We headed to NYC to attend a Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Laura’s nephew and godson, Alex Klucik. The Mass was breathtakingly beautiful, with full orchestra by Higher Word, in the Church of the Blessed Sacrament on 71st. (It also served to build awareness of Alex’s legacy, Alexander Hall.)
As with any trip, we found ourselves looking for ways to make this one a pilgrimage. Grok is very useful for travel planning. We use it to find Catholic, cultural, or culinary sites for an area, simply by asking.
At Grok’s suggestion, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine, in lower Manhattan, was near the top of our list. For a short time, the saint lived at 8 State Street, directly across from Battery Park. This is now the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. The dwelling next door, at 7 State Street, the James Watson House, served as the Shrine’s rectory and parlor museum.
The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine is Now Closed to the Public
Yet, sometimes Artificial Intelligence is behind on “intel” as was the Shrine’s own website. As we discovered after a series of phone calls, the Sisters of Life moved into the Shrine/Church complex in 2023. As such, the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine and Our Lady of the Rosary Church are now closed to the public.
The Sisters may host some events at the chapel, such as adoration and vespers, but the site currently functions primarily as a convent and mission house rather than a public shrine. As we made our calls from their porch, looking out at New York Harbor, we were pleased to hear they have this stately saintly home and to learn more about their important mission.
Saint Peter’s Parish on Barclay Street merged with the Shrine/Church and provided us this information.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Our Lady of the Rosary parish was unusual, in that there are very few residents in that neighborhood (the financial district). It served primarily commuters, tourists, and pilgrims. (I learned that my mother used to attend Mass after her work on Wall Street in the 1960s, before commuting home to Staten Island). The parish merged with St. Peters and more recently converted to a convent for the Sisters of Life.
A relatively new order, founded in 1991 by Cardinal John O’Connor. They work with women facing crisis pregnancies, help those healing after abortion, and live a life of prayer.
Alex Klucik was a young man from Ave Maria, Florida, who died in 2010 in a car accident at the age of 19. Known for his remarkable virtue, Alex was a pioneer of the Ave Maria community, where he helped build an authentic Catholic culture from the ground up. The Requiem Mass was held in his honor. Alexander Hall will further his devotion to brotherhood for Catholic men in NYC. 
