Relics in New York City
A visual exploration of relics in New York City, at various Catholic places of worship throughout the city. Included in the virtual tour are the Padre Pio, Mother Cabrini and Mother Seton shrines and the Transfiguration Church in Chinatown.
Community solidarity in a church in Brooklyn
Ines Novacic reports on how the congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn stood strong in the face of a vandalism attack on two sacred statues.
Finding God on the throne
Prayer and bathrooms are often not referred to in the same breath. But for Shayla Osborn, a member of the Manhattan New York Temple of Latter Day Saints, praying out loud is an important part of her faith.
Renewal of faith in the Eucharist
Opus Dei members believe in following strictly the guidelines of faith — that includes gaining deeper understanding of the importance of the Eucharist and mass. A retreat session for its members serves as gentle reminders and reinforces their beliefs in Catholicism.
Sikhs take a bow
On a rainy Thursday night at the Manhattan Sikh Association center, a woman, her child, and the entire congregation have gathered for a service to to express their devotion to and meditate on the spiritual content of the Sikh holy scripture.
Genuflecting to the Blessed Sacrament
Genuflection, an act of devotion by touching one knee to the ground is symbolized in the Catholic Church as a mark of respect in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. These days, however, it is uncommon to find most practitioners genuflecting in churches. At most, churchgoers cross themselves upon entry into their place of worship.
Meet God halfway and He will come
On a rainy Friday night, two young men in their mid-twenties arrive early for prayer at Congregation Ramath Orah on 110th Street off Broadway in Manhattan.
Welcoming new members to the church family
Sean and Anna Yun brought their 13-month-old daughter Vera to Redeemer Presbyterian Church on a recent Sunday for the child’s Christian rite of baptism.
Teachings of tolerance
Early every morning, the Rev. Sammy Taylor rings the doorbell of 15 West 124th Street to say mass for the convent of the Franciscan Handmaids of Mary. Because the Catholic faith prohibits women from saying mass, the Sisters must have a chaplain officiate the service.
A worshipper’s secret
Religious followers of visit St. John the Baptist Church in midtown Manhattan to share their secrets, hopes and prayers with the beloved saint, Padre Pio. Many find the ritual act of kissing the relics and speaking to the saint their way of asking for his healing intercession.
Worshipping with 2,000 at Redeemer Presbyterian
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, a megachurch located in Hunter College Auditorium on 69th st. attracts over 2,000 congregants in the heart of the city.
Holy faces and faith
Every Sunday afternoon St. George’s Episcopal Church on 14-02 27th Avenue in Astoria, Queens transforms into Sts. Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church.
A Jewish tradition of ‘ascent’ on Park Avenue
On the Upper East Side of Manhattan, nine men stand around anxiously at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, prayer shawls yet to be adorned, hoping a tenth will arrive.
Belief on Bedford Avenue
In the changing Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, one church holds its own as the bedrock for its congregants – young and old.
The Pope: A false prophet?
The weekly celebration of the Eucharist at St. John’s in the Village Church, ostensibly follows the traditional Roman Catholic Church model for mass. On closer inspection however, there is something decidedly un-Catholic — at least by The Church’s standards — about this congregation, organized by the New York chapter of DignityUSA: the congregants are all members of the LGBT community.
Exegesis of the Holy Quran
On a recent evening, 25 students sit on the floor of the Islamic Center at New York University to hear class in Quran taught by Dr. Ali Mermer.
A sound with swagger
The unique sound and ‘”swagger” of the of New Life Tabernacle’s Mass Choir has been getting people, especially young adults, inside church doors.
A community reborn: Three generations in Brooklyn
The Catholic Holy Ghost Church has been in Williamsburg for 99 years. It has become home to many generations of Ukrainians.
Faith in translation: A walk along Bedford Avenue
Local churches in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn reflect on their diversifying community of congregants.
A lesson in calling your grandma
Rachel Hope, a teacher in the Relief Society, leads a discussion on the need to show love for others.
Extreme Makeover for Williamsburg Russian Orthodox Cathedral
The 100-year old Russian Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of our Lord in Williamsburg, Brooklyn was built between 1916 and 1921. It hasn’t had a major renovation since 1978, but after several years of a broad fundraising campaign, repairs are finally under way.
Lifting holy hands
Vigorous whole-body worship is par for the course at one of New York’s fastest growing churches, an offshoot of Hillsong Church, a vaguely Pentecostal evangelical group based out of Australia.
