RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL ON RETURNING TO MASS SPRING 2021

PIERRE TOUSSAINT: NEW YORK’S FIRST BLACK ? His Path from to Freedom to Veneration

Joyful Passages Favorite Spring Readings of New York Catholics

Plus: Teaching the Faith: Religious Education Amid the Pandemic Head Above Water: The Emotional and Spiritual Perils of Isolation Eucharistic Adoration: Origins and Benefits What Is Paschal Time? Easter Mass 2021 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Photo by Maria Bastone. FROM THE CARDINAL LET THE HEALING BEGIN

hanks be to , there is in- their power to ensure you can come St. ’s, Somers, on the origins and creasing confidence that the back to Mass in person (if you haven’t benefits of Eucharistic adoration; and a T worst of the coronavirus pan- already done so) in a safe and wel- look at the inspiring work of our reli- demic is past. Millions are being vac- coming environment. We miss you! gious education ministries around the cinated, restrictions are loosening, The Mystical Body of Christ needs archdiocese to keep our young people businesses and public events are re- its members back. And perhaps most engaged and growing in their faith in opening, and people have begun re- importantly, we can’t heal ourselves in this challenging time. Let me tell you, turning to Mass in greater numbers isolation. We all need the community it’s not just about Zoom classes! each week. – the Church – and the healing power And finally, in “Joyful Passages,” Don’t get me wrong. We still have to of the Eucharist. we’ve asked a few priests, women be careful. Virus variants have stalled Also in this issue: a profile of Ven- religious, and music ministers to the decrease in new Covid-19 cases in erable Pierre Toussaint, born a slave, share with us some favorite readings, the United States, and if we throw cau- who, please God, will become New prayers, and hymns to guide us toward tion to the wind we could risk causing York’s first Black saint. Toussaint sur- healing and a deeper appreciation of a new surge. We don’t want that. vived multiple traumatic events. He this joyful season of the Church year. “Be not afraid,” said. He nev- witnessed a fierce and bloody revolu- It may seem hard to reconcile all this er said, “Be reckless” or “Don’t worry tion in that separated him for- joy with the deep spiritual sadness, about putting your neighbor’s life at ever from family members and drove born of the pandemic, that became a risk.” But he does call us to be bold in his French masters to New York. Here, significant part of our lives in the past following him – even though letting even after attaining his freedom, he year. This pain lingers in our hearts, go of the fear and hurt can sometimes endured prejudice as a man of color along with fear. But there is no greater seem impossible. and as a Catholic, and nearly lost ev- balm for this than a return to the com- We have been through a traumatic erything in the Great New York Fire munity of our parishes and the sharing experience. We were surrounded by of 1836. During a devastating cholera of Mass with our fellow faithful. much suffering and death for months epidemic, he ventured regularly into Many New York Catholics have on end. Frontline medical workers the quarantine zones to assist the sick. already come back. For the rest of carried the brunt of this burden, but When his sister died, he adopted her you, I can only say: We miss you, all of us were weighed down by it. daughter, only to lose the girl when and we can promise you safe places Thousands of New Yorkers lost loved she was 14 years old. Consistently, of worship that go above and beyond ones – and couldn’t visit them or at- through prayer and devotion to our government guidelines. Yes, we’re tend a timely funeral. A million New Lord, he recovered from these shocks wearing masks and maintaining dis- Yorkers lost their jobs. And we all to perform countless good works. He tance, but it turns out that Christian experienced isolation that still just was known, among other things, for love overcomes all that. seems to go on and on. his consistent cheerfulness. When you are ready, great joy awaits Now it’s time for the healing to be- You’ll also find Dr. Donna Eschen- you! Jesus is ready to welcome you gin. A good place to start is “Return bach, associate professor of pastoral with open arms and once again offer of the Faithful,” our special report in theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary, on Himself to you in the holy sacrifice of this issue of Archways. As the pastors the meaning of the glorious Paschal the Eucharist. and health professionals in this story season that carries the joy of Easter for- For the troubled soul, there’s no bet- attest, your parishes are doing all in ward into the year; Fr. Rufus Kenny of ter medicine than that.

Yours in Christ,

Timothy Cardinal Dolan Archbishop of New York

† SPRING 2021 1 Archways † SPRING 2021

12 RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL The Body of Christ needs you 20 VENERABLE PIERRE TOUSSAINT The path from slavery to possible sainthood 26 JOYFUL PASSAGES The words that inspire us Young Adult Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, December 2020. Photo by MJ O’Toole.

ON THE COVER: Venerable Pierre Toussaint. Illustration by Vinny Bove.

1 FROM THE CARDINAL CONTACT US We’ve experienced a trauma; EMAIL: [email protected] let’s come together to heal as a community WEBSITE: archwaysmag.org OFFICE: 1011 First Avenue 4 FORUM New York, NY 10022 Where did Eucharistic adoration originate archnewyork archnewyork and why is it so popular? What is Paschal Time? ny_arch archny

6 NEWS AND NOTES is published four times a year by the How religious education directors, catechists Archdiocese of New York Marketing Office and families made the most of a tough year; Michael Cain | Managing Editor Ricardo Paiba | Senior Designer the mental health tolls of social distancing; Vinny Bove | Junior Designer CASA pushes the envelope; Katherine Murphy | Social Media and Web Manager a writer’s retreat at Mariandale MK Fogarty | Assistant Director for New Media and Marketing FORUM

ASK A PRIEST

Before 2010, I had never heard of Eucharistic adoration. Where did it come from, and what is its purpose?

Unlike all the other sacraments, the Eucharist is “permanent”: When the The Holy Eucharist displayed Mass is offered, our Lord is present in in a monstrance for adoration. the Holy Sacrament, and His Presence can be kept after the Mass. As early as the second century AD, the liturgical practice of keeping the Eucharist reserved in the church so that it could be brought to the sick and dying was already in place. Over the centuries, people began to pray before and adore Christ in the re- served Blessed Sacrament – an organ- ic expression of the faithful’s piety. We have journals from monks in the ancient Church that speak of praying before our Lord’s reserved presence in things in the Church often begin on sit there in peace and silence and know their chapels. the local level and eventually become that He is God. The nature of prayer, Of course, this early practice was recognized on the universal level. simply put, is our gift of time to God, not adoration as we envision it today. Sometimes what’s best comes from the so that we can express by our very pres- The monstrance, a sacred device used bottom up rather than the top down. ence that we love Him, honor Him, and to expose the Eucharist, was not in- In the decades following Vatican freely choose to worship Him. troduced until around the 13th centu- II, there was a movement against Eu- In a world that has grown increas- ry. It was used in processions on the charistic adoration. Some clergy and ingly noisy, where silence is hard to great feast of Corpus Christi. By the laity believed that adoration was tak- find, Jesus provides a place with Him 17th century, the liturgical practice of ing away from or missing the point of where all of our anxieties, concerns, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament the Mass. In recent years, adoration and regrets can come to the surface of during Sunday’s Evening Prayer de- overcame these objections. John our hearts and be passed on to Him. veloped. The faithful would be bless- Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI gave “Jesus, I believe you’re there. I love you. ed by the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. us many authoritative documents af- I hope and trust that you’re going to get It was not until 1973 that Eucharistic firming this good practice. For them, me through whatever I might be expe- adoration became an official liturgical adoration only increased devotion to riencing. And I want to thank you.” rite, with its own official instruction the Mass by helping us receive our So, please come to adoration and and authoritative guidelines from the Lord with more devotion. empty yourself into Christ so that he Congregation of Divine Worship. In adoration, all of our senses are di- can make you more alive by filling you As an official practice, then, Eucha- rected toward Him. Within this sacred with his divine life. ristic adoration as we know it is pret- space, you can pray the rosary, do a ty new, but as an inspired movement Divine Mercy chaplet, or perform any Fr. Rufus Kenney from the Holy Spirit, it is ancient – the other kind of formal prayers. You can Parochial Vicar fruit of the faithful’s natural piety. say the Our Father, St. Michael, or the St. Joseph’s, Somers Adoration is an example of how good Divine Praises. But you could also just Interviewed by Michael S. Cain

