| Despite fierce protest by anti-Catholic nativists, the parish church quickly became a center of Irish immigrant life in New York. While few 19th century Irish immigrants attended mass regularly, most turned to the parish for the major sacraments of baptism, marriage and death. On November 8, 1868, Agnes Moore, the third child of Bridget and Joseph, was baptized at St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Father James McGean. Located on the corner of Mott and Prince Streets, for much of the 19th century St. Patrick’s Cathedral served as both a neighborhood parish and the seat of the Archdiocese of New York. Next |
