In anticipation of Pope Francis’ visit to New York, Ángel Franco, a New York Times staff photographer, and David Gonzalez, a New York Times columnist and co-editor of the Lens blog, have been reporting a story that looks at the life of a merged Roman Catholic parish in the Bronx.

Efforts to hold together a merged congregation raise the question of whether the Roman Catholic Church can minister to New York City’s poor in an era of diminishing resources.

Alex Rodriguez and seven Yankees visit St. Simon Stock School to lift spirits, spending time at the school a day after they clinched the American League East with a 4-2 win over the Red Sox.