May 21st, 2026

The Pastor's Column

Rest in Peace, Paula Ryan

It is with sadness, and with great Easter Hope, that I share that parishioner Paula Ryan passed away last evening. Parishioners and friends went to check on her at her apartment when she didn’t make it to the 7:30 am Mass this morning and discovered she had gone to the Lord. She was 82 years old.

In April 2024, she was awarded the Spirit of Hecker Award. On that occasion, I wrote the following:

Since 1985, Paula has been an active member of the parish. Every day of the week, you can find her at the early morning Masses in her special pew—5 rows back on the 59th street side of the Church. Her love for the Eucharist overflows to the love of our parish community. She has served in so many capacities: Eucharistic Minister, Pastoral Council Member, RCIA Team Member, Money Counting team member, and Good Will Ambassador to all newcomers she encounters.

Paula is a true New Yorker, with a heart of gold. She’s quick to tell you what’s on her mind, but she is even quicker to offer a kind word or a hug to those who need it. I first met Paula when I was on the RCIA team with her as a young Deacon. I was struck by her care and support of all who were seeking to become Catholic. She was the heart of the team. By her loving presence and accompaniment of inquirers and candidates, she taught me how to share God’s love in ministry.

In addition to her devotion to the parish, she’s been a true friend to us Paulists caring for us and collaborating with us in our Mission. For many years, she assisted Fr. Jack Collins in his missionary endeavors. A registered dietician, this past autumn she counselled the late Fr. Charlie Brunick following radical stomach surgery. She is always asking about other Paulists she’s met, concerned about how we are all doing.

A few days before Christmas in 2016, while Paula was wrapping Christmas presents for children in the parish, her apartment caught on fire. Paula was severely burned and nearly died. When she was finally able to go home, parishioners made sure she wanted for nothing. She has often said how indebted she is to us, but any of us would say that it was the least we could do for the blessing she is to us.

Paula’s constant physical presence will be sorely missed by so many of us. However, we know her spirit will surround us, encouraging us to continue her ministry of welcome. Her memory will always be a blessing. The Funeral is tentatively set for Thursday, June 18th at 10am. We will confirm as we get closer.

May the angels lead you to Paradise, Paula, and save a seat at the heavenly banquet for the rest of us!

Peace and Blessings,

Fr. Eric Andrews, CSP

Pastor, St. Paul the Apostle

Getting to Know The Communion Project

The Paulist Fathers are launching a new initiative to help address polarization in the American Church called the Communion Project.

As Pope Leo XIV said at his inaugural Mass, "... I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world." Building on the Paulists’ long-standing commitment to reconciliation and evangelization, and responding to the 2022 General Assembly’s call to address toxic polarization, this initiative seeks to help Catholics strengthen communion in a divided time.

Next Wednesday, May 27th from 1:00pm -2:00pm (EST), join us for Getting to Know the Communion Project, a gathering for members of our Paulist Fathers national network. It's an opportunity to meet our team, share ideas, and explore how the Communion Project might support our ministry here in NYC.

Access the Zoom link for our meeting here or by clicking the button below; no RSVP is required!

Our parish has set a record for adult initiations for three consecutive years, and we have already interviewed over twenty prospective Catholics for the 2026-27 cycle. Nationwide, we are seeing an incredible surge in initiation. We will need many, many parishioners to be available as sponsors. 

To learn more about what an OCIA sponsor is and why being a sponsor should be on your Catholic bucket list, join Dr. Dave, the OCIA ministry team, and several neophytes for an OCIA Prospective Sponsor Open House on June 7 at 11:30 AM in room 201-202. We will give an overview of the OCIA process and will hear from our newest Catholics about their experiences as well as parishioners who have recently served as sponsors. The only qualifications you are need are to be a fully initiated Catholic who is willing to share your love of Catholic faith and building community, and that you need to be eligible for safe environment training. 

Take some time to prayerfully discern if God is calling you to be a sponsor. Please RSVP to Dr. Dave at david.de.la.fuente@stpaultheapostle.org.

Thanks be to God for Sister Margarita Gonzalez on her Golden Jubilee! At Sunday's 10:00 AM mass, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Sr. Margarita's promise of vocation to the Oblate Sisters of Jesus the Priest. Sr. Margarita serves as the local superior of the Sisters and has faithfully assisted the Paulists at our Motherhouse for many years. We are grateful for her service and to all who came out to celebrate!

On Sunday night, Fr. Chris sat down with Fr. Paul Morrissey, OSA to discuss Fr. Paul's new book from Paulist Press, Why I Remain a Gay Catholic.

Thanks to Rocco and Zach from the Out at St. Paul's ministry for organizing the event!

Finally, we wanted to commend to your reading this excellent interview with our new Archbishop conducted by St. Paul's parishioner Camillo Barone for the National Catholic Reporter! Read more below:

Grant eternal rest to Anne Piacentini, Stella Scott, Ernie Purugganan, Richard Giusti, John J. Kenny, Maria Rosario Roldan, Edda Feldman, Anne Piacentini, Josephine Szurlej, and Frank Vecchione.

Grant health and healing to Yvette Gerosimo, Shay Gavin, Theresa Dickson, Jean Kazim Rosa, Margaret Mary Brower, Fernando Sanchez, Albert Besteiro, Jim Ivers, D. Carl Jost, Reg Parks, Denise Toms, Saydi Charbel, Verena Sisa Thompson, Larry L Meyers, Fernando Sanchez, Rafael Antonio Gayoso, Samantha Corrado, Jon Detrow, Patricia A. Lyon, Patricia Araujo, Barbara Abady and Denise Abady.

Grant peace and well-being to John J. Kenny, Anne Guerbe, Jennifer and Lola DeCarli, Christopher Henderson, and Matthew Martorana and Isabel C.

Have someone you would like our parish to pray for? You can submit prayer requests through our online form below. The names in your intentions will be shared with the parish here and will remain in our virtual newsletter one month after submission.

Click the button below to fill out our prayer request form:

Church Hours

Monday-Tuesday, Thursday - Friday

7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday

7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Saturday

8:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Sunday

7:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Mass Schedule

Daily Mass 


Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

7:30 AM and 12:10 PM

Wednesday

7:30 AM, 12:10 PM, and 6:30 PM

Saturday

8:30AM 


Sunday Mass


Saturday

5:00 PM (Vigil)

Sunday

8:00 AM - Mass Without Music

10:00 AM - Mass With St. Paul's Choir

12:30 PM - Misa con Coro en Español

5:00 PM - Mass With Inspirit Ensemble



Help Us Make 2026 Our Biggest Year of Outreach

Your generous donations enable us to serve the people of St. Paul's through our ministries, events, outreach programs, and so much more - not to mention the cost of keeping the church warm during these brisk winter months!

We've put some information below about how you can give back if you are able to. Please note that you can direct your donations to the ministry of your choice, whether that be to our food pantry, your favorite community-building ministry, or more!

To donate online go to www.stpaultheapostle.org and click on "Make a Donation" in the top right corner. Please remember that you can have your donations go directly to the ministry of your choice!

Or with the ParishSoft Text-TO-GIVE platform, you can text a donation to make a quick gift to help support The Church of St. Paul the Apostle.

Just text NY539 to the number (646) 859-1860 to enroll.

Don't have an account with ParishSoft? You can also find us on Venmo. Just scan the QR code below, or search for @stpaulsnyc to donate now!

Our services, along with the readings and hymns for weekends, can be found on our SPA app - you can download it by scanning the relevant QR code above! Our app also has an online "copy" you can access through your phone's browser in case you have difficult accessing it. Find it at https://stpaulny.web4uapps.com.