4 † SPRING 2021 Sunday, we refer to Sundays of Easter, not Sundays after Easter. In the words of St. Athanasius, we can refer to Pas- chal Time as one “Great Sunday.” The readings for the Sundays of Eas- ter are all from the New Testament, and the first reading for each Sunday is from the Acts of the Apostles, an account of the early Christian com- munity’s experience and the develop- ment of the Church, animated by the work of the Holy Spirit. The continu- ous reading of the gospel according to John takes us from the empty tomb to Jesus’ hope-filled appearances to his disciples. Each week Jesus stands in their midst and offe,rs peace, mercy and most of all, his abiding love. The season is highlighted with the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. The feast’s readings give an account of Jesus’ command “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to ev- ery creature” (Mark 16:15). In addi- tion, Jesus assures his disciples of the presence of the Holy Spirit, who will guide their missionary work. Pentecost Sunday marks the end of Paschal Time. In the words of the Cat- What Is Paschal Time? echism of the (1076), “The Church was made manifest to Paschal Time (also called Easter Following Lent, a 40-day period the world on the day of Pentecost by Time) marks the high point of the of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Church’s year and therefore has pro- the Church gathers to celebrate the gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era found significance for our identity as Paschal Triduum. Triduum, Latin in the ‘dispensation of the mystery’ – Catholic Christians. Technically, it for “three days,” is a term coined by the age of the Church, during which is a seven-week season that begins at St. Augustine in the fourth century. Christ manifests, makes present, and Easter Sunday and ends with Pente- These three days, from Holy Thursday communicates his work of salvation cost Sunday. To better appreciate its night through Evening Prayer on Eas- through the liturgy.” meaning, however, we need to under- ter Sunday, are the Christian Passover Through the Sacred Paschal Tri- stand Paschal Time within the con- and commemorate the death and res- duum and Easter Time, the Church text of the full liturgical calendar, and urrection of Jesus Christ. During this celebrates the Paschal Mystery in a especially in light of the Paschal Tri- sacred time, one event – the Paschal way that reflects its deep significance duum, which immediately precedes Mystery – takes place through what for us as a community of believers. and leads into it. we might call movements, beginning Paschal Time affirms that for us, as Each year, the Catholic liturgy not with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the baptized, the Paschal Mystery be- only tells the Christian story, but Thursday night, continuing on Good comes the pattern for our hope and makes it active and present in our lives. Friday with the Passion of Our Lord therefore gives new meaning to liv- Through the feasts and seasons of the and on Holy Saturday with the Easter ing and dying. Through , we liturgical calendar, we remember the Vigil, and reaching its glorious con- enter into Christ’s death and his Res- events of the life, death and resurrec- clusion on Easter Sunday. urrection, which shows us how to live tion of Jesus Christ, beginning with The Paschal Triduum leads us into in a world that is unstable yet filled Advent and culminating in the Easter Paschal Time. This season doesn’t with grace. season (after which we are in Ordi- prepare us for something in the way nary Time until the next Advent). The Advent prepares us for Christmas and Dr. Donna Eschenauer period from Advent through Pente- Lent for Easter. Paschal Time is 50 Associate Dean and Associate cost brings us from darkness to light days of prolonging the joy of Easter Professor of Pastoral Theology and from death to new life. Sunday. Accordingly, following Easter St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers

† SPRING 2021 5 NEWS AND NOTES

TEACHING THE FAITH POSITIVE LESSONS IN A PAINFUL YEAR s fall 2020 began, religious ed- was no way we could return in person, ucation directors in New York so we did weekly classes on Zoom to A weren’t sure what to expect. give students face-to-face lessons with They had spent the summer coming up the catechists. At first, people were a with plan B for delivering faith instruc- little confused, but once it kicked in, tion to the children of their communi- around October, it was a success.” ties during a pandemic. Some planned The response from families has been to go high tech, others low tech, but for very positive. “Sometimes the teach- all there was uncertainty. ers send activities home that involve The first questions were whether the whole family or assign online ac- parents would sign their kids up and tivities that involve the parents,” Noel whether the kids would actually at- says. “One father told me, ‘I’m so hap- tend. “To our surprise, there was less py, I’m learning so much myself!’ The than 20% drop-off in registration from catechesis of the parents has been the the year before,” says Ela Milewska, highlight of the year for me.” director of the Archdiocese of New At St. Joseph’s in Bronxville, director York Youth Faith Formation Office. of religious education Antoinette Gilli- “And those who registered are partici- gan recalls how the stakes changed in pating. Parish directors and coordina- March 2020. “When we went into lock- tors have engaged those families in a down,” she says, “we had confirmation way that has been phenomenal.” two days before Masses were suspend- The ministries’ approaches have ed. I spent the next two weeks worry- been as varied as the parishes they ing about people getting sick.” serve. Only 10% to 15% of parishes Over the summer, she made plans Ava Hagan, a second grader at St. Stephen’s have conducted all classes in per- for fully remote instruction, but she in Warwick, created this Lego version of the son. The rest have used a hybrid or took the technology in a different di- church (plus a video tour). fully remote approach, depending rection from St. Clare’s. “The archdi- on conditions in their area. Some re- ocese didn’t want us to do live Zoom mote classes have been conducted via sessions unless the parents were in the In a providential bit of timing, St. Zoom, others have used video lessons, conference,” she says. So instead of Stephen’s Church in Warwick had and some have provided digital mate- using live Zoom, St. Joseph’s created a video system installed to enable rials to parents for home teaching. highly engaging video classes. “We livestreaming one week before the “When the whole thing started in have 35 catechists who volunteered shutdown of churches. “We’ve been March of last year, we switched to to teach remotely. Each week, they re- blessed,” says Lydia vanDuynhoven, e-learning – Google Classroom,” says cord themselves teaching the chapter. the religious education director. “We Marie Noel, religious education coor- Then they use an application called didn’t skip a beat. We were able to dinator at St. Clare’s on Staten Island. Screencast-O-Matic to embed videos, provide parishioners with Mass and “That was a learning curve for the pictures and quizzes. I have learned so Holy Hour. Our children were able to catechists. But the kids, the families, much from our catechists, who all ap- log on to come to Mass on Sundays or the catechists really came through.” proach things differently.” during the week. That helped a lot.” Spring sacraments were postponed, Gilligan treasures the emails from For weekly classes, vanDuynhoven but almost all of the students success- parents. One wrote, “The time we took an approach that focused on fam- fully completed their classes for the spend together reading the lessons ily catechesis. “We’re using a program academic year. with [our daughter], watching the vid- of study called CatholicBrain,” she “When we resumed in the fall, we eos and discussing the stories ... has says. “It has lessons for various grade completely changed the structure of reinforced our understanding of our levels with text, pictures and videos. program again,” Noel says. “There faith as well as teaching our child.” I’ve written lesson plans for each

