to thank all of you for your kindness to me ... I will miss you."

Purple reign: Marking Holy Week at Most Holy Redeemer

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy

We mentioned a few weeks ago that Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B could change the color of the clock faces on the recently restored bell tower. 

The clocks were green for Saint Patrick's novena, but now they are a shade of violet-purple to mark Passion Week, aka Holy Week, which marks the observance between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. (H/T Matthew 27: 1-62, and Mark 15: 1-47.) 

In other Most Holy Redeemer news, the church's historical bells are now used for the hourly chime. You will only hear the carillon bells for hymns and the noon/6 p.m. ringing. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

This is why Most Holy Redeemer is green around the bells on 3rd Street

Anyway, you really were seeing green last night on the recently restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Father Seán told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that the church can now add colors (sorry, only one color at a time!) to the clock faces. 

The clocks are green now for Saint Patrick's novena, and they'll remain that way until his feast on March 17. 

The church will change the colors for future civic and religious commemorations, Father Seán said. (Maybe midnight navy blue for opening day at Yankee Stadium on April 5?) 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

Friday's parting shots

An EVG reader shared the top photo... showing the new green-tinged clock faces at Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street (Happy St. Patrick's Day?)... [Updated 3/9: Here's more about the green clock faces.]

Meanwhile at the church between Avenue A and Avenue B...EVG reader Carl Bentsen shares that workers removed the Christmas trees from the façade today... Happy daylight saving time weekend!

When it was time to light up the clocks on the bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

Photos and video by Stacie Joy

Last evening, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York, presided over a mass and ceremony to dedicate the newly restored bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The four clocks on the tower that reaches 232 feet have been in disrepair for the past two-plus decades.

Outside, parishioners and residents gathered as Cardinal Dolan blessed the bell tower ... and the clocks were to be illuminated for the first time.

There was a countdown to the big moment... then an awkward pause and some chuckles as it took a moment for the lights to come on...

   

The four clock faces on the circa-1851 church will now be illuminated...

You can read more about the church's history and the restoration project in the links below...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Up in the under-restoration bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

• It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street 

Reminders: A ceremony for the restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer

ICYMI ... 

There's a dedication ceremony this evening for the recently restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York, will preside over a 5:30 p.m. mass and ceremony featuring a procession on Third Street (the block will be closed to traffic during this time).

Cardinal Dolan will bless the bell tower, which will be illuminated for the first time. The new electronic carillon system will also play a rendition of "Silent Night." Then, the bells will play Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music in its entirety. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Up in the under-restoration bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

• It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street 

A mass and inauguration for the new bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

There's a dedication ceremony this Saturday evening for the recently restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York, will preside over a 5:30 p.m. mass and ceremony that will feature a procession on Third Street (the block will be closed to traffic during this time).

Cardinal Dolan will bless the bell tower, which will be illuminated for the first time. The new electronic carillon system will also play a rendition of "Silent Night."

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Up in the under-restoration bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

• It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street 

Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

On Oct. 30, we reported on the restoration work underway on the bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

In recent weeks, you've likely noticed that the clocks are coming back into service after several decades, and there's an electronic carillon system playing seasonal hymns at certain hours. (Note: The top photo is a pre-restoration shot!)

Earlier in the fall, Father Seán took me on a tour into the 232-foot tower at the historic church, which was completed in October 1851... and it was one of the most exhilarating (aka, terrifying!) EV tours that I've taken!

Father Seán and church handyman Daniel Alvarado met me in front of the newly restored and painted gates and doors to Most Holy Redeemer ...

From there, we climbed!

And climbed!

We went up a steep spiral staircase to the staging grounds above the church's stained-glass windows, where I saw the old clock mechanisms and the about-to-be-installed new ones.

We marveled at the bone graveyard of the animals who have long since perished up in the tower and the beautiful exposed brick. The filtered light coming through the tall windows was awe-inspiring.

Father Seán explained that the church was lucky they didn't need to repair the clocks from outside, which would require cranes, street closures and scaffolding, and would be a much more expensive project. Workers have been transporting materials from within the stairs and ladders during this restoration. 

The church later shared these photos ... showing the spectacular view from the tower clocks...

You can read our previous post for more details on the restoration and history of Most Holy Redeemer. The church also accepts donations "to help alleviate this restoration's burden on our parish budget." You can find a link here.

It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

Restoration work has commenced on the bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The four clocks on the tower that reaches 232 feet have been in a state of disrepair for the past two-plus decades.

