THIS IS OUR BODY. On 31 July 2015, in the concluding hours of the All-Night Vigil and during the last Mass, workers for the Archdiocese of New York changed the locks on the doors while parishioners watched. The church of Our Lady of Peace was shuttered. The Congregation for Clergy at the Vatican extended review of the parishioners' recourse 5 times since December 2014, issued an Interlocutory Decree on 16 June 2016, and finally reached a decision on 28 December 2016. The final decree from the Congregation for Clergy upheld the merger of the parishes Saint John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Peace. Parishioners will appeal to the Vatican's Supreme Court, the Apostolic Signatura. Parishioners continue their presence outside the church with a daily rosary and candlelight vigil. Their goal: To reopen the church for regular masses. You can help us save a National, State and New York City Landmark by clicking on the links below. Please remember the Faithful Departed in your prayers.
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UPDATE 20: On 11 October 2018, the advocate for Our Lady of Peace in Rome received the final decree from the Apostolic Signatura, upholding the rejection in limine, and denying the full hearing of the case. The decree deals with the issue of the boundaries and the merger of Saint John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Peace. This appeal was against an earlier decree of the Congregation for the Clergy, upholding the merger decision.
The original Latin version can be found here: Download Decreto OLP 11 oct 2018
The English translation can be found here: Download 2018.09.21 decree translation
UPDATE 19: On 11 July 2018, one year later, the advocate for the Congregation for the Clergy ( whose decree is being appealed by the OLP advocate) responded, arguing against the motion for reconsideration. The OLP advocate filed an answer on 23 July 2018. The case is still pending until the OLP advocate receives an answer from the Apostolic Signatura. It is not possible for the OLP advocate to determine when an answer will be given by the Signatura. In legal terms, this process is analogous to obtaining certoriari in order to proceed to a full hearing.
UPDATE 18: On 18 July 2017, the case against the decree issued by the Congregation for the Clergy, presented by the canon lawyer for parishioners of Our Lady of Peace, received an initial rejection from the Apostolic Signatura. Pursuant to canon law, the OLP canon lawyer (advocate) appealed for reconsideration on 27 July 2017.
UPDATE 17: The 99th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Peace was held on Sunday, April 15, 2018. This special event began at 5:30 p.m. and was celebrated by Rev. Father James Loughran, S.A., assisted by Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers who served the parish. The beautiful Solemn Mass included the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, Anointing of the Sick, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Veneration of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, followed by the recitation of the Miraculous Rosary. Special music for the Mass was provided by organist Dale Lamb, brass quartet led by Andrew Kemp, and Cantor Vanessa Marroquín-Matias. The names of the founders and benefactors of Our Lady of Peace, as well as the recently departed, were read during the Mass. Please download to print a program.
Download PROGRAM - 99th Anniversary of Our Lady of Peace 4-15-2018
UPDATE 16: The 98th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Peace will be held on Sunday, May 7, 2017. This special celebration will begin at 4:00 P.M. with a Holy Procession from the church around the Treadwell Farm Neighborhood. Led by the Patriot Brass Ensemble, the faithful will process into the church for the Mass at 5:00 P.M. The celebrant will be Father James Loughran, assisted by Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers who served at Our Lady of Peace for many years. The names of the founders and benefactors, as well as those who departed since the church was closed, will be read. The faithful will renew their Baptismal vows, and at the conclusion of the Mass, the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be offered. The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary Novena will conclude the solemnity of the celebration. All parishioners and friends of Our Lady of Peace are invited to participate. Please download and print your program in advance. Download OLP_Anniversary Mass Program 05_07_2017
MEDIA ADVISORY: Our Lady of Peace celebrates 98th Anniversary Mass on Sunday, May 7 in church leased to Coptic congregation
Download MEDIA ADVISORY - Our Lady of Peace celebrates 98th Anniversary Mass on Sunday May 7 in church leased to Coptic congregation
UPDATE 15: On 28 December 2016, the Congregation for Clergy issued a decree upholding the merger of Our Lady of Peace with Saint John the Evangelist, the church in the lobby of the chancery building. The decision was transmitted through the Papal Nuncio in Washington, D.C., and was delivered to the parish contact. After two years of waiting for an answer from the Vatican, dissatisfied parishioners intend to appeal to the Apostolic Signatura, the supreme court of the Vatican. Read the Press Release.