6 † SPRING 2021 grade to correlate with the guidelines on guest attendance were imposed at is 84 years old. She learned how to do from the archdiocese and make use of in-person events like First Commu- Zoom. Many of us learned we could do the lessons offered by CatholicBrain.” nions and confirmations, vanDuyn- things we never thought we could.” Children and their parents have to hoven found, the social aspect of the Antoinette Gilligan is coming out of sign on together to complete lessons. occasion took a back seat to some- this painful year with a strong sense “Parents make sure their kids are signed thing more meaningful. “I’m sure of optimism. “I come from Ireland,” up and signed in. I can see how they are you’ve been to confirmations where she says, “where I was raised with a doing with their lessons: The student’s the church is packed and people are deep knowledge of Irish history. At work gets posted, and I go in, see how climbing over pews to take pictures,” one point, Catholics in Ireland weren’t they’re doing, and if there’s a problem, she says. At this year’s rite – not a allowed to go to Mass. The faith was I let them know. ‘OK, good try, but I Mass – attendance was limited to con- outlawed, so it became a priority. think you could do better; let’s look at firmandi, sponsors, and two parents. “This year, life has been very chal- this again.’ So it’s really kind of a one- “The people who were present were lenging for our parents, having to bal- on-one even though I’m not with them.” truly present. It was beautiful.” ance work, home and school. On top In a normal year, there are 65 cat- At St. Clare’s, “The pandemic pushed of everything else, they have made it a echists teaching in the St. Stephen’s us to think outside the box, to make re- point to be involved in their kids’ reli- program. This year there were no cat- ligious education a little more fun for gion classes. They’ve made it a priori- echists. The teaching was done by par- the children,” Marie Noel says. “Many ty. That gives me hope for the Church, ents, overseen by vanDuynhoven. catechists came up with their own pro- that there will be a new generation of Sometimes restrictions come with grams. Sometimes they used Kahoot Catholics who are motivated by the unexpected blessings. When limitations when teaching. One of my catechists love of Christ.”

NEWSFEED

CASA Pushes the Envelope • Formation of new parish priests The Nature of Writing In a year of greater need than ever, • Evangelization and Catholic education Many writers are isolationists by the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship • Care for retired parish priests disposition: They may reach out to Appeal for 2020 – “Teach, Serve, Sanc- • Charitable outreach others in researching their work, but tify” – was forced to operate without • Covid-19 relief at the moment of creation they usually its most familiar fundraising tools: At this time, the appeal is on track seek silence and solitude to usher their the envelopes in the pews and the sign to meet or exceed its goal. You can words into the light of day. at the front of the church showing contribute at www.cardinalsappeal. Writer’s retreats offer a chance for the parish’s progress toward its goal. org/donate. Those who donate online these lone creators to find solace in Thanks to the generosity of New York can still designate their parish on the the company of others engaged in the Catholics, that didn’t stop the appeal digital form so that their community same pursuit. It’s encouraging to see, from raising almost $20 million. gets credit for the contribution. Think after more than a year of social dis- This largesse enabled CASA to ad- of it as a virtual envelope. tancing, the Center at Mariandale, a dress needs made more urgent by the sponsored ministry of the Dominican pandemic, supporting Catholic Char- Musical Knowledge Sisters of Hope in Ossining, offering ities in the distribution of 1.6 million Parish musicians who want to im- “The Light of Inspiration Awaits,” a meals in the most financially vulnera- merse themselves in the beauty and weekend writing retreat, June 18–21. ble areas of the archdiocese; aiding par- holiness of the Church’s sacred mu- Led by writer and artist Magie Dom- ishes transitioning to digital ministry; sic can enroll in classes offered by St. inic, the event offers morning work- providing $12 million in scholarships Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. The shops, healthful food, and lodgings to 11,000 Catholic school students and intensive courses are designed to help at Mariandale, with gorgeous sunsets Chromebooks for 5,700 students and students grow both spiritually and as over the Hudson River and 61 acres of 1,200 teachers; delivering financial musicians. This year’s classes will be bucolic grounds to wander for spiritu- support for 33 parishes in need and conducted remotely. al sustenance. funding for parish ministries support- Courses include Principles of Sacred ing the homebound elderly; and more. Music, Principles of Chant, Teaching Archways on the Web Given the great need, this year’s Gregorian Chant to Children, Intro- As part of our mission to inform CASA fundraising target is $21 mil- duction to Liturgy, and Advanced and inspire, Archways has launched lion, earmarked for: Seminar in Gregorian Chant. For in- a new website! For full access to all • Assistance for financially vulnera- formation, go to dunwoodie.edu and our stories, including bonus content, ble parishes click on “Dunwoodie Music.” check out archwaysmag.org.

† SPRING 2021 7 NEWS AND NOTES

ISSUE THE AGONY OF ISOLATION

Since March of 2020, Covid-19 has replaced. On top of that, there has been other outlets for youth through so- put up barriers to normal life for all of the unpredictability and uncertainty cialization or athletic activities, as us. For many children and teenagers, tied to this yearlong event. Without a well as simple boredom. Unfortunate- the effects of isolation – lockdowns, clear end in sight, it has been hard for ly, solitary drug use in the home has a social distancing, bans on gather- some adolescents to envision a future greater potential to lead to accidental ings, distance learning – have been in which this will be behind us. overdose, so the danger is magnified. devastating. We asked Todd Karlin, For many who were already strug- Psy.D., chief program officer of Astor gling with mental health issues, the Archways: Has there been an increase Services (a Catholic Charities of New loss of direct connection with others in frequency or severity of domestic vi- York–affiliated agency serving children and the inability to engage in coping olence or abuse? and families in the mid-Hudson Valley strategies has exacerbated symptoms. and the Bronx), to give us an overview Understandably, there has been in- Dr. Todd Karlin: There is evidence of what young people are facing and creased reliance on social media for that instances of domestic violence what parents and community mem- connection. That may be better than and abuse have increased. This uptick bers can do to help. no connection at all, but can create a has been detected in spite of the fact distorted view of reality and heighten that many reports of child abuse and Archways: What kinds of emotional feelings of depression and anxiety. neglect ordinarily surface from school or psychological tolls have pandemic reports. With so many schools closed restrictions taken on our young people? Archways: Has the pandemic period early in the pandemic and many kids caused an increase in substance abuse? learning remotely, school reports fell Dr. Todd Karlin: The toll has been off initially. And with many partners significant, beginning with the loss of Dr. Todd Karlin: Early data suggests and children in lockdown with their activities and social engagement – ex- that there has been an uptick in usage abuser, supporting victims through tracurricular activities, proms, grad- and overdoses during the pandem- treatment presented unique chal- uations. These experiences can’t be ic. Contributing factors are a lack of lenges, since privacy is essential for

8 † SPRING 2021 the safety of a victim of abuse who is backlog. With schools not identifying conversations to begin, many times reaching out to get support. kids as early, by the time some students people are grateful that their distress are referred, they are already in crisis. has been noticed. By showing that you Archways: What sort of issues are we care about their pain, you can move seeing in young children and teenag- Archways: What can we do as individ- someone to seek help. ers? In parents? uals to ease the pain of a neighbor or Be persistent in outreach. Ask hon- loved one in emotional distress? est questions about whether the per- Dr. Todd Karlin: Anxiety, depression son has had thoughts or plans that and trauma manifest differently for Dr. Todd Karlin: Checking in on one involve self-harm. It’s important to each group, but have impacted every- another and reaching out to someone know that bringing up concerns about one. For our younger kids, while some who might be experiencing distress self-harm does not lead to increased of them are managing the upheaval, can be the most powerful interven- suicidal thoughts. On the contrary, by others are struggling, and the impacts tion. While these may be difficult directly addressing this question, you can be pervasive on social skills devel- allow for an honest response. opment, academic progress and men- While we never know when we tal health. Other kids have thrived in might find ourselves in a position to the short term with some of the typical “To successfully intervene, keeping handy information stressors of the school day removed, about community resources, help- but they may be re-entering school this care for others, lines, or houses of worship can make fall not having seen a classroom (or all the difference. If someone is ex- attended regularly) in as much as 18 pressing suicidal thoughts with plans months. This will be a tremendously you must care or intent to harm themselves, they difficult transition for many of them. should be evaluated by a medical or Disparities in access to technology for yourself.” behavioral health professional. or high-speed internet mean that the impact has not been felt equally by all populations. These disparities have also impacted impoverished commu- nities in their access to remote medical SUICIDE PREVENTION and mental health support. For parents, it’s important to note that none of this is occurring in a vacu- um – increased parental stress impacts Do You Know the Warning Signs? the family system and has residual im- Life is a gift, but emotional suffering can make a young person lose pact on kids. It can’t be repeated often the will to hold onto it. Here are signs to watch out for in a young enough: To successfully care for others, person at risk for self-harm. you must care for yourself.

