Who Are We?

We are the Catholics of Eritrean Origin. Historically, the Eritrean Catholic Church has been and is aligned with the Eastern Rite Catholic Church. The Eritrean Catholic Church celebrates the holy Mass in Ge’ez, an ecclesiastical language, celebrated by both Catholics and Coptic Orthodox Christians. Christianity in Eritrea dates back to 341 AD.

The Ge’ez Rite’s dominance in the Eritrean Catholic Church could be attributed to the strong foundation laid by Saint Justin de Jacobis. According to his wishes St. Justin de Jacobis was buried in Eritrea in 1860.

Eritreans started to migrate to the United States in significant numbers in the 1980’s, when the war between Ethiopia and the liberation forces for independence of Eritrea escalated. At that time thousands of Eritreans migrated to different parts of the world, the majority of whom came to the United States.

In 1984, the Eritrean Catholics in New York formed a religious community under the name Kidane Mehret, Covenant of Mercy (a reference to the Virgin Mary).

In 1988, the Kidane Mehret Eritrean Catholic Ge’ez Rite of New York was recognized as a viable Catholic community, and at the request of the Chancery Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York   was granted a permanent, welcome home at Our Lady of Lourdes.

What Do We Do?

We celebrate Mass in Geez Liturgy, pray, chant in Ge’ez and sing spiritual songs in Tigrigna.

On First Saturdays women’s fellowship have a Rosary prayer .

When Do We Meet?

• On Sundays from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at the lower church , and then we gather at the cafeteria for refreshments and for timely updates and discussions that benefit our community and our Church.

• First Saturdays: 3:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Women’s group meet for Rosary prayer.
   

Contact Information:

• Tewolde Ugbit - Chairman: (347) 278-3498

• Gebre Abraha - Vice Chairman: (917) 860-1387

• Selam Seyoum - Secretary: (646) 255-8629