"In the Very Centre of the Great City": The Jesuits Return to Manhattan
The Society of Jesus has focused much of its apostolic energy on cities around the world. Thus it is no surprise that as early as the 1680s they attempted to start a school in New York City; again, in 1808, the recently restored Society sent some of its most valuable manpower there. After two attemp...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
American Catholic Historical Society
2022
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| In: |
American catholic studies
Year: 2022, Volume: 133, Issue: 1, Pages: 91-114 |
| IxTheo Classification: | KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history KBQ North America KCA Monasticism; religious orders KDB Roman Catholic Church |
| Online Access: |
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| Summary: | The Society of Jesus has focused much of its apostolic energy on cities around the world. Thus it is no surprise that as early as the 1680s they attempted to start a school in New York City; again, in 1808, the recently restored Society sent some of its most valuable manpower there. After two attempts that did not endure, 175 years ago an international group of Jesuits belonging to the Province of Paris made a third and successful foundation. Dissatisfied with their possible future in rural Kentucky, their leadership became eager to accept an invitation to come to New York and take over St. John's College, in the village of Fordham, as well as a church and house in "the very centre" of New York City itself. Less than a year after arriving at Fordham, they made preparations to work in the city, invited by Bishop John Hughes and led by Father John Larkin. They had numerous obstacles to overcome including the destruction of their first building, the lack of a permanent home, interference by Bishop Hughes, and the unwillingness of many property owners to sell to the Jesuits. The foundation was made secure only by its second leader, Father John Ryan, but it might well have failed if it had not been for crucial assistance from lay men and women throughout the entire process. |
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| ISSN: | 2161-8534 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: American catholic studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/acs.2022.0012 |