Archways: Has there been an increase FEELINGS like hopelessness about the future, extreme sadness, in mental health emergencies? Has the anxiety, anger or aggressiveness. suicide rate gone up? ACTIONS like withdrawing from activities or friendships, taking Dr. Todd Karlin: It’s been abundantly risks or researching ways to die online. clear that high-risk crisis behaviors and in normal mood and behavior. If you observe changes suicide attempts have increased. The CHANGES CDC estimated a significant increase that concern you, reach out to others in your child’s life to see if in suicidal thoughts this summer for they’ve noticed anything similar. older adolescents and young adults such as “I’d rather be dead” or even vague statements compared to pre-pandemic. Recent THREATS research has suggested that the same like “I just don’t care about anything anymore.” non-white communities that have been SITUATIONS that might trigger suicidal behavior, such as getting disproportionally impacted by COVID into trouble, experiencing some type of loss or facing a life change are experiencing the most significant mental health impact. We’ve seen a that the child finds overwhelming. tremendous need for services for the most vulnerable children and adoles- If you see any of these signs, talk with the young person straightfor- cents; the programs that serve them wardly. If they say they are thinking about harming themselves — es- are constantly at full capacity or at a pecially if they have a plan for how to do it — seek professional help.

† SPRING 2021 9 RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL THE BODY OF CHRIST

Photo by: Chris Sheridan Chris by: Photo NEEDS YOU Coming Home to Mass

THEN: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, packed for Easter 2019. NOW: Easter 2021 at a socially distanced St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Photo by: Maria Bastone

e all remember how Mass used to be, a little over a year ago. The pews filled with the faithful. Our voices joined in song. The handshake of peace. Fingers dipped in holy water. Embracing friends after the recessional. Then a virus with a strange name turned hope and joy into fear and trepi- dation. Mass was suddenly off limits to the public. We pined for the Eucha- rist,W but got accustomed to tuning in via TV or internet, seeing Mass play out in an eerily empty church. In the months since in-person Masses resumed, many of us have still not come back – though, as the weather warms, more and more are doing so. For this feature, Archways consulted with pastors and public health experts to assess where we are on the path to pre-pandemic attendance levels, what we’ll have to do to make people feel safe, and what “normal” will look like even after the virus has been subdued.

† SPRING 2021 11 RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL: LOCKDOWN Photo by: Maria Bastone Photo by: Chris Sheridan Chris by: Photo Photo by: Mary DiBiase Blaich Photo by: Mary DiBiase Blaich

FROM A DISTANCE. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A tabernacle set in the doorway of St. in the Bronx for outdoor adoration, May 2020; a moment of private prayer at , Yonkers, June 2020; Fr. John J. Wroblevski livestreaming the 2020 Easter Vigil Mass from St. , Staten Island; Fr. Robert Dillon recites the rosary live on Facebook from the rectory at St. , Staten Island.

A Shock to the System experts, all Masses in the Archdiocese necessity of shutting down in-person It seemed to happen without warn- of New York will be canceled beginning Masses had become clear. ing. At the beginning of March 2020, this weekend, March 14–15, 2020. Meanwhile, the parishes and minis- we were going to Mass as usual, taking – Press release, March 14, 2020 tries of the Archdiocese of New York our temperatures and washing our had sprung into action. ArchCare, hands thoroughly. The notion of can- For many New Yorkers, this was working with local parishes and con- celing the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was the moment we realized: Whoa, this gregations of men and women reli- unthinkable – until it happened. And is serious. gious, sent chaplains into quarantine two days later came the announce- At the time, the total coronavirus to serve Catholics in the region’s hos- ment from the archdiocese: death toll in New York State was two, and pitals. Catholic Charities and its affil- daily new cases less than 200. A month iated agencies, while observing health (New York, NY) In light of the con- later, new cases had topped 10,000 per protocols, redoubled efforts to provide tinued concern surrounding the coro- day. On April 13 alone, more than 1,000 food, shelter and other critical assis- navirus, and the advice of medical New Yorkers died of Covid-19. The tance to those in need.

12 † SPRING 2021 CHRIST’S WORK CONTINUES: After the pandemic hit the region, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York stepped up its services to people in need – providing 1.6 million meals in 2020 and increasing services to the homeless, immigrants, day laborers, at-risk adolescents and those suffering with mental-health issues. Here, clients line up to receive boxed provisions from a food pantry at Betances Houses in the Bronx. Photo by Maria Bastone.

“This Is God Here” “Here in Millbrook, I took the Eu- Many parishes held Mass in empty charist in the monstrance around the churches and provided a virtual expe- streets a number of times, just by my- We are not rience to the faithful via livestream or self, processing with Him to remind video recordings posted online. Some people that He is here,” says Fr. Hart- islands, to be also livestreamed holy hours or Eu- ley Bancroft, pastor at St. Joseph’s in charistic adoration or Bible readings. Millbrook. “Other parishes did simi- isolated. We Among the hundreds of Facebook lar things, too. That was a great sign Live offerings around the archdiocese, for people in the village that, yes, this St. Lawrence O’Toole in Brewster fea- is God here.” need others. tured nightly “Psalm You to Sleep” Easter 2020 saw not just an empty readings, and Fr. Robert Dillon of St. tomb, but empty pews. Thousands So don’t be Thomas the Apostle on Staten Island tuned in for the live-steam from St. led parishioners in praying the rosary Patrick’s Cathedral. afraid to come from his desk in the rectory. On May 21, 10 weeks after the clos- Pastors also took their ministries out ing of Masses, the archdiocese an- to Mass. of doors, through parking-lot Masses, nounced a plan to phase in reopen- drive-through confessions, displays of ings over the coming weeks based on the Eucharist via a monstrance or tab- infection rates in each locality. All ernacle set in a doorway or window, over the region, pastors saw the light or physically carrying the monstrance at the end of the tunnel. They began FR. JOSE CRUZ through the streets, bringing Jesus to making preparations to safely ac- OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYRS, the faithful when the faithful were commodate an onslaught of return- INWOOD unable to come to Him. ing parishioners.

† SPRING 2021 13 RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL: SURVIVAL

