Historic Moment: NYC Opens Manhattan's First Chapel of Perpetual Adoration

What you should know

New Yorkers now have a new space for prayer following the opening of Manhattan’s first chapel of perpetual adoration located in the church basement St Joseph’s in Greenwich Villageone of the oldest Catholic churches in the city.
The chapel will be open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and the faithful who visit it will have around an hour of prayer with a maximum of 2 people.
The inauguration took place on Sunday, July 29, and was a great cause for celebration together with the Cardinal of New York, Timothy Dolan, who performed a mass and blessed the chapel along with dozens of people who were present at that historic moment in Manhattan.

NEW YORK — This is good news for the New York City faithful, specifically those in Manhattan.

This is because New Yorkers now have a new space for prayer after the opening of the first perpetual adoration chapel in Manhattan located in the basement of the church. St Joseph’s in Greenwich Village, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the city. The chapel will be open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and the faithful who visit it will have around an hour of prayer with a maximum of 2 people.

The inauguration took place on Sunday, July 29, and was a great cause for celebration together with the Cardinal of New York, Timothy Dolan, who performed a mass and blessed the chapel along with dozens of people who were present at that historic moment in Manhattan. Cardinal Dolan expressed his appreciation for the construction of a worship space that he himself wanted to create.

One of the church’s pastors, Father Boniface Endorf, shared how Dolan approached him a few years ago about his desire to build this space in Manhattan.

“Cardinal Dolan wanted a chapel and that’s when he approached me about building it and I said, Sure, that sounds like a great idea. And then it was just a lot of praying. And I prayed, I said, okay, God, yeah You want this to happen, you’re going to have to help me. And each time the project moved forward, then I really put this in God’s hands and allowed him to run it,” Father Boniface Endorf told Telemundo 47.

“Space is an intimate place between believers and God,” Endorf recalled.

And it is that the chapel becomes that sacred place to pray in the middle of a city that has been involved in several crises, from the arrival of thousands of asylum seekers to the crime that lives every day.

“The point of the chapel is that Jesus is presence in the Blessed Sacrament. People come to pray and meet Jesus Christ now in downtown New York City, in the middle of Manhattan, those people constantly in prayer to Jesus Christ. And that brings great graces to New York City, in the area,” Endorf added.

Here we answer some questions for people who want to visit the chapel:

Where is the chapel?

The chapel is in the basement of the church. St Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village.

This is the address:

371 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10014

How do I register to have access to the chapel?

You can sign up for times of worship during the week using this link.

What do I do after registering and choosing a time and day to visit the chapel?

After registering you must stop by the parish office (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 11 am | 1 pm to 4 pm) to pick up a key card and sign a chapel agreement. With this key card you will have access to the chapel.

If you are unable to pick up the card during regular business hours you may call the parish office for assistance at 212-741-1274.

I don’t have internet or email. Can I still register?

Visit or call the parish office for more details during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm | 212-741-1274

What do I do after collecting the key card to enter the chapel?

You will use your key card to enter the rectory/parish office door and down the stairs. There is a kiosk just outside the chapel door where you will sign in to let the church know you have kept your commitment.

Can I share my key card with my family?

You are not allowed to share your personal access card with anyone, not even your spouse or children. For security purposes, everyone checking in for an hour needs their own unique card.

Can I bring my children?

Yes absolutely. Worship is for children and entire families as well. Just make sure they are old enough to understand how to be quiet. Underage children may not be assigned an hour alone, but may worship with their family.