FROM MARY ROBISON: HISTORICAL MISSION WORK AT SAINT MARY’S

Our liturgy and our church are dazzlingly beautiful. Our worship is exuberant. Our music is unsurpassed. How about our ministry to the world? As we begin to live into our Year of Service, it’s worth considering what our parish has done throughout its history to make Midtown Manhattan (and the world) a better place. What could I find in our early records about mission work at Saint Mary’s in the nineteenth century? (We’ll save the twentieth century for another Angelus article.)

Throughout our history, mission and outreach have been just as important to those who came before us as they are to Saint Marians today. From its founding in 1868, Saint Mary’s has been a center of mission, with the congregation and priests focused on ministry to the community. As early as 1879, the church had a free Industrial School with 63 girls enrolled, taught by nine teachers, and sometime before 1882, Father Brown founded the Sisters of the Order of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to address needs in the surrounding neighborhood. 

Father Brown praised the lay workers in 1876 for their efficient management of the parish schools: “Because [this work] is among and for the young, it will tell in the future history of the parish. It is also among and for the poor, and therefore performs the work of humanity elevated by religious culture.”

By 1886, the parish maintained a Mission House for the Sisters near the old church on 45th Street, and lay ministries were organized as guilds, much as they are now. The Mission House functioned much as a settlement house, providing social services and elementary education to recent immigrants and others in the neighborhood. Girls and young women participated in these guilds and received religious and vocational instruction.

In the process of learning needlework and the practices of Anglo-Catholicism, the participants absorbed American culture from the Sisters and lay volunteers. From their first meeting, even attendees “who assume no obligations, save to recite the office at meetings” were urged “to be modest in their behavior at all times, especially in the streets.” [ The Guild of St. Mary of the Annunciation, “Part I, A Brief Sketch of the Guild.” Journal of the Guild of St. Mary of the Annunciation, [1899], p. 3. ]

At the same time, laymen were formed into the Sons of St. Sebastian for their part of this ministry. Members of the Sons were encouraged to help write the parish newspaper, and they worked with boys to teach them industrial skills. These boys attended church services and religious education classes, and their most important work was “to pray for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom among men and to make an earnest effort to bring at least one within hearing of the gospel each week.”

After the parish moved to its current location on 46th Street, outreach and mission continued, and several different religious orders lived and ministered to the neighborhood in the Mission House. Further research is needed to uncover more about mission work during the period immediately after Father Brown’s death in 1899, and your parish archivist looks forward to discovering more about this important element of our common life.

I’ve been at St. Mary’s for nearly twenty years now, and I’m heartened to see how our mission work has increased during this time, and eager to learn more about what we might do to increase the Kingdom in our next decades together. I can’t wait to share more of our collective history with you! — MR

Ms. Mary Robison is the parish archivist and also a member of the Board of Trustees, currently serving as secretary. She is also the editor on a recent history of the parish by Fr. Warren Platt, The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, New York City, A History.

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for the people and clergy of our sister parish, the Church of All Saints, Margaret Street, London, and for the Anglican Church of Australia, in the Anglican cycle of prayer.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Becky, Caroline, Pavel, Sheila, Elliot, Grady, Chris, Chuck, Nick, Dolores, Violet, Tod, Tim, Phoebe, Pat, Allen, Vanessa, Melvin, Vicki, Brendon, Nadia, Christian, Carol, Giovanna, Mary, Priya, Ronald, Jose, Ben, Russell, Robert, Sandy, Marty, Lexi, Georgia, Desarae, David, Claudia, Nettie, Chrissy, Tony, Rick, Thomas, Jan, Carlos, Liduvina, Quincy, Leroy, Margaret, and Robert; Victoria, Suzanne Elizabeth, and Laura Katherine, religious; Lind, deacon; and, Jay and Stephen, priests.

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died, especially Amy, priest, and for those whose year’s mind is on November 30: Sarah Fotteral Harriman (1917), Elizabeth Carswell (1919), Marian Nold (1920), Cornelius Frederic Gallagher (1921), Kenneth Raymond Kind (1932), and Sarah Lucille LaBosse (1970).