By the Numbers When New York’s Catholic church- es reopened for Mass in late spring 2020, the exact dates varied from re- gion to region based on infection rates – but there was a consistency in the experience if not the exact timing. Fr. Eric Raaser, pastor of St. Margaret’s in Pearl River, refers to it as “that big dis- Mass for Life at St. Charles, Staten Island. appointment in June.” Photo by Mary DiBiase Blaich. “Everybody, including myself, thought that the churches were going to be mobbed, with people standing outside waiting to get in,” he says. WEIGHING RISKS “Those numbers were way, way be- low the expectations of every pastor or New Yorkers still deciding when to return to Mass, the deci- I talked to.” Turnout was low despite sion may seem bewildering. We asked ArchCare’s Dr. Mona herculean efforts at sanitizing, mark- F Rao and Dr. Walid Michelen to help us answer some basic ing pews to maintain social distanc- questions that might help readers decide. ing requirements and educating the How has the Archdiocese of New York arrived at its practices public about the measures being taken, regarding in-person Mass attendance? including a strict “no mask, no Mass” The archdiocese bases its decisions on guidance from public health rule. Respectable numbers of worship- authorities and medical experts. “The basic principle guiding a return pers showed up, but no throngs. to in-person parish activities has to be safety,” Dr. Rao says. “We have In the ensuing weeks, attendance to account for the person who is the most vulnerable. At this point, inched upward, but in many parishes it that means practicing social distancing and wearing a mask, as well still hovers around 50% of the pre-pan- as good hand hygiene and the disinfecting of high-touch surfaces.” demic number. Fr. Raaser estimates St. Margaret’s overall attendance at around Is there a risk to individual parishioners in returning to in-person 550 now in a good week; in 2019, the Masses and other parish activities? number was closer to 1,200. “There is a chance of exposure in any congregate setting, whether that’s attending Mass, dining in a restaurant, or going to the grocery The Fear Factor store,” says Dr. Michelen, “but there are precautions we can all take Fr. Jose Cruz, pastor of Our Lady to make these activities as safe as possible.” To a significant extent, in Queen of Martyrs in Inwood, talks to the Archdiocese of New York, this risk is being managed at the parish many parishioners who are still afraid level by requiring the strict observance of health protocols. of returning. “With Covid-19, a lot of That said, Dr. Rao observes, “Seniors and those with pre-existing our worst nightmares came true. A lot medical conditions are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and, if exposed, of people are still living in fear,” he said. are at risk for severe disease.” Individuals with these risk factors may “I know parishioners who are afraid want to consult with their doctors before returning to Mass. even to go to the supermarket to buy groceries, but they have to. They say, Once someone has been fully vaccinated, is there any reason not ‘Father, I need to go to Mass but I am to return to in-person Mass? afraid.’” Fr. Cruz doesn’t pressure these According to researchers, fully vaccinated people have very little worshippers: “I tell them, ‘Taking care risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19. “All of the approved vac- of your life is something that you have cines are effective, and they all offer protection against severe dis- to do. Because life comes from God.’” ease,” Dr. Rao says. The pandemic has been hard on Fr. But vaccinated individuals should still wear masks and observe so- Cruz’s community. “We all in one cial distancing in public – partly because researchers do not yet know way or another have been affected and for sure whether they can still pick up the virus and pass it to others. touched by this pandemic,” he says, but “We need to keep one another safe until a critical mass of people are he still urges everyone to come back to vaccinated and we have achieved herd immunity,“ Dr. Michelen says. Mass as soon as they can safely do so. “This means continuing to follow safety guidelines, even after you’ve “When we get used to following the been vaccinated.”

14 † SPRING 2021 Photo by: Chris Sheridan Chris by: Photo Sheridan Chris by: Photo

Masses at home, something is lacking deep down: the spiritual connection that brings God through the commu- nity…. The risk that we face right now is getting used to having everything Ricardo Paiba by: Photo remote – the idea that your faith is not connected to others.” Comfort Zone For some, on the other hand, the fear and risk may have subsided and been replaced by a kind of inertia. “People are going to sporting events, going to the local pubs and restaurants,” Fr. Raaser observes. At that point, if some- one is not returning to Mass, they may be drifting away from the faith. “A lot of people don’t want to be bothered,” he says, so they just watch Mass at home. “Parents don’t want to fight with the kids…. We have won-

derful families here, with three, four, Photo by: Maria Bastone five, sometimes six kids. To get every-

body to church on time, it must be Photo by: Mary DiBiase Blaich craziness.” Unfortunately, “The longer that we’re out of the obligation to go, the harder it is for people to readjust and get back to what they want to do.” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A moment of prayer in Crestwood, June 2020, during the Corpus And the easier it is to forget that, Christi procession at Annunciation/Our Lady of Fatima parish; taking the Body of Christ to the as Catholics, “We need the Eucharist streets in Crestwood; distributing Communion at St. , Manhattan; a January 2021 for survival, for nourishment. It’s the Mass commemorating St. Elizabeth Seton at St. Peter’s, lower Manhattan; floor marker at Our Lady source and summit of all our worship.” of Pity, Staten Island.

† SPRING 2021 15 RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL: HOMECOMING

Bringing Them Back “We have a huge ahead of us,” Fr. Cruz says. In order to bring back the faithful, he adds, “We will need to re- group and use tools that we might not have used before – social media, Face- book, YouTube – not just to get a mes- Each of us has a specific role sage out, but to invite the people and welcome them back home. To me, this is very important: This is our home. So to fulfill in the Body of Christ we all belong here.” The first challenge will be to over- that has been set apart for us come irrational fear. “Jesus says, ‘Be not afraid,’ right?” Fr. Bancroft points out. since before time. “The devil wants people to be afraid. He wants to keep people away from the Eucharist. He works through fear, but God works through love, and perfect love casts out fear. Perfect love for our FR. HARTLEY BANCROFT, ST. JOSEPH’S, MILLBROOK Lord and the Eucharist will bring us back to Mass and give us peace.” New Yorkers who are already back attending Mass can tell you that par- ishes are looking out for the com- Joseph’s. “They were saying, ‘We’ve Members of the Body munity’s health, rigorously following been making sure to watch a Mass In Our Lady Queen of Martyrs par-

safety protocols. Some worshippers on TV, but we feel like something’sPhoto by: Maria Bastone ish, Fr. Cruz evangelizes at every op- worry that, if too many came back, missing.’ And I said to them, ‘Quite portunity. These days, that happens they would be crowded unsafely in honestly, there is something miss- on a regular basis at the supermarket. the churches. In some parishes, to the ing. There’s something very differentPhoto by: Maria Bastone “People recognize me – ‘Oh, Father!’ pastors’ satisfaction, this is indeed about watching someone on TV and – and right away they are asking me becoming an issue - but fortunately, really being in their presence – which questions. Sometimes I go just for there are plans in place to address it. is what happens at Mass. Because we bread and milk, something that I could “The strategy I’ve been using has believe that God is on that , pres- do in five minutes, and I am there for just been to offer more times and ent with us as Jesus.’ And ... they real- half an hour or 45 minutes,” he said. more options so that people can have ized, ‘Yes, that’s right. We want to be “Maybe they say, ‘Hey, Father, I haven’t room to spread out,” Fr. Bancroft says. back there with Jesus.’” been to Mass’ and I say, ‘Well, I want As more worshippers return, he’ll In addition to the Presence of to see you there. Remember, God is be ready. “If I had our full number Christ, there is the all-important sac- there, and he would like you to visit his show up again this coming weekend, I rament of the Eucharist, which is only house.’ … I feel it works best when you would be more than happy, as I would available in person. At St. Margaret’s, just touch people’s hearts and they feel be adding on Masses – driving myself Fr. Raaser posed the question in a re- welcomed and invited.” bald, but it would be worth it because cent Flocknote column, “When was “We are not islands to be isolated. it would be bringing Jesus to people.” the last time you received the Lord in We need others,” Fr. Cruz emphasizes, Holy Communion?” “For some, it’s echoing the Trappist monk and writer What’s Missing been over a year now,” he said. “When Thomas Merton. “So don’t be afraid to Pastors and clergy all over the archdi- I talk to kids in the school, I ask them go to Mass, because in the church we ocese are reaching out to parishioners that question, and if it’s months or will take care of you, number one. And via livestream, bulletins, Flocknote and years, that’s the tragedy of it.” number two, you will discover that social media – and through in-person On the other hand, he adds, “This when we are together, we know that we encounters in stores or on the streets – could be a great opportunity, when are all connected. Let us all take this to answer questions and remind them the people do start coming back to opportunity to support one another.” why it’s important to come back. Mass, to reeducate them in what the If you are absent from Mass, the loss Fr. Bancroft recounted a phone con- Mass is all about, and the meaning of is not just what you are missing from versation he had with one family at St. the Eucharist.” God and your fellow Christians – it’s

