Even in retirement, legendary Yankee closer Mariano Rivera has notched another save.
The future Hall of Famer and his wife, Clara, cut the ribbon Thursday on a New Rochelle church that his foundation spent about $3 million to restore so it can be used for her ministry.
“To come from a small fishing town in Panama to play for the New York Yankees and after to New Rochelle to open this tremendous church, it’s amazing,” Rivera said.
“I wouldn’t have believed it, but, yes, it happened and all I have to say is, thank God for this.”
The 107-year-old Refugio de Esperanza, or Refuge of Hope, church was abandoned during the 1970s. Meanwhile, Mo’s wife’s congregation had been outgrowing its meeting place — the Rivera home.
“God called me to become a pastor, but my husband has been supporting me 100 percent,” Clara said. “He is very involved with the church. We started this four years ago and with God’s help, we’ve been able to open the church.
“We thank God for this opportunity and we are confident He will give us the guidance we need. We hope to help the community.”
After the ceremony, Rivera, 44, and his wife shook hands with those in attendance and posed for pictures.
“This church was a disaster,” said Joe Fosina, a Yankee employee who first showed Rivera the church. “It needed so much work, floors, ceilings, the outside. But he looked at it and said, ‘We can make this work.’ ”
Pastor Tim Dilena, of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church, who read Bible passages during the ceremony, praised Rivera’s latest endeavor.
“He went from putting on the pinstripes to putting on ministry clothes and now touching people’s lives,” Dilena said.
“I’ll tell you this much, New Rochelle is going to be a lot harder than the New York Yankees, but they’re going to do fantastic.”
Until the church’s Opening Day, Rivera had remained quiet about the project.
“It’s all part of the job,” Rivera said. “Yes, saving some games and now saving the church, but it’s about bringing people to the Lord and changing people’s lives.”