About St. Mary's

The "Be Not Afraid" Church

St. Mary’s Manhattanville is the “I am not afraid” church, standing up as a community of faith on the unceded land of the Munsee Lenape people,  in West Harlem to pursue justice and peace for the poor and oppressed, to pray and care for the sick, lonely and at risk and to put into practice the message of the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Do not be afraid” Luke 1:30

Santa Maria Manhattanville es la iglesia “sin miedo,” en tierra arrebatada al pueblo Munsee Lenape, ahora West Harlem,  buscando paz y justicia al lado de los pobres y los oprimidos, rezando por cuidando a los enfermos, solitarios y marginados, y practicando el mensaje del Evangelio con la fuerza del Espiritu Santo. “No temas” San Lucas 1:30

St. Mary's Pledge / Compromiso Comunitario de St. Mary's

Through an ongoing process of community engagement, we developed this pledge for our life together. As members of St. Mary’s Church and Community: We commit to respect the dignity of every human being. We listen to each other. We practice kindness. We pledge non-violence. We strive for peace and justice...

Como miembros de la Iglesia y la Comunidad de Santa María: Nos comprometemos a respetar la dignidad de todo ser humano. Nos escuchamos unos y unas a otros. Prometemos la no violencia. Practicamos la bondad. Luchamos por la paz y la justicia...  

About Our Clergy

Need to speak to our rector or deacon? Give us a call or write us at [email protected]

The Rev. Dr. Mary Foulke

Rector

(the priest in charge of the parish):

The Reverend Mary Foulke, Ed.D. is an educator and social justice advocate. She has been the Rector of St. Mary’s since 2014. Since entering professional ministry in 1989, she has sought to articulate a religious/spiritual perspective that is open, intelligent and humble. She helps churches to build communities in which differences are recognized, understood, engaged and celebrated, and where creative/wholistic social action and service are developed and supported. She has worked on the Upper East Side, Wellesley, MA, Pasadena CA, Greenwich Village, with congregations large and small. She has also learned from and taught every age group from pre-k to seminary/graduate school about religion, education and resisting all forms of oppression.

Rev. Mary has made NYC her spiritual home (having grown up in suburban Washington DC), and now lives in the Rectory at St. Mary's with her spouse; they have two young adult children.


The Rev. Deacon Jacqueline Sanchez-Shabazz

Deacon

(an order of ministry to represent Christ and the Church particularly as a servant of those in need):

Deacon Jacqueline Sanchez-Shabazz was born in Harlem and grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She has graduated from Wilfred’s Academy, Eastern Technical Medical School, and Clark University Career Services (Masters Certificate); and has worked a variety of jobs including as a beautician, a medical assistant, an assistant to a psychology practice, and for 10 years with American Express Corporate Travel. She has also volunteered most of her life with seniors. In addition to this work and service, she has raised 4 children and has a “classroom” full of grand and great grandchildren.

Deacon Jackie was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan. There she served as an usher, a verger, a Vestry member, and an altar assistant. While serving at St. Augustine’s, Dn. Jackie entered the ordination process for the Diaconate and went on to serve the Church of the Epiphany, the Church of the Good Shepherd, White Plains Hospital for Chaplaincy Training, and continuing Volunteer Chaplain at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Deacon Jackie was ordained in 2017, and has served at St. Mary’s joyfully since 2019. It is a blessing to be part of God’s ministry in this place, and she is honored to proclaim the Gospel, assist at the Eucharist, and reach out to the community with the light of Christ. 


Our Seminarians, Staff and Vestry

Wardens (elected leaders of Vestry)


Dr. Dorothy Ross, Senior Warden, 2022-2024
Ms. Frederica Brown-Carter, Junior Warden, 2023-2025

Vestry (the governing body of the church)


Class of 2024
Mr. Radford Arrindell, 2022-2024 (1st partial term)
Mr. Chris Gordon, 2021-2024 (2nd term)
Ms. Amanda Watermeyer, 2021-2024 (1st term)

Class of 2025
Ms. Christiane Berry, 2023-2025 (1st term)
Mr. Lawrence Roberts, 2022-2025 (1st term)
Ms. Natasha Wong,  2022-2025 (1st full term)

Class of 2026
Ms. Stephanie Harewood, 2023-2026 (2nd term)
Mr. Ben Mizel, 2023-2026 (1st full term)
Ms. Alejandra Silva, 2023-2026 (1st term)

Representatives to Diocesan Convention
Ms. Chris Berry
Ms. Freddi Brown-Carter, alternate

Representatives to Manhattan North Interparish Council
Ms. Chris Berry

Seminarians

(people studying for holy orders and other ministries)

Linda Aristondo, EDS at Union Theological Seminary
Nastia Khlopina, Union Theological Seminary
David Patiño, Bexley-Seabury Seminary

Staff

Ly Bedaña, Director of Music
Janet Dorman, Organist/Choir Director Emeritus
Jacobo Medrano, Sexton
Kym Roberts, Parish Associate
Sajia Choudhury, Bookkeeper
vacancy, Parish Administrator

Committees

Altar Guild, Stephanie Harewood

Buildings & Grounds Committee, Dorothy Ross, Chair

Finance Committee, Radford Arrindell, Treasurer,  & Dorothy Ross,  Chair

Stewardship Committee, Radford Arrindell, Chair

Programs

Friday Movie Night, Lisa Slocum 

St. Mary’s Summer Camp,  in transition

Thrift Shop, Jenny Garmendia Turcios

Business Hours

  • Monday - Tuesday
    10:00am - 02:00pm
  • Wednesday
    10:00am - 01:00pm
  • Thursday - Friday
    10:00am - 02:00pm
  • Saturday - Sunday
    Appointments only