Our Lady of Montserrate – St. Ambrose Church (Diocese of Brooklyn)
| Our Lady of Montserrate – St. Ambrose Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Our Lady of Montserrate and Saint Ambrose |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Brooklyn |
| Deanery: | Unknown |
| Address: | 134 Vernon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206 |
| Coordinates: | 40.69492, -73.95258 |
| City: | Brooklyn, NY |
| Subdivision: | New York |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Kings County |
| Website: | No website specified |
| Founded: | 1883 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | |
Our Lady of Montserrate – St. Ambrose Church (Diocese of Brooklyn) is a Roman Catholic parish church located at 134 Vernon Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1883 as St. Ambrose Church, it was renamed in 1978 following a merger with Our Lady of Montserrat, reflecting its historical role as a Spanish-speaking parish.[1][2] The parish, part of the Diocese of Brooklyn, serves a diverse community with a focus on traditional and contemporary worship, offering Masses in the Roman-Latin rite.[2]
The church has a rich history tied to the development of Bedford-Stuyvesant, initially serving as a community hub under the leadership of Rev. Daniel J. Sheehy. After merging with All Saints parish in 2008, it continues to provide spiritual and communal services, though specific Mass times and bulletins are not currently available online.[1][2] The parish remains a significant cultural and religious landmark, preserving its heritage while adapting to the needs of its modern congregation.[3]
History
St. Ambrose Church was founded in 1883 by Bishop Loughlin to serve the Bedford-Stuyvesant area, between the parishes of St. Patrick and St. John the Baptist.[4] Land was purchased at the corner of Tompkins and DeKalb Avenues, and Rev. Daniel J. Sheehy, formerly an assistant at St. Augustine’s, oversaw the construction of a large frame church facing DeKalb Avenue.[4] A rectory and an academy, managed by the Sisters of St. Joseph, were established, followed by a three-story brick parochial school in 1910, costing $100,000, and a four-story convent for the Sisters.[4]
In 1966, the parish of Our Lady of Montserrat was established as a Spanish-speaking community, and in 1978, St. Ambrose merged with Our Lady of Montserrat, adopting the combined name Our Lady of Montserrate – St. Ambrose.[1] The parish continued to serve the local community until 2008, when it merged with All Saints parish, with records now held there.[1] Despite the merger, the church at 134 Vernon Avenue remains active, offering Masses and community programs, though specific details on current activities are limited.[2]
Special features
- *Historical significance*: Founded in 1883, the parish is one of the oldest in Bedford-Stuyvesant, reflecting the area’s Catholic heritage and its evolution through mergers with Our Lady of Montserrat and All Saints.[1][4]
- *Spanish-speaking heritage*: The 1978 merger with Our Lady of Montserrat highlights the parish’s historical role in serving Brooklyn’s Spanish-speaking community.[1]
- *Parochial school*: A brick parochial school, built in 1910, underscores the parish’s commitment to Catholic education, managed by the Sisters of St. Joseph.[4]
- *Community programs*: The parish supports programs such as children’s ministry, youth groups, and community service, fostering a vibrant faith community.[3]
Related parishes
- All Saints Parish, Brooklyn, NY: Our Lady of Montserrate – St. Ambrose merged with All Saints in 2008, and records are now held there.[1]
- St. Augustine Church, Brooklyn, NY: Rev. Daniel J. Sheehy, the founding pastor, ,[object Object] of St. Ambrose, was previously an assistant at St. Augustine’s.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "List of Parishes - Diocese of Brooklyn". 2024-08-14. https://www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Our Lady of Montserrate – St. Ambrose". https://discovermass.com/church/our-lady-of-montserrate-st-ambrose-brooklyn-ny/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Our Lady of Montserrate - St. Ambrose". https://www.faithstreet.com/church/our-lady-of-montserrate-st-ambrose-brooklyn-ny.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "St. Ambrose Catholic Church - Brooklyn, NY". https://www.nycago.org/Organs/Bkln/html/StAmbrose.html.