The Church of Our Savior

Fr. David Friel · July 27, 2015

S MANY READERS are already aware, there is some degree of controversy over the removal of icons in the magnificent Church of Our Savior on Park Avenue in Manhattan. I have visited this parish numerous times and have always been impressed by the beauty of the space and the reverence it inspires in visitors.

The issue of the vanishing icons has been well documented in recent weeks. Instead of adding another account, I will simply direct those interested in learning more to read the following articles:

Vandalism with Intent (First Things)

Naked in New York: The Unceremonious Stripping of Our Savior (OnePeterFive)

Iconoclasm in New York City (NLM)

Our work at Corpus Christi Watershed is intended to be in service of Beauty and the Church. We hope, therefore, that the uncommon beauty of this splendid church will be preserved.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Parish in Northeast Philly. He is currently a doctoral candidate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America.—(Read full biography).

FEEDBACK • 23 September 2021

From a reader: “Corpus Christi Watershed is the greatest musical organization ever created in the Church!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Church “Narthex” • What’s that?

Do you know what the church narthex is? It’s kind of like a separate room, blocked off by a wall. A buddy of mine (sitting in the narthex) took some iPhone recordings of our congregation singing Vespers. Here’s how they sound sans organ. [Note: Whenever I play for Vespers, I make sure to have some psalms a cappella.] And here’s how they sound with accompaniment. Our entire parish sings Vespers each Sunday—whoever wants to show up. All are welcome.

—Jeff Ostrowski

16 September 2021 • Fulton J. Sheen

Here is a photo of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen celebrating Mass in Jerusalem. That image was included in the “Fulton J. Sheen Sunday Missal” (1961), which was edited by Father Caramen and has an IMPRIMATUR by William Cardinal Godfrey, who served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1956 until his death in 1963. The Fulton Sheen Missal can be freely downloaded as a PDF file, thanks to Corpus Christi Watershed.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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About Fr. David Friel