By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

On the Feast of Corpus Christi, hundreds of faithful who form what they often describe as the family of St. Aloysius Parish, joined with their clergy, religious and Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for a Mass and reception culminating a year-long Golden Jubilee.

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Gathering in the vast expanse of the nave under the distinctive tent-like roof in a structure that has enlivened the surrounding landscape, the community celebrated with the joy and vigor that are but two of the hallmarks of the parish.

During his homily, Bishop O’Connell focused on the fact that the celebration was occurring on the great feast of Corpus Christi that “celebrates the greatest gift the world has ever known – the gift of Jesus Christ and his real and eternal presence,” commending the community for their devotion and dedication.

“Today,” Bishop O’Connell said, “we come together in St. Aloysius Church in Jackson, New Jersey, to celebrate our 50th anniversary. What we celebrate is not simply the existence of a building … but rather the building of a community, a parish, a family. Real life. Real people. Real Catholics united together around the Real Presence of Christ.”

As Father John P. Bambrick, pastor; Msgr. Casimir Ladzinksi, former pastor; and Father Fernando Lopez, parochial vicar, listened attentively along with the congregation, the bishop memorialized the fact that the parishioners were celebrating “50 years of God’s work in their lives.”

“And God,” the bishop said, “has blessed this parish abundantly with growth, with beautiful liturgies and music, sacramental celebrations, with ministries, with good pastors, with Catholic education, with outreach to the poor, with grace to work in the vineyard of the Lord without hesitating.”

In the style of a litany, he offered that the anniversary of a parish is the “story of life lived as the ‘Body of Christ,’ of weddings and baptisms, of Holy Communions and confessions, of funerals, traditions of generosity and sacrifice, of happy times and difficult ones, of school days and graduations and of so many good shepherds after the heart of the Lord.”

He asked all present for the public celebration to consider the “special unique private celebration” in their hearts of what the parish milestone means in their lives.

For many at the Mass and the reception that followed, the celebration would not have been complete without spending some time in reverie about how the parish, and by extension, the entire surrounding area, has grown over the past five decades.

What began as a small, rural parish on 16 acres of farmland has become the spiritual home of 5,700 families, including an elementary school and a new church seating more than 1,000 parishioners.

The seeds from those modest beginnings continue to blossom, grow and flourish, though some of the founding members shared fond memories on what it was like to meet for worship in what was then the Switlik Elementary School and for small Masses and sacramental celebrations in a re-purposed shed.

Lonnie Cromwell remember fondly that his son was baptized in the old, converted structure which he referred to as “the garage.” Cromwell, a Knight of Columbus member for more than 40 years, said he has happy memories of the first Masses for the entire community in the Switlik School.

Despite its size and scope, the parish has managed to maintain the small-town touch that welcomed generations over the decades, said parishioner Toni Marzorati.

Among the qualities she and her husband appreciate is the steady growth which has infused the community with people of all ages. The Marzoratis, who regularly volunteer for a number of parish ministries, say they enjoy the fact that “there are many young families and young adults” who also enjoy the welcoming atmosphere in St. Aloysius.

Jean Semler, who participates in the parish nursing ministry and has recently launched a ministry, “Change a Life, Uganda,” to raise funds for a school in Kasana-Luweero, Uganda, spoke of the good support received from the parish, while Deacon Uku Mannikus, a parishioner for 10 years, reflected on how much St. Aloysisus has meant to him, especially as a convert from the Orthodox tradition.

It has been, he said, a “place where everyone works as a family.”

And indeed, savoring that sense, Father Bambrick added, “It’s a very socially active parish with a tremendous outreach to the poor on all levels,” including from the kids in the school and the religious education, he said. “It’s a terrific place with a terrific staff of caring people and good camaraderie.”