16 † SPRING 2021 Photo by: Ricardo Paiba by: Photo Photo by: Chris Sheridan Chris by: Photo Photo by: MJ O’Toole Photo by: Mary DiBiase Blaich Photo by: Mary DiBiase Blaich

also that you are missing from the would have made it even more beauti- community. Fr. Bancroft reminds us: ful, more complete.” “Each of us is a member of Christ. Each There is much to be hopeful about of us has a specific role to fulfill in the now. With each week, more of the faith- Body of Christ that has been set apart ful are returning. “I can see the light at for us since before time. So when we the end of the tunnel,” Fr. Cruz says. Photo by: Mary DiBiase Blaich cut ourselves off from him, even with- “More people are getting the vaccines, out intending to, we’re missing out on summer is around the corner, and we fulfilling that special mission that God hope that with the warm weather, the CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Worshippers has intended for us – and the Church is virus spread will slow down. ... at the Young Adult Mass, December 2020, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; hand sanitizing and missing out on having us fulfill it. “I can’t wait to see the church packed contactless donation station at St. Francis “It’s like a beautiful mosaic missing again. I know that it will take time to de Sales, Manhattan; Palm Sunday Mass at one of its stones, or a stained glass get to 100% of capacity. In the mean- St. Patrick’s Cathedral; Cardinal Dolan addresses window missing one of the panels. time, we can get ready. People will parishioners at St. Clare’s, Staten Island; The window may still be beautiful come with a lot of questions. They will full safety precautions in place at St. Clare’s; overall, yet it’s missing something that come hungry and thirsty for God.” Mass for Life at St. Charles, Staten Island.

† SPRING 2021 17 RETURN OF THE FAITHFUL: HOMECOMING Courtesy of St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish Courtesy of St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish Photo by: Mary DiBiase Blaich

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Leaving Easter Mass at St. Lawrence O’Toole, Brewster; a socially distanced Easter reception in the St. Lawrence O’Toole parish center; at Mass commemorating the 200th anniversary of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s death, January 2021, at St. Peter’s in lower Manhattan; receiving a blessing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, October 2020. Photo by: Chris Sheridan Chris by: Photo

18 † SPRING 2021 Photo by: Maria Bastone

Cardinal Dolan showers the faithful with holy water, Easter Sunday 2021, St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Photo by: Maria Bastone

Queuing up on Fifth Avenue for Easter 2021 Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. OF NEW YORK

Venerable PIERRE TOUSSAINT From slave to successful New York entrepreneur – and someday, perhaps, a saint

20 † SPRING 2021 Illustration by Vinny Bove n the summer of 1797,* a wealthy French planter from the col- ony of St. Domingue – soon to become the independent nation of Haiti – stepped off of a passenger ship in New York Harbor. He was accompanied by a few family members and a handful of IWest African house slaves. Among the latter was a tall, mild-mannered teenager destined to become a legend. His name was Pierre Toussaint.

Toussaint arrived in the fledgling master’s children, reared in the social ter, Jean Jacques Bérard, signed the United States – George Washington niceties. He had been trained to greet slave up to apprentice as a hairdress- had only recently stepped down as and serve guests graciously. His com- er. It was a smart move in a city where president – at a time when much of mand of the French language, spoken wealthy society women required elab- the world seemed to be turning up- and written, was superb. orate hairdos for social engagements side-down. The colony he had sailed At the same time, Toussaint was one several times a week. From the outset, from was engulfed by a slave rebellion; of half a million Black slaves who toiled Toussaint was allowed to keep much in short order, former slaves would be- for the benefit of some 32,000 French of what he earned at his new trade. come rulers and their masters would inhabitants of St. Domingue. The upris- In 1801, Bérard died, his once-extrav- be homeless. Many French aristocrats, ing that put an end to this injustice was agant fortune nearly wiped out. Within from St. Domingue and from Europe hard-fought and bloody, and raged for a year or two, his widow, Madame Bé- (where France itself had been upend- years in the colony where he grew up. rard, was unable to pay her creditors. By ed by revolution), were finding their In later years, Toussaint was reluc- then, however, Toussaint was earning way to America. There they were free tant to speak about the horrors he enough as a hairdresser to assume fi- to keep whatever money and valuables had witnessed, and hesitant to join nancial responsibility for the household. they might salvage – including slaves. the abolition debate in America be- Still a slave, he served tea, did the chores In this way, one of the foremost Amer- cause of the terrible cost he knew and paid the bills until his mistress ican Catholics of the early 19th century had been paid to end slavery in Haiti. freed him on her deathbed in 1807. – today, the only lay person buried at Though he would die before emanci- After burying Madame Bérard, St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue pation came to the United States, he Toussaint used his hairdressing money – came to New York in the humblest of did obtain his own freedom in 1807, to purchase his sister’s freedom from circumstances, as the slave of a family and worked quietly on behalf of his another master. He also purchased the about to lose its solvency. fellow Black New Yorkers, especially freedom of his fiancée, Juliette Noel, children, until his death in 1853. whom he had known in St. Domingue. A Child of Dual Worlds The couple wed and moved into a At the age of 16, Toussaint had lived From Slave to Entrepreneur smaller house on Reade Street, where his entire life as a Black slave among the Soon after the family had settled they began a life whose charitable rip- French aristocracy. In St. Domingue, into a fashionable rental house in ples are still moving through the New he had grown up as a playmate to his lower Manhattan, Toussaint’s mas- York community – and the world.

*A note about dates: Many books and articles about Pierre Toussaint, following the lead of memoirist Hannah Sawyer Lee, state that he was born in 1766 and arrived in New York in 1787. While Lee’s memoir is reliable in most respects, these dates are speculative and probably incorrect. In this account, Archways has used dates based on the research of journalist Arthur Jones for his book Pierre Toussaint: A Biography (2003).

† SPRING 2021 21 SAINTS OF NEW YORK: VENERABLE PIERRE TOUSSAINT

Man of Means, and of God quently. One of them, the prominent in New York. (The Catholic Church Toussaint’s hard work and generous socialite Mary Anna Sawyer Schuyler, declared Mother Seton a saint in 1975.) spirit soon brought him significant became a close friend. She addressed Though there is no evidence that Se- wealth and a kind of provisional ac- him in letters as “my Saint Pierre.” ton ever met Toussaint, he was instru- ceptance at the highest levels of New mental in raising funds for the new York society. Parish of Saints Sisters of Charity orphanage, in spite As a Black man, he was forced to From his first days in New York, of the fact that it served only white navigate with care the streets of his Toussaint was a parishioner at St. Pe- children. Meanwhile, Toussaint used adopted city, where free Black people ter’s on Barclay Street, where he at- his home to shelter homeless, parent- might be attacked by bigots or kid- tended Mass daily for decades. There, less Black children. Pierre and Juliette napped by slave traffickers and sold he became a significant benefactor used their own money to raise and ed- back into bondage. He was also vul- and fundraiser. Though his good ucate these young charges. nerable as a Catholic, since anti-Cath- works were by no means limited to olic prejudice was rampant. church finances, his largesse did con- Devoted to the Beatitudes As an entrepreneur and an acknowl- tribute significantly to the growth of For decades, tirelessly, Toussaint edged master of his trade, however, he the Church in New York. dedicated himself to service, to de- was welcomed into the drawing rooms In 1805, a young widow and moth- livering the mercy of Christ to those of New York’s elite families. There he er named Elizabeth Bayley Seton con- in need. In addition to his charitable was counted as not just a hairdresser verted to Catholicism and joined the work, he routinely put in 12-plus-hour but also a valued friend and counselor. congregation at St. Peter’s. A few years days at his trade, walking the streets The wife and daughter of Alexan- later, she moved to to start from stately home to stately home to der Hamilton were among his clients, America’s first Catholic girls school dress the hair of the fashionable – all as were numerous other prominent and found the Sisters of Charity, the in order to have more to share with New Yorkers. These mostly Protestant first community of women religious in the poor and the troubled. women deeply admired Toussaint’s the United States. Then in 1816, at the Hannah Sawyer Lee, Toussaint’s Catholic piety and kindness, and request of St. Peter’s pastor, she sent a first biographer and the sister of his many corresponded with him fre- group of sisters to open an orphanage close friend Mary Anna Schuyler,

It must not be supposed that Toussaint’s charity consisted merely in bestowing money; he felt the moral greatness of doing good, of giving counsel to the weak and courage to the timid, of reclaiming the vicious, and above all, of comforting the sick and sorrowful.