Below is a letter to the community about the project from Father Seán Connolly:

I am happy to announce to you the beginning of the restoration project of our church's bell and clock tower! 

This historic and beautiful tower reaches into the sky far beyond most structures of the East Village at 232 feet, but as you are aware, has been in a state of disrepair for over two decades. The clock dial no longer works and the wood of its four faces is deteriorating making it an eyesore for our local community. Of the five bells only a single striker on one provides a lone toll at the noon hour. 

In consultation with our parish finance council, we have accepted a bid from Elderhorst Bells, Inc. to restore our bell and clock tower. The dial will work again and there will be four restored faces that will be lit at night, even in different colors depending upon liturgical feasts or civic holidays. There will also be five working bells that will beautifully chime and an electronic carillon system that will play a seasonal hymn at certain hours. 

The church is also accepting donations "to help alleviate the burden this restoration will have on our parish budget." You can find a link here.

Construction of the current church was completed in October 1851 (EV Grieve was the first media outlet to report on this in 1851!)

And more history:

A major overhaul of the church began in 1912. Many of the renovations are still evident. With a tower that today reaches into the sky far beyond most of the structures of the East Village at 232 feet, it is hard to believe that it once was even taller. The 250-foot tower was reinforced and lowered to its current height and capped with a new copper dome and gold cross. 

And a view of the church dated 1875...

Father Seán provided a tour of the tower to EVG contributor Stacie Joy. We'll post those photos another day... here's a teaser...

Candlelight carols this Sunday at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

This Sunday (Dec. 18!), the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street is hosting candlelight carols in celebration of the season.

The event, free and open to the public, starts at 4 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

An evening of something not Halloween related at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

If you're looking for something not related to the Halloween weekend this weekend ... tomorrow (Saturday!) evening, the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street is hosting An Evening of Sacred Vocal Music... featuring work by Bach, Handel and Parry. Find more details here. 

The concert starts at 7 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Sign up to sing with the Most Holy Redeemer Church youth choir

Via the EVG inbox... 

Calling all children and youth ages 7-16 to join the Youth Choir at Most Holy Redeemer Church! Tuition-free and open to all backgrounds, creeds and experience levels. Come and make new friends, find your unique voice, and learn to make music together as a team. 

Instructor Clara Gerdes Bartz is an experienced organist, pianist and choir director, a recent graduate of Yale University School of Music, and has worked with children's and youth choirs since 2015. Please text her at (704) 928-6280 if interested! 

The church is on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

A benefit concert for Ukraine at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

The Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street is hosting a benefit concert for Ukraine on Saturday. 

Details via the invite:

Please join us for an evening of classical music to support an important cause! This concert will include works by Ukrainian classical composers Mykola Lysenko and Myroslav Skoryk, plus others. Performers will include opera singer Elena Heimur, violinist Lea Lang, the choir of St. George's Ukrainian Catholic church, and pianist Clara Bartz. 

Free admission; suggested donation $25. All proceeds go to Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). Donations may be made in-person at the event...

The concert starts at 7 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Find more details here.

An evening of chamber music at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

Readers have told us they've enjoyed the free concerts at the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

So here's another one to mention: This Wednesday at 7, the church is hosting an evening of chamber music featuring a Juilliard faculty husband-and-wife duo performing lute songs from the Renaissance. The show starts at 7 p.m. Find the event link here.

A springtime choral concert at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

The Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is hosting an evening of choral and violin music tomorrow (Monday!) night. The event takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. The concert is free. Find more info here.

Afternoon views

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, were spotted this afternoon taking a break atop the cross at Most Holy Redeemer and Nativity Church on Third Street...



Meanwhile, lord knows what kind of trouble their kids are getting into at the Park!

Thanks to Steven's bionic vision for the photo!

A high mass in honor of St. Nicholas

Here's an invitation via the staff at the Most Holy Redeemer & Nativity Church:

Historic Most Holy Redeemer and Nativity Church will celebrate its origins in the German immigrant community with a special mass in honor of St. Nicholas.

It will be a traditional Latin Solemn High Mass including Gregorian Chant propers and featuring Hayden’s Nikolaimesse (St. Nicholas Mass), under the direction of James Wetzel, director of music at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer. The mass starts 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5.

The church, which was completed and consecrated in 1852, is located on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. The mass will be followed by a reception with "seasonal refreshments" (egg nog?).


[Church interior via Stacie Joy]