SAINT MARY’S 2026 PLEDGE CAMPAIGN: A WEEKLY REPORT FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

In the third week of our stewardship drive for 2026, our pledges total $349,782, or 78% of our pledge budget goal. We are ahead of last year at this time, even though we opened our drive almost a week later, and we are delighted by 8 first-time pledges and 31 who increased their pledge over last year. The next several weeks are important for reaching our goal and for having all of last year’s pledges renewed or increased. Your pledge online this week or your pledge card in the mail or in the plate on Sunday will make you a vital part of that success. Please help Saint Mary’s to fulfill our Anglo-Catholic witness here in Times Square.

Some vital facts:                                                     

$450,000 pledge budget goal for 2026

By November 25 (third week of campaign):

$349,782 pledged
63 pledges, most from previous pledgers
8 first-time pledges
31 increased from 2025
78% of 2026 pledge budget goal

AROUND THE PARISH

Saint Marians about Town — This Sunday, November 30, after Solemn Mass, we will visit the Morgan Library and see Sing a New Song: The Psalms in Medieval Art & Life. We recommend buying advanced timed tickets for 2:00 PM, and please contact Father Wood to let him know if you are planning to join us.

Adult Formation — Adult Formation is on break this Sunday and will resume the following Sunday, December 7, when Dr. Meredith Linn begins a two-part class on the history and archeology of Seneca Village, highlighting the role of All Angels’ Church in the community and as an example of mission in the nineteenth-century Episcopal Church. Adult Formation takes place on Sundays at 9:45 AM in Saint Joseph’s Hall. All are welcome.

Evensong & Benediction — We will offer Evensong & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament next Sunday, December 7, at 4:00 PM. Click here to learn more about E&B, which we offer on the first Sunday of the month during the program year in lieu of Evening Prayer.

Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary — On Monday, December 8, we will celebrate our patronal feast, the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Morning Prayer is offered at 8:00 AM. At 12:10 PM, there will be a Sung Mass in the Lady Chapel. Mr. Robert McCormick will offer an organ recital at 5:30 PM. Solemn Mass follows at 6:00 PM with Fr. Kyle Babin as our guest preacher.

Advent Quiet Day — On Saturday, December 13, Sister Monica Clare, CSJB, will lead a parish Quiet Day. There will be a light breakfast at 9:30 AM, and the first reflection begins at 10:00 AM. Lunch is included, and the day will finish by 3:00 PM. Please let Fr. Sammy know if you plan on attending so that we can plan for the meals.

Coming Soon: 2026 Saint Mary’s Calendars — The 2026 parish calendars will be available soon, in the beginning of December, for a donation to the Flower and Altar Guilds both in-person and on our website. Any questions, please contact Brendon Hunter.

Interested in being Confirmed? — Please speak with Fr. Sammy Wood if you are interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation or being received into the Episcopal Church (for those already confirmed in another Christian denomination). Confirmation class begins in early 2026 and will prepare candidates to be confirmed at Bp. Allen Shin’s visit on Pentecost.

Hosts Needed for Coffee Hours — Community is a vital part of life in our parish, and every Sunday we host a Coffee Hour after the 11:00 AM Mass to welcome newcomers, foster fellowship, and build relationships among Saint Marians. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of Coffee Hour at Saint Mary’s, and we are building teams of at least two people to host once a month or so. That's why we need you! If you’d like to be on a team, contact Fr. Sammy or give your name to Renee Wood on Sunday in the Parish Hall.

Thursday Bible Study — Thursday evening Bible study in 2025-2026 is based on the Sunday lectionary for the upcoming Sunday and generally will be led by the preacher for that day. We meet over Zoom at 6:00 PM. If interested, please email Fr. Wood for the link.

