Our History

Founded on April 25, 1907 in Harlem, NY.

St. Mark the Evangelist Church was started in 1907 as one of the parishes of the Archdiocese of New York and was staffed by diocesan priests. In light of the expanding Black and dwindling White populations, John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York, requested the services of the Holy Ghost Fathers(an order called to serve Black people). Father Christopher Plunkett, in 1912,
was appointed pastor of St. Mark , the first Catholic Church in Harlem to welcome Black people. In its first years, the church listed 10,000 communicants, more than one sixth of the population in Harlem during that time. Many other significant advances were made during Fr. Plunkett's nineteen-year term (1912-1931) as pastor. Over 4,000 converts were brought into the church. In addition, a social hall and a playground were constructed with money he raised.

In those early years, St. Mark served as a meeting place for Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association, as did other local, national and international organizations. The Organization of Federal Colored Catholics held their 3rd Annual Convention at St. Charles Borromeo Church September 4, 1927, with the afternoon session and reception at St. Mark. The 8th Convention in November 12, 1932, was held entirely at St. Mark. The purpose of the meeting was to push for better recognition of the Black Catholic population in the Archdiocese.

Mother Katharine Mary Drexel, after her novitiate on February 12, 1891, founded the order of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, an order dedicated to sharing the message of the gospel and the life of the Eucharist. On November 20, 1988, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II. On October 1, 2000, she was canonized Saint Katharine Drexel. She is only the second declared saint of New York City. In her lifetime she founded Xavier University in Louisiana, the nation's only predominantly Black Catholic University in 1925, because at the time no Catholic University was prepared to accept Blacks. She opened, staffed and directly supported over 65 schools and missions specifically for Black and Indian children. In 1912, she founded St. Mark School, the first in New York City for African-American Catholic children, personally funding it at the cost of $500,000. The school at the time would accommodate 500 pupils. A significant development in the history of the school occurred in September 1922 when Miss Gladys Gibbs (later Mrs. Northcroft) was hired to teach second grade, the first Black lay teacher. She had been a graduate of St. Mark School. (The library at St. Mark Church, specifically for the African-American heritage, history and experiences was started April 1994 and is named the "Gladys Northcroft African-American Memorial Library," honoring this esteemed teacher.)

From 1931-32, St. Mark was pastored by Fr. Daniel Killeen. From 1932-1940, Fr. Michael Mulvoy pastored St. Mark in another critical period of its history. In conjunction with other Harlem leaders, Fr. Mulvoy fought to get Blacks hired on New York City buses. Guiding this strong sense of civic involvement by Fr. Mulvoy and his assistants was the belief that not only should they live in the community, but they must also be a part of it. In opposition to a widely held belief, Fr. Mulvoy assessed the parishioners of St. Mark to be as spiritual as Catholics of any parish, and as financially committed to be self-supporting.

An annual affair for many years was the pre-Lenten dance. Occurring in January or February, it was called the St. Mark's Winter-Night Annual Dance. This event was a success in that parishioners and their friends shared the St. Mark feeling of family. Music was provided by Don Wilson and his Band, along with home-grown talents such as the Northcroft Sisters and Leona Myers. A review of the journals forthe years 1945-1974 provides some insight into the spiritual experiences of the parishioners. The Annual Parish Dance provided a fund-raising activity for advertisements solicited from local merchants and from employers of parishioners. Among the contributors were business women, Beulah Martinez and Louise Butterfield, parishioners of St. Mark (now deceased).

Five masses were said every Sunday; 11:30 am was High Mass. Four masses were said on holy days, and two every week day. Devotions and novenas to Our Lady of Victory and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal were on Tuesday; Blessed Martin de Porres on Fridays and Holy Hour, the first Friday of the month. In conjunction with the devotions, the Solidarity of the Blessed Virgin, Senior and Junior; the Holy Name, Senior & Junior; the League of the Sacred Heart; St. Vincent de Paul and the St. Mark Beneficial Society Special Sundays, for groups to receive Communion. In addition to all regular parochial duties, the priests administered the Sacraments to the patients of Harlem Hospital and were called on for other ministerial duties where no other religious was available.

The following Holy Ghost Fathers were pastors of St. Mark: Fr. William Murray 1939-1945; Fr. Francis Fitzgerald 1945-1955; Fr. George Collins 1955-1962; Fr. Frank Schillo 1962-1965; Fr. Robert McCraley 1965-1970. In 1947 Fr. Fitzgerald marked the church's 40th anniversary as Forty Years of Success - Toil - Method - Aid - Reliance - Kindness - Satisfaction.

Struggle, celebration and grief came to St. Mark in the 1950's. The parish hall, which was erected in March of 1915 and was a financial as well as spiritual asset, needed repairs. These needs brought back many alumni members of the school and in February 1967,Cardinal Spellman dedicated the new hall the Bishop Perry Auditorium, his gift to theparish. In 1996 the hall was rededicated honoring Bishop Emerson Moore, the first Monsignor and Vicar of Harlem and the first Black Bishop in New York city. The hall is now known as the Bishops Perry and Moore Hall.

From 1970-1971 Fr. Francis Philben and Fr. Raymond Casey, 1971, pastored St. Mark, followed by Fr. William McGuire 1972-1974; Fr. Ward McLaughlin 1974-1977; Fr. William Podobinski 1977-1979; Fr. Patrick Bascio 1975-1985; Fr. James McCloskey 1985-1987; and Fr. Leonard Tuozzolo 1987-1999.

With the progress in time changes in the population's makeup and city management, greater mobility of the younger generations, and other factors caused a gradual dwindling of the parish roles. But the outreach programs such as Les Six Amies, the Ladies Sodality, and others, arranged for homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes to attend special masses, early on, which was continued by Project Care, the work of the Eucharistic Ministers and individual parishioners.

St. Mark's choirs, from their early days, have been guided by talented people such as Edward Bonnemère, whose choir participated in his premier performance of "Mary, Cause of Our Joy," a mass for Mothers' Day, May 11, 1986. He had achieved prominence in the jazz world as well as with secular, religious musical creations; by William Ward, Trudy Abar; James Wethington, music director and organist of long standing who received additional help when Gospel music came to St. Mark in the person of Dayton Selby, under whose directorship the spirit of ecumenism was achieved with his well received "Choir Day Concerts"; followed by James Wade who continued in the spirit of ecumenism. The 11:30 am Mass Choir has achieved true "Gospel" status under the direction of Scott Patterson, a master musician. Nathan Warner, succeeded Scott Paterson as Choir Director. He is also a master musician, who lead both the church and school choirs. He is also a professional jazz trumpeter. The current director of the Gospel Choir is James Foster, master musician and graduate of Howard University. The Sanctuary Choir (8:30 am) continues with the traditional, infused by spirituals and Latin chants, under the leadership of Louisa John.

In the early 1990's funds were contributed by Russell and Judy Carson for the construction of a free-standing, one-story, red-bricked building for a Pre-K, Montessori School. The St. Mark Preschool opened its doors in the Fall of 1994 following the dedication and blessing on November 4, 1994, with Cardinal John O'Connor officiating.

And so, St. Mark the Evangelist Church continues to open its doors and to welcome all who would enter in, to share the "GOOD NEWS" of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.