BY JASON COHEN
Cardinal Timothy Dolan,
Archbishop of New York,
marked Holy Thursday by
blessing the newly opened
Second Farms housing complex
in the Bronx.
The 319-unit affordable
building, developed by Catholic
Homes New York, in
collaboration with Catholic
Charities Archdiocese of New
York, is located at 1932 Bryant
Avenue in West Farms.
Residents are moving in over
the coming weeks.
The Cardinal was joined
by Monsignor Kevin Sullivan,
executive director of
Catholic Charities of NY,
Borough President Ruben
Diaz, Councilman Rafael Salamanca
and Second Farms
residents. The Cardinal also
toured the apartments, met
with residents and attended
an on-site food distribution
of 2,250 meals.
“On this Holy Thursday
as we anticipate Good Friday
and Easter, boy is it a
very high honor to be able to
bless this new development,”
Dolan stated.
He stressed how important
it was for Catholic Charities
to provide homes for
people in the community. Especially,
now during a pandemic
when people are struggling
more than ever.
During the past year, he
has been to groundbreakings
and food distributions and
has seen the difference that
food and housing make in
people’s lives.
Diaz thanked Dolan for
coming and praised Catholic
Charities for their leadership
in the community.
“Catholic Charities under
the leadership of Monsignor
Sullivan and so many others,
you exemplify something
that my father taught me at
a young age, you cannot be
a good Christian unless you
are a good citizen,” Diaz said.
“This is about families being
able to call this their home.
This is a piece of a larger
puzzle to make the Bronx
better.”
BRONX TIMES R 8 EPORTER, APR. 9-15, 2021 BTR
One person who can attest
to the work of Catholic Charities
is Nelly Perez, a resident
in Second Farms. Perez, who
was quite emotional when
she spoke, thanked the nonprofi
t and stressed how welcome
she feels in the building.
“I have a wonderful home
here,” she said. “I don’t have
to worry about things like
before when we were struggling
and homeless. This is a
new start for us.”
Second Farms has 38 units
for formerly homeless families
and features on-site supportive
services for residents,
including a daycare facility
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, marked Holy Thursday
by blessing the newly opened Second Farms housing complex in the
Bronx. Photos by Jason Cohen
that will support working
families in need of accessible
care for their young children
and a ground fl oor grocery
store, which provides muchneeded
access to fresh food
in an area widely considered
to be a food desert.
Since March 2020 more
than 8 million meals have
been provided to hungry
New Yorkers through Catholic
Charities network of 40
agency pantries, community
kitchens, home delivered
meals, special requests, popup
pantries and partner programs.
Cardinal Dolan opens new
low-income apartments in
the Bronx on Holy Thursday