Holy Name Society’s History of Devotion

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The Holy Name Society was created at the suggestion of Pope Gregory X in the year 1274.

Pope Gregory selected the Dominican Order, in particular Blessed John of Vercelli, the Dominican’s master general, to spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. Blessed John asked each Dominican church to dedicate a Holy Name altar, and groups were also formed to fight blasphemy.

The Holy Name Society has a proud history in the archdiocese, and today some 150 parishes have Holy Name units. The Holy Society also has active branches in New York City’s police, fire and sanitation departments, as well as at six correctional facilities.

The society spearheads numerous activities. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Elmsford, the Holy Name Society is hosting a series on evangelization, and St. Augustine’s in New City sends rosaries and prayer books to service members. St. Brendan’s in the Bronx holds Bible study. Also in the Bronx, St. Francis Xavier recently held a series on Rediscovering Catholicism and Our Lady of Mount Carmel featured one on the Ten Commandments.

The society also conducts Communion breakfasts and Memorial Masses. St. Frances de Chantal and Holy Rosary in the Bronx and St. Bartholomew’s in Yonkers, among others, hold blood drives and other community events.

Long considered “the right arm of the pastor,” Holy Name men are often among the most active at many parishes, said Anthony Merolla, executive secretary of the Archdiocesan Union of the Holy Name Society of New York.

“The society is a real boon for the parish and members of the parish, especially with the men in becoming more spiritually involved,” he explained.

The archdiocesan Holy Name Society’s spiritual director is Cardinal Dolan; Cardinal Egan is spiritual director emeritus; and Andrew Lisanti Jr. is president. Father James Connolly, a senior priest who serves at St. John the Evangelist parish in Manhattan, is associate spiritual director.