Church of St. Francis Xavier

Even in New York City, capital of skyscrapers (and jaded attitudes), the Church of St. Francis Xavier can still wow visitors, as it has everyday since Jesuit priests first opened the building in 1882. Technically neo-baroque, the architecture is perhaps more accurately described as “awesome.” For every arch, every statue, every tier of its towering apse, seems purpose-crafted to inspire awe. The total effect is almost too rich — a sumptuous layering of chiseled stone and molded plaster dipped in cream paint that gives the entire interior a buttery glow. The feeling of warmth and richness is matched by a community famous for its inclusion and diversity.