By David Kilby | Correspondent

Rededicating the renovated church that has served the community of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, for the past 130 years, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., pointed to the importance of having a beautiful dwelling place
for God.

In his homily for the Mass of Thanksgiving Oct. 29, the bishop explained that Catholicism uses religious art to point to higher unseen things. Surveying the improvements to the magnificent church with its ornate fixtures and its soaring ceiling, he said, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen for what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal,” he said, quoting 2 Corinthians.

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“Religion is and must be a way of lifting our hearts and minds to God,” he said. “All the externals, such as those we bless and dedicate today, should help us seek and find God and his eternal truths. The things we sense and hear and touch are all important only because they point to what is unseen and yet, what we believe.”

Despite the unseasonal sleet and snow, parishioners were out in great number to be present to the milestone in the history of their faith community. After Mass, several parishioners proceeded to St. Rose of Lima Cemetery on Freehold Englishtown Road to join the bishop as he blessed the cemetery’s new mausoleum.

The old church project was a total renovation three years in process, said Gus Vang, parish business manager. In addition to the installation of a new ambo and the installation of black onyx on the baptismal font, the slate roof and outside woodwork of the church were repaired, all the interior walls were repainted, and new carpeting and pews were installed.

About $1.5 million, or 99 percent of the costs for the renovations, was raised by parishioners.

“Everybody really stepped up and made it happen,” Vang said.

The parish of about 3,500 families bonded together to keep the old church, which would have been torn down if it had not been renovated, Vang added. He said the old church is popular for weddings because brides love walking down its long center aisle.

But it is the Sacrament of Baptism that was in the spotlight on the parish’s special day.  In blessing the renovated baptismal font, Bishop O’Connell prayed, “Here the doors will be open to the light of the Spirit and the gateway to the churches swung wide to those against whom the gates of Paradise were shut. Here is the source of new life for your people.”

Father James Conover, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, said all of the renovations were “a work of love” by the parishioners.

“We thank all of our parishioners who were not afraid to step up and do things and create a beautiful dwelling place for our Lord,” he said after Mass.

Even though he has only been pastor at St. Rose for about a year, Father Conover grew up in Freehold and received his first Communion in the old St. Rose Church.

“For him it was a coming home,” Vang said.

Father Conover said the church building is the center of community life and that’s why the renovations are so important. The parish uses the old church for weekday Mass and alternates between the new and old church for Sunday Masses.

After Mass a few dozen parishioners went with Bishop O’Connell and Father Conover to the new mausoleum a few miles down the road.

“After preparing this resting place for the dead we should raise our hearts from earth to heaven and look to Christ who suffered and rose again for our salvation,” Bishop O’ Connell said as the small crowd gathered in the new mausoleum.

He asked God to bless the mausoleum and make it a reminder of life in Christ.