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The Leo House in New York City was founded in 1889 by Peter Paul Cahensly, a German businessman who wanted to ensure that his fellow immigrants – the vast majority of whom were Catholic– found a safe and welcoming haven upon their arrival in this strange land. It was named after Pope Leo XIII who personally donated the then astronomical sum of $50,000 towards the project, which he later blessed.
The experience of arriving in a new country with a new language could be dangerous and daunting, with reports of German immigrants being robbed upon arrival. Cahensly sought a means to keep them safe in a faith-filled setting.
On December 7, 1889, Bishop Winand M Wigger of Newark formally opened the Leo House, making Cahensly’s idea come true. The German-speaking Sisters of St Agnes stepped up to the challenge of managing the house on a daily basis, and it quickly flourished as a safe place for all travellers, not just Germans, in the city. In 1926, it moved to its current home in Chelsea to accommodate more guests.
The house has a proud history of hospitality founded on Catholic principles, offering discounted rates to those visiting the sick and elderly at local hospitals and providing free accommodation to first responders during the September 11 terrorist attacks.
It offers guests the opportunity to make their stay in a bustling metropolis something of a retreat. The chapel is kept open, Mass is said in the morning and the Rosary is recited in the afternoon.
Today, the hotel prides itself on what it calls “the four C’s”: clean, comfortable, cost-effective and Catholic. It is particularly renowned for its buffet breakfast with homemade past-ries cooked on-site. One TripAdvisor review advises would-be travellers to “think homemade scones and lemon bread, not pre-packaged doughnuts” and another describes it as “the best part of a great stay”.
Continued below.
catholicherald.co.uk
The experience of arriving in a new country with a new language could be dangerous and daunting, with reports of German immigrants being robbed upon arrival. Cahensly sought a means to keep them safe in a faith-filled setting.
On December 7, 1889, Bishop Winand M Wigger of Newark formally opened the Leo House, making Cahensly’s idea come true. The German-speaking Sisters of St Agnes stepped up to the challenge of managing the house on a daily basis, and it quickly flourished as a safe place for all travellers, not just Germans, in the city. In 1926, it moved to its current home in Chelsea to accommodate more guests.
The house has a proud history of hospitality founded on Catholic principles, offering discounted rates to those visiting the sick and elderly at local hospitals and providing free accommodation to first responders during the September 11 terrorist attacks.
It offers guests the opportunity to make their stay in a bustling metropolis something of a retreat. The chapel is kept open, Mass is said in the morning and the Rosary is recited in the afternoon.
Today, the hotel prides itself on what it calls “the four C’s”: clean, comfortable, cost-effective and Catholic. It is particularly renowned for its buffet breakfast with homemade past-ries cooked on-site. One TripAdvisor review advises would-be travellers to “think homemade scones and lemon bread, not pre-packaged doughnuts” and another describes it as “the best part of a great stay”.
Continued below.
A safe haven: Catholic oasis welcomes visitors in the heart of New York City - Catholic Herald
The Leo House in New York City was founded in 1889 by Peter Paul Cahensly, a German businessman who wanted to ensure that his fellow immigrants – the vast majority of whom were Catholic– found a safe and welcoming haven upon their arrival in this strange land. It was named after Pope Leo XIII who
catholicherald.co.uk
