Our Mission
The Sheen Center is a haven for the arts and provides a platform for provocative conversations about diverse and inclusive aspects of humanity as seen through the creative lens of faith and respect.
“The Sheen Center is a golden nugget in NYC”
“Staff is wonderful as is the facility”
“Vibrant, exciting, and bubbling with creativity”
“Every seat is a good seat”
“Very impressed by the space...had everything I needed to film my short film”
Our People
Great work requires great people, and we think ours are some of the best. We’re a creative, friendly, and diverse bunch, who truly enjoy what we do and the people we work with. Our team spirit, expertise, and most importantly, our commitment to the Sheen Center mission helps us create programming and experiences designed to inspire our patrons.
Jenny Haight
Managing Director
Victoria Hanavan
Director of Programming
Joe Kimple
Director of Production
Jim Rohner
Patron Services Manager
Hannah Hightman
Marketing Manager
Phill Hill
Production Coordinator
Aviva Katz
Front Desk Coordinator
Servando Mendez
Property Manager
David Cosma
Superintendent
Board of Directors
Our Directors bring a wealth of experiences and expertise to the Sheen Center, united by their passion for our mission. It’s our pleasure to introduce them to you.
Ex-Officio Members
Archbishop Ronald Hicks, Chair
Archbishop, Archdiocese of New York
Bishop Edmund Whalen
Vicar General, Archdiocese of New York
John Cahill
Chancellor, Archdiocese of New York
Kenneth Craig
Chief Operating Officer, Archdiocese of New York
MaryLou Pagano
Executive Director, The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture
Directors
Nannette Hendel, President
Adams Family Foundation
Terence S. Greene, Chair, Finance Committee
President, Capital Counsel, LLC
Reverend Dr. A.R. Bernard, Sr.
Founder and Chairman, Christian Cultural Center Global
Arthur Burke
Partner, Davis Polk & Wardell
Andrew Bustillo
Retired President, BMS Intermediaries
Brian Cashman
General Manager, New York Yankees
Javon Coney
Director of Strategic Partnerships, FanDuel
Bishop Joseph Espaillat
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of New York
Paul Hardart
Director, Entertainment, Media and Technology Program, Stern School of Business, New York University. Consultant to the Committee on Communications, USCCB
Lynn Mara
Artist
Barry Morris
CFP, CPA, RocMor Financial Services
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik
Executive Vice President, New York Board of Rabbis
Kevin Ryan
Broadway Producer and Former CEO, Covenant House
Frank Shiner
Frank Shiner Music
Vanessa Williams
Actress, Singer, Dancer, and Author
Our History
The Beginning
The building that is now home to the Sheen Center originally served as a mission church for Italian immigrants. Founded by two Jesuit priests, The Italian Mission of Our Lady of Loreto quickly grew to include some 3,000 parishioners and a school for 500 children.
1926
By 1926, the parish was staffed by diocesan clergy. A brand new school and cultural center were built, including an auditorium with a professional stage, on which a half-dozen full scale operas were presented annually.
1938
In 1938, following the ravages of the Great Depression, the parish was forced to foreclose on the cultural center. Catholic Charities bought this property on 18 Bleecker Street and created the Holy Name Centre - a residence and employment center for homeless men. The theater remained a part of the property and in the 1950s and 1960s, was host to a number of Golden Glove tournaments. Daily Mass took place in a small chapel inside the building.
1980s
By the mid-1980s, the church building of Our Lady of Loreto fell into disrepair and the congregation had significantly diminished. The property where the church stood (just south of 18 Bleecker Street), was sold, and the parish was moved into the chapel of the Holy Name Centre.
2011
In 2011, the Holy Name Centre and Our Lady of Loreto parish were closed. Nearby Catholic parishes welcomed the few remaining parishioners, and services for the homeless continued at other Catholic Charities locations throughout New York City.
2015
Following extensive planning and renovations, the Sheen Center was opened in 2015 as the official Arts Center of the Archdiocese of New York and named for the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Today
Today, we are proud to be the venue in New York City where art and spirituality meet.