Donations of $10 Million Needed for Repairs
By Dan Murphy
The people of Yonkers received shocking news over the past week when St. Mary’s-Immaculate Conception Church, located at 103 South Broadway, will have to close its doors due to an overflow of capital projects and work required.
$10 Million is the dollar amount believed to keep the doors open. As a result, it is anticipated that St. Mary’s parishoners will merge with St. Peter’s Church close by on Ludlow Street.
A petition has been started to get support to keep the church open. The link to the petition is https://www.change.org/p/prevent-the-closure-of-st-mary-s-church-in-yonkers-ny?fbclid=IwAR2CBMpVV38R2Ugmpb3Fsj6KTeYk8-w-cFXO1w3uQFmqQQrt2WiuNFzF2eY
Three months ago, Yonkers Rising and Yonkerstimes.com featured the church in a story celebrating their 175th Anniversary. Read that story at https://yonkerstimes.com/st-marys-immaculate-conception-church-celebrates-175th-anniversary/
The expected time for the merger is in June. In the mean time, an effort will be made to raise funds, and or find a generous donor to come to the aid of a Yonkers treasure.
“St. Mary’s was my childhood church and elementary school. I was heartbroken to hear this announcement today, as I am sure many parishioners had been to hear of their church’s closures through the years in Yonkers. I would also guess that more than one synagogue has seen the same fate in Yonkers through the years,” wrote former City Councilwoman Joan Gronowski.
The petition reads, “As a deeply concerned community in Yonkers, NY, we are raising our voices to save our beloved St. Mary’s Church from closure. This church is more than just a building; it is a symbol of our faith and unity, an integral part of our community and history. It holds countless memories for families and future generations who have celebrated life events within its sacred walls. Sign this petition today – let’s keep St.Mary’s open for future generations! Link to petition below.
Former Yonkers resident and former member of the Landmarks Board Angie Piwisnki writes, “As a former decade long member of the Yonkers landmarks preservation board, and in view of the apparent closing of Immaculate Conception St. Mary’s church in Yonkers, the oldest Roman catholic congregation in that city dating from late 1830s with the most beautiful and expensive church whose corner stone was laid on May 4, 1900, there is always recourse. Generally what happens when there is a threat of demolition of a historic and well loved structure, this is when a landmarking effort typically happens.
“The only designation that has any teeth at all is locally landmarking. All of the others including the national historic register and other state designations are simply honorary and do not protect the building or whatever the landmark might be.”
A parish meeting was being held on Jan. 17, the date we go to press. More on this story next week.
