On January 1, 2023, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, signed an ecclesiastical decree creating the Parish of Corpus Christi and Notre Dame. This has made one new, active, and diverse parish out of two historically significant parishes. The territory of the new parish corresponds to the boundaries of the Morningside Heights neighborhood: from 110th Street to 125th Street, and from Morningside Drive to the Hudson River.

The parish encompasses a neighborhood conceived as an academic and ecclesiatical acropolis, which includes such esteemed institutions as Columbia University, Barnard College, the Manhattan School of Music, Union Theological Seminary, Jewish Theological Seminary, Riverside Church, and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Corpus Christi and Notre Dame have long been engaged in ministry to the academic institutions and in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue with the ecclesiastical institutions.

Holy Mass, sacraments, prayer events, and meetings are held in English, French, and Spanish, at both worship sites: Corpus Christi Church and the Church of Notre Dame. Columbia Catholic Ministry, the chaplaincy to students at Columbia University, Barnard College, and the Manhattan School of Music, is centered at Notre Dame.

Columbia Catholic Ministry
 

The one parish comprises two worship sites. Corpus Christi Church was first built in 1906 and rebuilt in 1935. Its pastors have included published poets, writers, and Scripture scholars. Thomas Merton—20th-century monk, writer, and advocate for peace—made his conversion to Catholicism at Corpus Christi while a student at Columbia University. Corpus Christi hosts the NYC Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society, which hosts regular talks and reading groups.

The Choral Mass continues, every Sunday at 11:30am, led by Dr. Kalle Toivio and is supported by the Friends of Liturgical Music, a 501(3)c non-profit (see friendsofliturgicalmusic.org). In addition, Corpus Christi has for many years hosted concerts of classical and pre-classical music, especially those given by Music before 1800 (see mb1800.org).

The Church of Notre Dame, founded by the Fathers of Mercy in 1915, is a splendid Beaux-Arts edifice built around a life-sized grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Today, Notre Dame serves as the center of French-language Catholicism in New York, with a Mass in French, accompanied by the Chorale Sainte Marie Reine, every Sunday at 11am. The Carrefour Pastorale ministers to immgrants. Our French-speaking parishioners gather frequently for prayer and talks.

The Sunday 9am Mass in English at Notre Dame is adorned by the recently-restored Schola Cantorum, led by renowned organist and music director Kalle Toivio.