In top photo, parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Keyport, attend the Mass marking the 50th anniversary of St. Joseph Church. Mike Ehrmann photos
By Kayla Latendresse, correspondent and staff reports
Barbara Lamberth and her husband, Michael, were married in St. Joseph Church, Keyport, Dec. 27, 1975, months before the formal dedication of the new parish building the following June.
Fifty years later, she was at the church’s Anniversary Mass honoring the people whose faith, sacrifice and service have shaped parish life.
PHOTO GALLERY: Golden jubilee Mass for St. Joseph Church, Keyport
“Believe it or not, I am sitting in the same pew, at the same Mass, sitting behind the same couple, now in their 90s, 50 years later,” Lamberth said.
Since 2019, St. Joseph Church and Jesus the Lord Church – both in Keyport – have formed Our Lady of Fatima Parish, one bilingual, multicultural faith community. Lamberth serves as a Eucharistic minister and member of the Pastoral Leadership Council, while family members serve in other parish roles.
“In a very busy world, I have kept the ritual of church on Sunday, followed by family breakfast,” she said. “There are 10 in the pew and 10 at the table.”
Taking God’s hope to others
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., principal celebrant and homilist for the Anniversary Mass on June 13, explained that the church’s anniversary reaches beyond the physical structure.
Since its construction the church “has stood as a visible sign of God’s presence in Keyport.”
“Its greatest treasure is Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist. Everything in this church points to him,” the Bishop said, adding that the parish’s future depended on those in the pews.
“As members of this parish, you are called to continue Christ’s mission by bringing his love and hope to others.”
The Mass drew the prayerful support of about a dozen priests from area parishes. Father Rene Pulgarin, pastor, credited Bishop O’Connell’s message for showing the connection between the anniversary, the Gospel, and the sacrifices of those who built the church. The merged parish now has more than 1,900 registered families, 32 active ministries, and 159 students in Religious Education, signs of continued growth.
The pastor said, “What we’re doing here, what we do in faith, is not for us; it is for generations to come.”
Honoring a legacy
The parish’s Bayshore roots reach back to 1850, when Catholic services were held in Middletown Point, now Matawan; the first church was completed and dedicated in Keyport in 1854.
Father Pulgarin noted that a chair on the altar has long been associated with Pope Pius XII and was given to the parish, becoming one of the historic pieces preserved by the faith community.
Another parish treasure was carried in the Opening Procession by members of the Knights of Columbus St. Joseph’s Council – a framed image of St. Joseph, which was placed on a stand in the sanctuary.
“That picture was blessed by Pope Francis,” Father Pulgarin said, noting that it had been passed among Knights of Columbus councils before being given to the parish.
The priest also recognized longtime parishioners, including those who had been part of the community for nearly all of the church’s 50 years.
“There are a lot of names, people, families who made this church possible for us today,” he said. “We honor their lives today. We honor their sacrifices. We honor their love for the Church.”
Memories and mission
For longtime parishioners, the anniversary brought back heartfelt memories.
Deacon Donald Policastro and his wife, Mari-Jo, joined St. Joseph Church in 1977 after moving to Aberdeen. They have been parishioners for 49 years and were initially drawn to the faith community’s friendly atmosphere.
Ordained in 2003 Deacon Policastro expressed gratitude for the more than 300 baptisms at which he presided, noting that now he is “even to the point of baptizing children of parents that I have baptized.”
Nick DiFranco, a parishioner for 46 years, said helping prepare for the anniversary was “a kind of awakening” as he and the team revisited many memories. Through parish leadership council, finance, improvement, and sacristan roles, DiFranco has seen the church adapt to parishioners and the wider community.
The fruits of the anniversary preparations were put on display in the church hall where a reception was held after the Mass. In between sharing a celebratory meal and joyful fellowship, parishioners spent time looking over exhibits photos, documents and artifacts.
DiFranco’s advice for younger parishioners and families helping shape the next 50 years is simple: “Get involved.”
He pointed to the legacy attached to being among the oldest churches in Monmouth County, adding, “My hopes are that it continues well into the future.”
