Here stands Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, a beacon of faith in this vibrant Manhattan neighborhood. Established in 1927, the parish quickly grew. A church was built in 1928 based on the designs of Gustave E. Steinback.
Do you know how much it cost to build Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church back then? Construction totaled $160,000. This amount would be about $2.8 million today. In 1949, $400,000 was spent on the church.
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs also has a school. A temporary school started in the church’s rectory in 1932. Plans for a permanent building were delayed by the Great Depression. Despite the financial hardships, an auditorium and temporary classrooms were built in 1934.
Finally, a four-story school building was constructed in 1949 and 1950. Gustave E. Steinback also designed this building. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart originally staffed the school. They served from 1932 until 1980. Lay teachers have staffed the school since then.
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs offers several services in Spanish. Saturday evening mass is at 6 PM. Sunday masses are at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 1 PM. Weekday masses are held Monday through Friday at 7:30 PM. Confessions are heard on Saturdays from 5 PM to 5:45 PM.
Today, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs continues to serve its community. It provides spiritual guidance and educational opportunities. The church stands as a testament to faith and perseverance. It shows the community’s commitment to its values even through economic hardships. It is a place of worship and a center for community engagement. The sounds of prayer and community activities fill its halls.