Welcome Parishioners, Families, and Friends!
This site was started to support the parishioners, families, and friends of Our Lady of Peace Church, located on East 62nd Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in New York City, in their effort to preserve this landmarked building and its mission in the neighborhood and community.
In 1918, the early Italian immigrants founded this parish and many generations have followed and formed bonds with the church. Set within the Treadwell Farms Landmark area, the buildings are meticulously maintained and are a source of pride within the neighborhood.
In 2014, the Archdiocese of New York began an initiative under the banner Making All Things New. One of the objectives of the Archdiocese is the consolidation of parishes. In August, the parishioners became aware that the Archdiocese issued a recommendation to merge the parish of Our Lady of Peace into another church, St. Vincent Ferrer. The Parish Council and friends of Our Lady of Peace Church disagree with this recommendation for many reasons:
- The financial position of Our Lady of Peace is robust.
- Parishioners, friends, and benefactors are steadfast in their generosity and loyalty.
- The church and rectory are landmarked buildings.
- The church's community outreach programs include RCIA, AA, Al Anon, City Harvest food drives and collections for the Henry Street Settlement.
People have asked us, what will happen to Our Lady of Peace Church if its parish is merged into another? A recent trend in New York City has seen many churches sold to redevelopers who are converting them and building residential units. The New York Landmarks Conservancy has described this growing trend as a crisis: "If a substantial number of Catholic churches are closed or redeveloped, all New York City neighborhoods and other denominations will be impacted."
We hope that visitors to this site - friends of all denominations, non-parishioners, and neighbors - will join us in our efforts to preserve this beautiful church for future generations. You can help us by signing our petition in the the rear of the church or online at The Petition Site, by following the Friends of Our Lady of Peace Facebook Page, Save Our Lady of Peace Facebook group, @FriendsOLPNYC on Twitter, and by writing to the Archdiocese and the Vatican in support of the parish. Thank you!
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 of Pompeii and their Perpetual Light Vigil on the steps of the church. The Rosary Novena lasts until September 23, the eve before the arrival of Pope Francis in New York.
UPDATE 5: On 31 July 2015, the Church of Our Lady of Peace 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.