Barnegat parish to celebrate 75 years
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will be principal celebrant of a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the 75th anniversary of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, July 23 at 1:30 p.m. The Mass and reception to follow will serve as the culmination of a slate of events to be held in the Ocean County parish possessing, in the words of its pastor Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu, a “warm and welcoming spirit.”
After its humble beginnings in 1907 as a mission church of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Beach Haven, Catholics of St. Mary Parish first celebrated Mass in the Barnegat Select School. The faith community was incorporated as a parish of the Diocese of Trenton on July 7, 1942, with Father Peter Teston as its pastor. Over its 75-year history, it has marked the construction of a parish center in 1975; a new church building on West Bay Avenue in 1987; a 304-crypt mausoleum in 1988, and a perpetual adoration chapel and outdoor candle chapel at the parish center in 1998. Groundbreaking for St. Mary of the Pines Church, Manahawkin, commenced in 2005 and culminated in a Mass of Dedication with Bishop Emeritus John Smith March 10, 2007.
“The celebration of our 75th anniversary is for me an opportunity to celebrate our parish – the way that faith has been expressed and live, both within our community and with the surrounding community,” asserted Msgr. Tuzeneu. “I am proud of our many faithful parishioners… I believe we have exerted a positive influence in the county by working well with public officials and other congregations.”
Other events planned for the 75th anniversary include a recommitment retreat on the seven Sacraments, April 2-4; an evening with Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza, July 21; Mass with Father Stanley Lukaszewski, diocesan vicar of Ocean County, July 30; a parish “Light of the World” retreat Aug. 11-12; the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of perpetual adoration, Sept. 17, and a “Holiness Revolution” parish mission with Dan DeMatte from Dynamic Catholic, Oct. 2-3.
St. Mary Parish has 6,569 member families, 75 ministries and 1,145 students in religious education classes. In 2016, the parish celebrated 122 Baptisms, 22 weddings and 174 funerals. Thirteen adults are expected to come into full Communion with the Catholic Church at the upcoming Easter Vigil on April 15.
The July 23 Mass with Bishop O’Connell will be held in the St. Mary of the Pines Church worship site, 100 Bishop Way, Manahawkin. For further information, contact the parish at 609-698-5531.
[[In-content Ad]]Related Stories
Friday, November 01, 2024
E-Editions
Events
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will be principal celebrant of a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the 75th anniversary of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, July 23 at 1:30 p.m. The Mass and reception to follow will serve as the culmination of a slate of events to be held in the Ocean County parish possessing, in the words of its pastor Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu, a “warm and welcoming spirit.”
After its humble beginnings in 1907 as a mission church of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Beach Haven, Catholics of St. Mary Parish first celebrated Mass in the Barnegat Select School. The faith community was incorporated as a parish of the Diocese of Trenton on July 7, 1942, with Father Peter Teston as its pastor. Over its 75-year history, it has marked the construction of a parish center in 1975; a new church building on West Bay Avenue in 1987; a 304-crypt mausoleum in 1988, and a perpetual adoration chapel and outdoor candle chapel at the parish center in 1998. Groundbreaking for St. Mary of the Pines Church, Manahawkin, commenced in 2005 and culminated in a Mass of Dedication with Bishop Emeritus John Smith March 10, 2007.
“The celebration of our 75th anniversary is for me an opportunity to celebrate our parish – the way that faith has been expressed and live, both within our community and with the surrounding community,” asserted Msgr. Tuzeneu. “I am proud of our many faithful parishioners… I believe we have exerted a positive influence in the county by working well with public officials and other congregations.”
Other events planned for the 75th anniversary include a recommitment retreat on the seven Sacraments, April 2-4; an evening with Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza, July 21; Mass with Father Stanley Lukaszewski, diocesan vicar of Ocean County, July 30; a parish “Light of the World” retreat Aug. 11-12; the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of perpetual adoration, Sept. 17, and a “Holiness Revolution” parish mission with Dan DeMatte from Dynamic Catholic, Oct. 2-3.
St. Mary Parish has 6,569 member families, 75 ministries and 1,145 students in religious education classes. In 2016, the parish celebrated 122 Baptisms, 22 weddings and 174 funerals. Thirteen adults are expected to come into full Communion with the Catholic Church at the upcoming Easter Vigil on April 15.
The July 23 Mass with Bishop O’Connell will be held in the St. Mary of the Pines Church worship site, 100 Bishop Way, Manahawkin. For further information, contact the parish at 609-698-5531.
[[In-content Ad]]