It’s a regular Sunday tradition on 113th Street in East Harlem. A group of parishioners from a shuttered Catholic church continue to meet for their own service.
On a recent Sunday at 11 a.m., nine people were gathered near a bench across the street from Our Lady Queen of Angels, which was closed by the Archdiocese of New York 12 years ago. Their service included no priest and no holy communion. They met for 45 minutes, leading a service themselves with readings, prayer, and song.
Our Lady closed in 2007, a small group of parishioners protested inside of the church. Several of them were arrested, including Patricia Rodriguez, an organizer of the outdoor prayer group. Have a listen to my story on Keeping ‘Church’ Alive on an East Harlem Sidewalk.
