By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent

After more than two years of extensive construction and weekend Masses held in their school’s gymatorium, parishioners of Holy Cross, Rumson, will finally have a new spiritual home.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will dedicate a new 22,500-foot worship space on June 20 at 3 p.m., during which the first Mass will be celebrated in the structure since construction began. 

Father Michael Manning, Holy Cross pastor, said that the original structure – for which the cornerstone was laid in 1885 – only had enough seating for about 200 parishioners at a time. With 2,400 families belonging to Holy Cross Parish, the need for larger accommodations was certain. The new cruciform worship space will provide seating for nearly 700.

“It has been a long process,” said Father Manning. But reaction to the almost-finished building has been “generally positive.” Conducting informal tours of the interior when construction allows, Father Manning has given parishioners a glimpse of what the final product will look like. Their reactions have confirmed the project’s success.

“They look up and gasp in surprise, they cry – and then they start talking about their daughters’ weddings,” Father Manning continued. “It’s very amazing.”

Most of the building has been completed, with the flooring, ambo, painting and statues yet to be added.

“It looks like a church,” Father Manning explained, despite the remaining work to be done. “It looks very large from the outside. People thought it would be cavernous, but it’s actually more intimate inside.”

Of special importance has been the preservation of the steeple and front entrance of the old building. The original entrance of the church on Ward Avenue has remained in place – but the entire orientation of the church has changed, so the former entrance has become the back of the new structure. With this alteration, the congregation now faces east.

“The altar will actually be in the original part of the building,” said pastoral assistant, Lori LaPlante. This maintains the “continuity between the old and the new, having the Eucharist celebrated in the original part of the church.” She noted that the architect also paid particular attention to the other historic structures and churches in the neighborhood when designing the new Holy Cross Church.

“I’m pleased that the architect has respected the original church,” Father Manning affirmed. “It doesn’t feel like an alien space to (the parishioners). I think that people will feel very much at home in the new church.”

Two historic stained glass windows from the old sanctuary were donated by parish families when the original church was built. The sons of the donors were named Alphonsus and Anthony – so the windows were named for St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Anthony. The windows have been professionally restored and replaced in the new structure, now each in a confessional on the side of the penitent.

Other elements preserved and repurposed from the old church are the iconic stained glass St. Helena window – which will stay in place, in the choir loft – and the original pews. The latter have been moved to Holy Cross’ small chapel, which used to be part of the parish’s convent; the chapel has allowed visitors to worship the Blessed Sacrament reserved in its tabernacle during daytime hours all week, and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held on Wednesdays.

 “The chapel is attached to what is now the school,” LaPlante said. “The children use it for school Mass; it can seat about 60 people.”

The new church will also enjoy a brand new community room in the basement of the new church: a place for meetings, extra storage, babysitting during Masses and hospitality Sundays – a place that will “provide people an opportunity to get together and share about their week,” LaPlante confirmed. Additionally the parish grounds will include a prayer garden adjacent to the church for individual and group reflection, a stone fountain, new wood pergola and outdoor statues, as well as increased accessible parking.

Scozzari Builders, Inc., was responsible for the construction project, which required extensive stabilization of the original portion while building the remaining new church in place of the old. A capital campaign entitled “A Time to Build” has given parishioners the opportunity to contribute financially toward the venture.

Holy Cross Parish is located at 30 Ward Ave., Rumson. For more information about the construction and dedication, visit www.holycrossrumson.org.