Sharing, Caring, Belonging
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
The culmination of a three-year long observance marking the 50th anniversary of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, took place Sept. 25 when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving.
Before a congregation that filled the church, Bishop O’Connell offered words of congratulations to the parish community on its golden jubilee. He said that a parish anniversary is more than just about celebrating a date or the existence of a building; it is about celebrating “the building of a community, the building of a parish, the building of a family.
Click HERE for a gallery of photos.
Click HERE for parish history.
“This golden jubilee is a wonderful celebration of the continuing fulfillment of your mission to spread the ministry of Jesus Christ to love God and love one another.”
An anniversary is the “story about a life lived” and this anniversary is a story about a life lived in Christ,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“It should come as no surprise to anyone that the parish family of St. Charles Borromeo is first and foremost, a faith-filled community,” said Father PJ Alindogan, who concelebrated the Mass.
“Our goals as a parish faith community have always been linked to the acronym of our parish name, St. Charles Borromeo (SCB) – sharing, caring and belonging. It has been so over the past 50 years and, God willing, we will continue that heritage into the future.”
Faith, Hope and Love
The anniversary Mass and dinner that followed were but one of a slate of activities that the parish had hosted over the course of three years, each of which had been designated with special anniversary themes of Faith, Hope and Love.
Among the events held were pilgrimages hosted to shrines in Philadelphia, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.; overseas pilgrimages to the Holy Land, the Marian shrines of Fatima in Portugal and Lourdes in France, and in other European countries, and a trip to Rome with stops at the Vatican and other notable cathedrals and religious sites.
The parish also commemorated the golden jubilee by publishing a commemorative book hosting monthly reflections, musical and ethnic events.
Giving an overview of parish life at St. Charles Borromeo, Father Alindogan, along with Frank Dolan, trustee, and Gail McFadden, liturgical coordinator, said that there are about 2,100 registered parishioners, and all three took great pride in telling of the large number – some 700 – parishioners who are active in the parish’s many ministries and organizations.
“It’s been wonderful to watch over the years,” said McFadden, a member of the parish since 1967. “This parish is the best now than it has ever been; the spirit is alive, and the sense of community is very strong.”
Golden Memories
Like McFadden, parishioners reflected on how meaningful it was for them to see their parish mark its golden jubilee.
As they headed out following the anniversary Mass, Camille and Edward Brill, who have been with St. Charles Borromeo “from the beginning,” proudly shared a host of special parish memories.
The couple, who live next door to the rectory, which is about a half-mile away from the church, noted that their six children all attended the parish School, and that their son, Christopher, was one of the first two babies to be baptized in the parish in October, 1961.
Camille Brill ,who had served as the parish organist and pianist for 40 years, also remembered that prior to when the church was built, playing the piano for the Masses that were celebrated in the chapel that was created in the rectory garage.
“It’s been very moving” to see St. Charles celebrate its 50th anniversary, Brill said.
Dolan, who, along with being a parish trustee is involved in numerous ministries, recalled making a job-related move from Philadelphia to Cinnaminson in the late 1960s. “I learned about St. Charles through a co-worker,” Dolan said, “and he wasn’t even Catholic!”
“But he was so impressed with the parish, even back then, he thought my family and I would be happy at the parish and he was right.”
After all these years, “I see St. Charles Borromeo Parish as my family,” Dolan said.
“Everything that I could want spiritually, fraternally, socially, is right here,” Dolan said. “This is my home.”
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The culmination of a three-year long observance marking the 50th anniversary of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, took place Sept. 25 when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving.
Before a congregation that filled the church, Bishop O’Connell offered words of congratulations to the parish community on its golden jubilee. He said that a parish anniversary is more than just about celebrating a date or the existence of a building; it is about celebrating “the building of a community, the building of a parish, the building of a family.
Click HERE for a gallery of photos.
Click HERE for parish history.
“This golden jubilee is a wonderful celebration of the continuing fulfillment of your mission to spread the ministry of Jesus Christ to love God and love one another.”
An anniversary is the “story about a life lived” and this anniversary is a story about a life lived in Christ,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“It should come as no surprise to anyone that the parish family of St. Charles Borromeo is first and foremost, a faith-filled community,” said Father PJ Alindogan, who concelebrated the Mass.
“Our goals as a parish faith community have always been linked to the acronym of our parish name, St. Charles Borromeo (SCB) – sharing, caring and belonging. It has been so over the past 50 years and, God willing, we will continue that heritage into the future.”
Faith, Hope and Love
The anniversary Mass and dinner that followed were but one of a slate of activities that the parish had hosted over the course of three years, each of which had been designated with special anniversary themes of Faith, Hope and Love.
Among the events held were pilgrimages hosted to shrines in Philadelphia, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.; overseas pilgrimages to the Holy Land, the Marian shrines of Fatima in Portugal and Lourdes in France, and in other European countries, and a trip to Rome with stops at the Vatican and other notable cathedrals and religious sites.
The parish also commemorated the golden jubilee by publishing a commemorative book hosting monthly reflections, musical and ethnic events.
Giving an overview of parish life at St. Charles Borromeo, Father Alindogan, along with Frank Dolan, trustee, and Gail McFadden, liturgical coordinator, said that there are about 2,100 registered parishioners, and all three took great pride in telling of the large number – some 700 – parishioners who are active in the parish’s many ministries and organizations.
“It’s been wonderful to watch over the years,” said McFadden, a member of the parish since 1967. “This parish is the best now than it has ever been; the spirit is alive, and the sense of community is very strong.”
Golden Memories
Like McFadden, parishioners reflected on how meaningful it was for them to see their parish mark its golden jubilee.
As they headed out following the anniversary Mass, Camille and Edward Brill, who have been with St. Charles Borromeo “from the beginning,” proudly shared a host of special parish memories.
The couple, who live next door to the rectory, which is about a half-mile away from the church, noted that their six children all attended the parish School, and that their son, Christopher, was one of the first two babies to be baptized in the parish in October, 1961.
Camille Brill ,who had served as the parish organist and pianist for 40 years, also remembered that prior to when the church was built, playing the piano for the Masses that were celebrated in the chapel that was created in the rectory garage.
“It’s been very moving” to see St. Charles celebrate its 50th anniversary, Brill said.
Dolan, who, along with being a parish trustee is involved in numerous ministries, recalled making a job-related move from Philadelphia to Cinnaminson in the late 1960s. “I learned about St. Charles through a co-worker,” Dolan said, “and he wasn’t even Catholic!”
“But he was so impressed with the parish, even back then, he thought my family and I would be happy at the parish and he was right.”
After all these years, “I see St. Charles Borromeo Parish as my family,” Dolan said.
“Everything that I could want spiritually, fraternally, socially, is right here,” Dolan said. “This is my home.”
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