HANNAH SAWYER LEE, MEMOIR OF PIERRE TOUSSAINT, 1854

22 † SPRING 2021 CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The interior of St. Peter’s on Barclay Street, where Toussaint attended Mass for more than 50 years; the façade of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, circa 1820; the Great New York Fire of 1835, which wiped out much of Toussaint’s wealth; Pierre, Juliette and their adopted daughter Euphemie Toussaint, as painted in miniatures by artist Anthony Meucci, circa 1825.

gives us a close-up account of his cades, entered the deserted house known as Old St. Patrick’s on Mul- virtue in Memoir of Pierre Toussaint, where she lay, and performed the berry Street, he and his family were Born a Slave in St. Domingo. “He often nameless offices of a nurse, fearlessly turned away because of his race by quoted in his native language from exposing himself to the contagion.” ushers unaware of his VIP status. Ca- the Sermon on the Mount,” she re- thedral trustees rushed to apologize called, “and the Beatitudes seemed to A Man for Others as soon as they learned of the slight, have found their way into his heart.” Through the 1820s and early 1830s, but they could not undo what had Whenever he was not at work, it Toussaint’s wealth grew steadi- happened – at a church whose con- seems, Toussaint was giving food to ly through constant work. When a struction he had helped fund. the hungry, sheltering the homeless, friend observed that the hairdresser The next decade was one of gradual welcoming the stranger, comforting had accumulated enough money to physical decline for Toussaint, even the grieving, visiting the imprisoned retire in comfort, he replied, “Madam, as his spirit seemed to soar ever clos- and the sick. The hairdresser’s re- I have enough for myself, but if I stop er to God. In 1851, his wife sponse to the frequent outbreaks of work, I have not enough for others.” and partner Juliette died and was yellow fever in New York seem espe- In 1835, the Great New York Fire buried in the cemetery of St. Patrick’s cially heroic in light of our current raged through lower Manhattan’s Old Cathedral beside their adoptive dealings with the scourge of Covid-19. warehouses, destroying hundreds of daughter Euphémie, who had died Toussaint had seen plenty of yellow buildings. It is believed that Toussaint two decades earlier. Surrounded by fever during his youth in Haiti. He lost investments totaling $900,000 in Black friends, Toussaint marched knew its deadly power, but did not shy today’s dollars. With reduced means, from the funeral at St. Peter’s to the from helping those in its grip. he carried on with his charitable works, burial site on Mulberry Street, where Lee writes of one case in her mem- funding orphanages and other Cath- his many white friends, clients and oir of Toussaint: “When the yellow olic institutions, including the first admirers joined the mourners to pay fever prevailed in New York, by de- Catholic school for Black children. their respects. grees Maiden Lane was almost wholly Racism, too, remained all too real. After her death, he grew increas- deserted, and almost every house in In the America of the 1840s, moving ingly inactive and bedridden. Pierre it closed. One poor woman, prostrat- inexorably toward civil war, New York Toussaint died on June 30, 1853. Two ed by the terrible disorder, remained no longer permitted slavery, but preju- days before, his last recorded words there with little or no attendance, till dice and violence against Blacks were were “God is with me” – and then, Toussaint, day by day, came through common. This hit home for Toussaint when asked if he wanted anything, the lonely street, crossed the barri- in 1842 when, at the cathedral now “Nothing on Earth.”

† SPRING 2021 23 SAINTS OF NEW YORK: VENERABLE PIERRE TOUSSAINT

A Servant at Rest Having come into this world as a slave, Pierre Toussaint left it as a man of substance, well known in Manhat- tan and widely admired for his char- itable work. “High Mass, incense, candles, rich robes, sad and solemn music. … The Church gave all it could give, to prince or noble,” Eliza Hamil- ton Schuyler, daughter-in-law of Mary Anna Schuyler, wrote in describing Toussaint’s funeral at St. Peter’s. “The body of the church was well filled with men, women, children, , and charity sisters; likewise … people of his own color, all in mourning. Around stood many of the white race, with CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A plaque commemorating Pierre Toussaint on St. Peter’s Church in their eyes glistening with emotion.” lower Manhattan; scholars of the Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Fund, 2019; students at the College New York’s newspapers also took Pierre Toussaint in Sassier, Haiti. note of Toussaint’s passing with ex- travagant praises. “His charity was of wealthy New York society, displaced York and all over America. Amid the of the efficient character which did French nobility, and free and enslaved political turmoil leading up to the not content itself with a present relief Blacks, showing equal love, respect and Civil War and the unsettled times that of pecuniary aid,” said one obituary, Christian mercy to all. As the service followed, his story faded in the public “but which required time and thought ended, Toussaint’s many white friends memory. Were it not for the efforts of by day and by night, and long watch- and associates stood back – honoring Hannah Sawyer Lee, whose Memoir fulness and kind attention at the bed- a request he had made at the time of of Pierre Toussaint stitched together side of the sick and the departing.” Juliette’s burial – to let members of the details of his extraordinary life from “For sixty years,” wrote the Home Black community bear him out of St. notes left behind by her sister, Mary Journal, “he attended Mass at six in Peter’s and through the streets to the Anna Schuyler, and a variety of other the morning, as punctual as a clock, cemetery of St. Patrick’s on Mulberry sources, we would likely have a scant until prostrated by illness. His days Street. There, Black and white, rich and awareness of Toussaint today. and nights were given to visits, min- poor commingled again in prayer as For nearly a century, the legend istrations to the sick, attendance upon their beloved Toussaint was laid to rest of the former slave who managed to the bereaved, and attempts to reform beside his wife and adopted daughter. achieve financial and social success the erring and console the afflicted.” while leading a life of unsurpassed Toussaint had managed the remark- Beyond the Grave Christian piety was kept alive as oral able feat of moving with equal grace The decades following Toussaint’s history in the Haitian-American and generosity in the disparate worlds death were tumultuous ones in New and Black Catholic communities.

24 † SPRING 2021 If ever a man was truly free, it was Pierre Toussaint. ... If ever a man was a saint, in my judgment, it was Pierre Toussaint. ... No one can read this man’s life – and the records are thoroughly authentic – without being awed by his holiness.

