The sexiest congregation in NYC; read it before you judge

Dear Lord! This is the sexiest congregation in NYC

By Kirsten Fleming

   

December 20, 2015 | 8:00am

            

St. Patrick's Old Cathedral congregation members (from left): Ashley Marchetta, Mark Ciolli, Alex Taylor, Christine Mykityshyn, and Lauren Bishop. Photo: Stephen Yang

A few years ago, Mark Ciolli was headed to Sunday Mass with a pal when they ran into two female acquaintances.
“He invited them to Mass,” recalls Ciolli of his friend. “One girl said, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve heard about that Mass. That’s the sexy Mass.’ We just looked at each other and laughed.”
While it may seem sacrilegious to say it, the 7 p.m. Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Nolita is as sexy as church gets. The always-packed service has been drawing attractive young professionals since Old St. Pat’s added the evening liturgy six years ago.
“There’s a cachet of cool. A lot of people have remarked to me about it particularly being a good-looking Mass,” says Ciolli, 37, who works in admissions at Fordham but looks like he was plucked from a Ralph Lauren ad.

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Cardinal Timothy Dolan leads Vespers at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral.Photo: Stephen Yang

“It’s a good-looking bunch,” says Ashley Marchetta, a 28-year-old congregant with a career in finance. “You know you are going to see people you might want to get to know.” In fact, she’s even dated some of her fellow churchgoers.
“Beyond that, being able to be around people with like-minded values is refreshing,” Marchetta adds.
While the archdiocese is shutting down Catholic churches all over the city, Old St. Patrick’s is thriving. In November, it celebrated its 200th anniversary with the unveiling of a $16 million restoration and a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Dolan. Boldface parishioners include Alec Baldwin, who married there in 2012, and comedian Jim Gaffigan. Martin Scorsese was an altar boy at the Basilica and Francis Ford Coppola used it as the backdrop for the baptism scene in “The Godfather.”

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One of the church’s most notable distinctions is that 50 percent of the 800-strong congregation is between the ages of 18 to 34.Photo: Stephen Yang

One of its most notable distinctions is that 50 percent of the 800-strong congregation is between the ages of 18 to 34. Even converts are coming in. Ciolli teaches Old St. Pat’s Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program, which draws a robust 20 to 25 people each year — from lapsed Catholics to curious atheists. (“Seinfeld” and “Cheers” writer Tom Leopold converted from Judaism with Ciolli’s guidance.)
Though much has been made of how Pope Francis’ more inclusive style speaks to a new generation, this particular overflowing Mass predates the popular pontiff.

“One girl said, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve heard about that Mass. That’s the sexy Mass.’ “

In 2009, Father Jonathan Morris — who is now the pastor at a Bronx church — started a Sunday evening Mass that aimed to fit into the lifestyle of a younger demographic. They could sleep off the excesses of Saturday night, have a lazy brunch and still make weekly worship.
Current pastor Monsignor Sakano delivers pop-culture punctuated sermons — referencing everything from “Mad Men” to online dating — that resonate with the young crowd.
“You bring up ‘Mad Men,’ and 200 20- and 30-somethings are sitting up and listening. It’s not something that you are going to hear at any other church,” says Christine Mykityshyn, a 26-year-old book publicist. “It’s been thought out to appeal to our demographic.”
Plus, there’s the church’s “location, location, location,” says Sakano of the hip neighborhood, which is home to hot spots like Cafe Gitane, Rubirosa pizzeria and Creatures of Comfort boutique.
After Mass, the group puts the “spirit” in the Holy Spirit with regular wine- and beer-
tastings in the courtyard.
Mykityshyn, who lives in Nolita, says that the congregants defy the stereotype that people who attend religious services are — for lack of a more Christian word — squares.
“When I introduced my old friends to my church friends, they were taken aback, saying, ‘But they are so normal. You found them at church?’”