St. Charles Borromeo Harlem Parish, New York, where Mill Hill Missionaries serve, marked a historic day as parishioners and guests gathered to celebrate the 137th anniversary of the parish during Black Catholic History Month. The community gave thanks for generations of faithful men and women whose resilience and service have shaped the parish since its founding in 1888. The celebration welcomed parishioners, visitors, local officials, clergy and deacons, including longtime friends of the parish, as well as the first African American cardinal in U.S. history, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, whose presence was received with deep gratitude and joy. His visit, coinciding with the upcoming fifth anniversary of his elevation to the College of Cardinals, was hailed as a powerful sign of hope during the Jubilee Year of Hope, especially for African American Catholics. Parish leaders expressed pride in the community’s long-standing commitment to faith, justice and service, and highlighted the inspiration drawn from African and African American Catholics on the path to sainthood. The celebration affirmed the parish’s continued dedication to its mission in Harlem and beyond as it looks ahead to many more years of worship and service.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory marked the 137th anniversary of St Charles Borromeo Parish in Harlem with a warm and hopeful message, praising the church’s rich history and the vibrant community gathered for the celebration. Speaking with humour about his own city roots and past experiences in a rural diocese, he reflected on how Scripture’s seasonal imagery challenges modern urban believers to recognise the “signs of the times.” He noted growing concerns over moral and cultural shifts but reminded the congregation that Christian faith calls not to fear but to hope, just as the early Church endured far harsher trials. Pointing to the parish’s patron, St Charles Borromeo, and the creative legacy of the Harlem Renaissance, he urged the community to spark a new spiritual renewal in their neighbourhood. Gregory encouraged the faithful to read the signs of the times with the same care farmers give to the seasons, so they may continue transforming society with courage and faith until Christ returns in glory.