CARDINAL JOHN J. O’CONNOR, ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK 1984–2000

Then, in 1938, a 9-year-old Black re- neath the altar of St. Patrick’s Cathe- the archdiocese’s Black Ministry Of- ligious education student challenged dral. Toussaint is the only lay person fice, carries on his mission to provide an 18-year-old seminarian named ever accorded this honor. At a 1999 education and improvement oppor- Charles McTague to name one Black Mass in Toussaint’s honor, O’Connor tunities to young people, providing Catholic who had been respected by said, “He is now buried beneath this financial grants, mentorship and op- white people. Looking for an answer, high altar with all of the bishops, arch- portunities for students at all levels McTague learned about Toussaint. bishops and cardinals of New York. It to develop their faith as well as their Eventually, doing some follow-up will be a great privilege for me to be careers. The foundation also supports research, he was able to locate the buried in a vault in the same section the College Pierre Toussaint in Sass- Toussaint family gravestone – on with Pierre Toussaint.” ier, Haiti, creating opportunities for which the faded lettering had be- young Haitians to gain the skills to come illegible to the naked eye – in A Legacy of Service serve their community. the cemetery on Mulberry Street. The In the process of , after In his lifetime, Toussaint was re- discovery catalyzed a movement. a candidate has been declared vener- spected as a devout and holy man. Peo- In 1951, Cardinal Francis Spell- able, the Church requires evidence of ple came to him – Black, white, rich, man blessed a plaque to mark the two genuine miracles before a decla- poor – to ask him not only to help them headstone, and in 1968 his successor, ration of sainthood. In his 1999 hom- in their need but also to advise them Cardinal Terrence Cook, formally ini- ily, O’Connor acknowledged this but and pray for them. In the words of Fr. tiated Toussaint’s case (or “cause,” in emphasized that there is no need to Quinn, who eulogized Toussaint at his canonical parlance) for canonization. wait for canonization to extoll Tous- funeral in 1853, he was “one who al- After more than two decades of ex- saint’s example of Christian mercy. ways had wise counsel for the rich and haustive research and due diligence by “Beatified or not, Pierre Toussaint words of encouragement for the poor.” the Pierre Toussaint Guild, the cause remains a wonderful model,” he said, Today, in a world that seems to was submitted to the Vatican. Pope St. “and I wish he were here.” worship the vain and self-serving, we John Paul II declared Toussaint “ven- His legacy today is alive and well could use some of Toussaint’s coun- erable” in 1997. in the Archdiocese of New York. The sel and encouragement. Indeed, we Meanwhile, in 1989, Cardinal John Pierre Toussaint Guild, instrumen- could do worse than to emulate the O’Connor had arranged for the hair- tal in his cause for sainthood, also former slave from Haiti who lived to dresser’s remains (which had to be helps to broadcast his inspiring sto- serve God and others, and came to exhumed as part of the canonization ry to the world. The Pierre Toussaint embody so strikingly the love and process) to be relocated to a vault be- Scholarship Fund, administered by mercy of Jesus Christ.

† SPRING 2021 25 JOYFUL PASSAGES THE WORDS THAT INSPIRE ords, millions of them, swirl around us every day. Some are frivolous, some provocative, some hurtful, some kind. They can inform us, inflate us, deflate us, carry us to faraway places or forgotten times. They may be Wspoken, sung, printed, broadcast, handwritten or displayed on a glowing screen, and we can read, hear or ignore them. Amid the torrent, we look for passages – readings, songs, poems, fragments of text US or verse – that we can circle back to: the ones that inspire us, enlighten us, center us, bring us closer to God. These are words we lean on. They run through our heads when we’re out for a walk or doing chores or drifting off to sleep. Archways wants to know your go-to texts of wisdom, faith and joy. To get you started, we gathered some springtime suggestions from priests, religious and music directors. Acts of the Apostles 8:26–39

Recommended by: Fr. George Hafemann Pastor, St. , Goshen

“This favorite Scripture passage tells the story of the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. Would that we all had the fervent faith of this man.”

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jeru- salem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chari- ot reading the Book of the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. The Baptism of the Eunuch by Rembrandt, 1626.

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” down into the water and Philip baptized him. When Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not Christ is the Son of God.” And he gave orders to stop see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

† SPRING 2021 27 JOYFUL PASSAGES

“A Prayer Poem” From Letters: Book 7, by C.S. Lewis* by Blessed Clelia Merloni

Recommended by Fr. Anthony Mastrolia Pastor, St. Clare, Staten Island Master, they say that when I seem To be in speech with you, Since you make no replies, it’s all a dream – One talker aping two.

They are half right, but not as they Imagine; rather, I Seek in myself the things I meant to say, And lo! the wells are dry.

Then, seeing me empty, you forsake The Listener’s role, and through My dead lips breathe and into utterance wake Cardinal Dolan before a portrait of Blessed Clelia Merloni The thoughts I never knew. at a Mass in her honor at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, February 2019.

And thus you neither need reply Recommended by Sr. Cora Lombardo, ASCJ Nor can; thus, while we seem Director of Religious Education, Immaculate Two talking, thou art One forever, and I Conception/Assumption, Tuckahoe No dreamer, but thy dream. “Blessed Clelia captures the challenge we all face of * Copyright © C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. 1964. Reprinted by permission. not just finding Jesus in other people, but of really loving them, even when they don’t return the favor of doing good for good. She focuses it for us and iden- tifies this as the Way of the Cross that becomes the Way to heaven.”

Apply yourselves then with a generous heart to do all with the greatest perfection gazing on the image of God in your neighbor whoever he or she may be, who because of this, will become in your eyes the object of your most tender concerns even to feeling the joy of rendering them good for evil. Endure everything, forgive everything, love always even though they may hate us. You can be sure that if you do this, you will advance, with giant steps, along the narrow way Christian novelist C.S. Lewis. of the great Saints.

28 † SPRING 2021 San Filippo Neri (Cingoli) by Carlo Maratta.

From Maxims and Sayings of St. Philip Neri

Recommended by Br. Steven Neier New York Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Sparkill “The essential thing to do is to give oneself totally to God. He who wants anything other than Christ does not know what he wants.”

“The Holy Spirit is the teacher of prayer. He enables us to live in constant peace and constant joy, which is a foretaste of paradise.”

“My Jesus if you want me, cut the fetters that keep me from you.”

“One should not wish to do everything in one day, or to become a saint in four days, but step by step.” JOYFUL PASSAGES

“Now the Green Blade Riseth,” by John Macleod Campbell Crum

Recommended by Dr. Jennifer Donelson Director of Liturgical Music, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers “The strong ties between Easter and the com- ing of springtime in the Northern Hemisphere lend themselves to rich imagery that aug- ments our natural anticipation for the end of winter and for the victory of Christ over death. This hymn wonderfully illustrates the analogy between the death and resurrection of Our Lord and the promise of Jesus that if the ‘grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies … it produces much fruit”’(John 12:24). The text is commonly set to the charming and evocative French carol tune ‘Noel Nouvelet,’ which has elements of both major and minor keys, capturing the giving way of shadow to Dr. Jennifer Donelson at the chapel light in the spring and the conquering of life organ of St. Joseph’s Seminary. over death in the resurrection.”

Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain, Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

In the grave they laid Him, Love who had been slain, Thinking that He never would awake again, Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

Forth He came at Easter, like the risen grain, Jesus who for three days in the grave had lain; Quick from the dead the risen One is seen: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain, Jesus’ touch can call us back to life again, Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

30 † SPRING 2021 “Veni Sancte Spiritus” (“Come Holy Spirit”), attributed to Pope Innocent III

Recommended by Dr. Jennifer Pascual Director of Music, St. Patrick’s Cathedral

“On Easter and Pentecost Sundays, sequences (nonbiblical, sacred poetic texts) are required to be sung or recit- ed just prior to the singing of the Alleluia and Gospel verse during Mass. While in the 16th century hundreds of sequences were in use, only a handful are still permitted today. For Pentecost, ‘Veni Sancti Spiritus’ caps off the Easter season and helps draw the faithful more deeply into the mysteries celebrated on this important day of the Church year. Click to hear it as a chant (start at 54’11”) and in a choral setting by Mozart.”

Come, Holy Spirit, and send down from heaven the ray of your light. Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts, come, light of the hearts. Best consoler, sweet host of the soul, sweet refresher. Rest in work, cooling in heat, comfort in crying. O most blessed light, fill the innermost hearts of your faithful. Without your power nothing is in man, nothing innocent. Clean what is dirty, water what is dry, heal what is wounded. Bend what is rigid, heat what is cold, lead what has gone astray. Grant to your faithful who trust in you, your sevenfold holy gift. Grant us the reward of virtue, grant us final salvation, grant us eternal joy. Amen. Alleluia. A detail from the carved wood facade of the great pipe organ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

† SPRING 2021 31 © 2021 Archdiocese of New York archny.org