Amidst all the commercial stores and restaurants in the Manhattan neighborhood of SoHo, New York City, many New Yorkers do not know about one of the oldest Roman Catholic Church devoted to the Filipino community. Located at 378 Broome Street between Mulberry and Mott Streets, San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel was established in 1926 as The Church of the Most Holy Crucifix. At that time it was for the Italian community, as the church is close to Little Italy.
The Church of the Most Holy Crucifix closed down in 2005 and the Archdiocese of New York renovated it and renamed it as the San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel “Church of Filipinos” by Archbishop Edward Cardinal Egan on June 2005.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is a Filipino saint; His canonization took place at the Vatican on October 18, 1987 by Pope John Paul II. Many Filipinos come to a special mass celebrating Saint Lorenzo Ruiz canonization every September at the chapel, but it has changed, The Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, has moved to Saint Patrick’s because there is more capacity.
“The Chapel is beautiful, but is not in a Filipino community and is far,” said Mark Mendoza, 34, who live in Woodside, Queens. In a neighborhood have the most Filipinos in New York City. Mendoza travels to the church every other Sunday because he feels like he is at home in Davo. He said his local church at Woodside, is more dedicated to the Filipinos as they have mass in Tagalog.
The Mass Schedule in San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel only offers Wednesday night, Sunday morning and afternoon. The rest of the week is closed. It has a capacity of only 250 people. Going to a Sunday mass approximately only 50 people come to mass and mostly are not Filipino. Most of the churchgoers are from the neighborhood of Little Italy and Chinatown.
“Even though the church is dedicated for the people of the Philippines that live in the tri-state area, I love coming here. It is really peaceful, and the church is always with open arms,” said Maxie Brown 45, from the Lower East Side.
Paul Costiglio from the department of the Archdiocese of New York Communications and Marketing said, “The Archdiocese of New York is working with the Filipino Apostolate to work the modest following problem,” but also stated “ The Church is not only for Filipinos, but for all New Yorkers,”