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THE NEW YORK ARCHDIOCESAN OFFICE WAS FOUNDED IN 1853
In 1827, The Diocese of New York, (New York State and the northern half of New Jersey), received its first grant of $1,776.00. For the next 40 years the Diocese (which became the Archdiocese of New York) received $112,160.00 from the Propagation.
In 1842, the Church of St. Vincent de Paul, on Canal Street, was built with money received from the Propagation. Despite the fact that the church in New York was very poor and still receiving funds from the Propagation, Father Lafont, the pastor, believed that the parishioners should show their gratitude by making sacrifices and contributing to the Propagation. He formed a chapter of the Society in the parish. The collection for the first year was $42.72. Other parishes started forming their “circles”.
In 1853 Father LaFont was named the first director of the Archdiocesan Office of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. By the time of his death in 1874, the Archdiocese of New York had raised over $50,000.00 for the mission Churches.