UPDATE 14: On 16 June 2013, Archbishop Joel Mercier, Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, issued a letter with an interlocutory decree informing those who made hierarchical recourse against the decree altering the boundaries of the territorial parishes of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Vincent Ferrer-St. Catherine of Siena, Manhattan and the decree by which the parishes of Our Lady of Peace and Saint John the Evangelist were merged, that the Congregation has accepted all petitions for study and joined them into a single recourse. Download Letter from Archbishop Mercier - 16 June 2016
UPDATE 13: On 30 April 2016, the following letter to parishioners of Saint John the Evangelist was prepared and posted on the website of the Archdiocese of New York. The letter is dated 1 May 2016 and was announced at Masses at Saint John the Evangelist as information about the "expansion of our parish" available at both the First Avenue and 55th Street entrances. Download Letter to St John the Evangelist
UPDATE 12: On 29 April 2016, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, issued a decree merging the territorial parish of Saint John the Evangelist and the personal parish of Our Lady of Peace in New York City. Download Decree on the Merger of the Territorial Parish of St. John the Evangelist New York NY and the Personal Parish of Our Lady of Peace New York NY -Apr 29
UPDATE 11: On 28 April 2016, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, issued a decree changing the boundaries of the Parish of Saint John the Evangelist, carving out a section of the territory of the parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer that includes the block where the Church of Our Lady of Peace is located. Download Decree on the Boundaries of the Territorial Parish of St. John the Evangelist New York NY
UPDATE 10: On 27 April 2016, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York revoked the decree of merger between the territorial parish of Saint John the Evangelist and the personal parish of Our Lady of Peace in New York City due to procedural flaws in the decree and decision made on 2 November 2014 involving the boundaries of the territorial parish. Download Decree Revoking the Decree on the Merger of the Territorial Parish of St. John the Evangelist New York NY and the Personal Parish of Our Lady of Peace New York NY
UPDATE 9: In a letter dated 1 March 2016, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy at the Vatican, informed the parishioners of Our Lady of Peace that the study of their recourse against the decision of merger has been extended to 30 April 2016. Download OLP - Ltr from Stella 3-1-16
UPDATE 8: In a letter dated 12 November 2015, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican, informed the parishioners of Our Lady of Peace that the study of their recourse against the decision of merger has been extended to 15 February 2016. Download OLP - Stella Extn Ltr 11-12-15
UPDATE 7: In a letter dated 10 August 2015, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican, informed the parishioners of Our Lady of Peace that the study of their recourse against the decree of merger has been extended to 1 November 2015.
UPDATE 6: On 1 August 2015, the people who belonged to the Church of Our Lady of Peace began a 54-Day Miraculous Rosary Novena to Our Lady and their Perpetual Light Vigil on the steps of the church. The Rosary Novena lasted until September 23, the eve before the arrival of Pope Francis in New York. [Subsequently, the rosary has continued and is now on its 22 series of novenas.]
UPDATE 5: On 30-31 July 2015, the Church of Our Lady of Peace held an All-Night Vigil and celebrated its last masses while the Archdiocese of New York changed the locks on its doors. The church is shuttered from public access even while parishioners wait for the Congregation for the Clergy to review the recourse they submitted.
UPDATE 4: In a letter dated 1 June 2015, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican, informed the parishioners of Our Lady of Peace that the study of their recourse against the decree of merger has been been extended to 1 September 2015.
UPDATE 3: In a letter dated 4 March 2015, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican, informed the parishioners of Our Lady of Peace that their appeal for recourse against the decree of merger has been accepted for review.
UPDATE 2: The Archdiocese of New York finally posted the decrees of mergers on their website on 11 February 2015. The decree for Our Lady of Peace can be viewed under Making All Things New Tab, Decrees.
UPDATE 1: In a letter dated November 2, 2014, Timothy Cardinal Dolan decided that Our Lady of Peace would be merged into St. John the Evangelist at the archdiocese headquarters. In the archdiocese, 55 churches will be merged.