Mayor Spano, Council President Collins-Bellamy, Go to Bat for St. Mary’s Church-Yonkers
Mayor Mike Spano, Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy with Mary Calvi and her mother at St. Mary’s Church
By Dan Murphy
Mayor Mike Spano and City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy visited St. Mary’s Church on South Broadway in Yonkers on April 27 for mass and to lend their support to efforts to keep the oldest Catholic Church in Yonkers open.
St. Mary’s has been ordered to close by the Archdiocese of NY last year, but a recent repreive from the Vatican last week overturned that order, giving the thousands of parishioners and former parishioners hope that they can raise the millions needed to restore it.
Mayor Mike Spano has a history with St. Mary’s Church, as does the entire Spano family. Mayor Spano attended the mass with his wife Mary Calvi, but put on the garment for altar boy and walked up the aisle.
Spano’s comments were a touching remembrance but also a call to keep St. Mary’s open.
“I joined the parish and city employees at Immaculate Conception of Saint Mary’s. Shared The parish and Father Anthony welcomed my family and I along with City employees, as they celebrated a mass of repose for Pope Francis. The Vatican recently appealed the closure of this church, the oldest and first Catholic Church in Yonkers. Let’s all support Saint Mary’s! I know I will!
Spano talked about how from his office at City Hall he can hear the bells of St. Mary’s Church, and how sad it would be if the bells stopped ringing. “It was a horrible thought to think that the bells may be silenced because since 1908 every Mayor was able to sit back and listen to the bells and think about our Savior Lord Jesus Christ. It was important that this church be saved.
“This church, St. Mary’s is where it all began. While the building was saved by the Vatican, and maybe even by the Pope himself, we all know that only the church can save this building.
“I think we need to recommit to St. Mary’s . My grandparents came to Yonkers as immigrants and came here. This church is really the church of Yonkers in so many ways.”
Council President Collins-Bellamy has also strongly supported keeping St. Mary’s Open. “This historic ruling marks the first time a parish closure decree has ever been reversed by the VAtican in the Archdiocese of New York, and only the ninth such revoation in moder Catholic history worldwide.
“This is a day of joy, relief, and renewed fait. The parishioners of St. Mary’s never gave up hope. They perservered, organized, prayed, and they were heard.”
Council President Collins-Bellamy introduced a resolution calling on the Archdiocese of NY to explore alternatives to the closure of St. Mary’s and the council unanimously adopted it. “I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues on the City Council who stood united in this cause. Our collective resolve sent a clear message-that our city’s cultural and spiritual fabric matters. St. Mary’s has a legacy and a future as a beacon of faith and service in Yonkers.”
So what comes next for St. Mary’s? The Archdiocese of NY will have to comply with the Vatican’s decision, and hopefully, work together to make a real effort for a path forward to raise funds to pay for much needed renovations.
St. Mary’s Friends has organized and is moving forward with a fund raising effort.
St. Mary’s Friends is a non-profit organization formed in the State of New York. St. Mary’s Church (Church of the Immaculate Conception) is located in Yonkers, New York, and was founded in 1848. The mission of St. Mary’s Friends is to ensure the preservation of St. Mary’s Church and to ensure the integrity of the buildings and the sacred objects located within the Church.
St. Mary’s Friends is asking parishioners, both past and current, to donate whatever they can to help. Other interested donors include people who care about saving Sacred Spaces. Large or small, all donations will make a difference. Donations can be sent via check to a secure mail box.
St. Mary’s Friends, Inc.
PO Box 288
Yonkers NY 10703-0288
Donations can also be made via Zelle, using the email address: stmarysfriendsorg@gmail.com.
