New York City is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, with dozens of ethnic neighborhoods, different cultures, cuisines, and languages. The Order of Friars Minor Conventual has a friary in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, one of five boroughs that make up New York City. The friary is named after St. Adalbert and belongs to the Province of Our Lady of the Angels. Three friars reside there.
Queens residents are said to speak 130 languages and represent over 120 countries. The subway line, which runs between the boroughs of Queens and Manhattan is referred to as the “International Express.”
In 1896, the St. Adalbert Parish in Elmhurst-Queens was entrusted to the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. The parish very quickly became an international community. Celebrating Masses in English, Polish, Italian, and German became a regular practice.
There is a saying that New York City never sleeps and is constantly changing. Every day we see new people here. They come with the hope of a happy life in this wonderful city. Therefore, it is not surprising that our friary is also international. We serve not only those who worship with us but also people with beautiful traditions who want to preserve the customs they grew up with and pass them onto their children.
The richness of different cultures and traditions makes our Franciscan presence in New York very joyful and unique. I am confident that St. Francis would be happy to see so many different nations praising their Creator in the city also known as “the Big Apple”.
-Friar Mirosław Podymniak OFM Conv.,
Guardian of the St. Adalbert Friary