Grant Writer Needed — From time to time, Saint Mary’s becomes aware of grant opportunities, and we are seeking a volunteer to research these opportunities and write persuasive proposals. Key skills include strong research, writing, organizational, communication, and project management abilities, as well as a deep understanding of our parish mission. If you are able to help, please contact Chris Howatt in the parish office.

Neighbors in Need — As it grows colder, the needs of our visitors change. Our first priority now is warm jackets and coats. We are also in serious need of men’s large winter tops and sweaters. Our additional priority needs are practical shoes (no dress shoes or high heels), jeans and cords, and sweaters and tops. Thanks to a generous gift at our October drop-by, we were able to provide new jeans for every visitor. Thanks to your donations we are also able to purchase toiletries and underwear, especially thermals. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information or send an email to neighbors@stmvnyc.org.

Rosary Guild — The Rosary Guild next meets on Sunday, December 28, after the 11:00 AM Mass, to pray the rosary. All are welcome.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

Deacon Formation Program: Inquirers Zoom Session — On Monday, December 1, at 7:00 PM, there will be an inquirers session about the diaconate in the Diocese of New York via Zoom. If you’re interested in exploring ordination to the diaconate or are already in discernment—register for this informational session. Archdeacon Denise LaVetty will explain how the program works, what’s required of you, and other important details to help you discern how this ministry might be what God is calling you to do. Register to receive the Zoom link by emailing archdeacon@dioceseny.org.

The Joy of Christmas: Magnificat! — The Cathedral’s annual Christmas concert will take place on Saturday, December 13, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Click here for more details and to buy tickets.

ABOUT THE MUSIC AT SOLEMN MASS ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday’s organ voluntaries are two of the three settings of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Come now, Savior of the Gentiles) from the Great Eighteen Leipzig Chorales of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). The chorale (#54 in The Hymnal 1982) is Martin Luther’s sixteenth-century adaptation of the fourth-century Latin hymn Veni Redemptor gentium attributed to Ambrose of Milan (#55 in The Hymnal 1982). BWV 659, played for the prelude, presents a poignant ornamented version of the chorale melody above a walking bass and two accompanying voices. BWV 660, played for the postlude, is an animated trio featuring an ornamented version of the chorale melody above two quasi-canonic accompanying voices played by the left hand and on the pedals. 

The setting of the Mass is the Missa in contrapuncto a 4 vocibus by Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer (c.1656–1746). Fischer was recognized in his day as one of the finest German composers of keyboard music. He was strongly influenced by the French composer Jean Baptiste Lully, with whom he may have studied, and he conveyed French influences to the Italian-influenced German music of his time. Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel were the two most notable musicians who knew and were influenced by Fischer’s work. Unfortunately, the record of Fischer’s life and career seems best documented in writings devoted to others and which only mention him in passing. Of Fischer’s works which were published in his lifetime are collections of sacred music from 1701 and 1711. His Mass for four voices begins with a fugal Kyrie which references the opening phrase of the chorale Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (“Come now, Savior of the Gentiles”) and is therefore particularly appropriate for Advent. While evidencing aspects of the stile antico (antique style), this Mass also clearly embraces German baroque style. 

During the administration of Communion, the choir will sing Laetentur coeli by William Byrd (1543–1623). Byrd, like the slightly older Thomas Tallis, enjoyed the favor of Queen Elizabeth I and composed extensively for both the Anglican and Latin Rites of his time. This Latin motet from Byrd’s Liber primus sacrarum cantionum of 1589 is in five voices. The text of the motet is derived from Isaiah 49:13 and Psalm 72:7. It is, both textually and musically, an exuberant expression of seasonal hopeful expectation.

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We are very grateful to all those who make such donations and continue to support Saint Mary’s so generously.

Saint Mary’s is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of NYC. With our identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, we are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world.

This edition of The Angelus was written and edited by Father Matt Jacobson, except as noted. Father Matt is also responsible for formatting it on the parish website and distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of Christopher Howatt, parish administrator, and parish volunteer, Clint Best. If you have an idea for an article that you would like to publish in an upcoming issue of The Angelus, Father Matt would be happy to discuss it with you.