By David Karas | Correspondent

The community of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, anticipates marking the half-century anniversary of the faith community, which will be highlighted by a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

Bishop O’Connell will be the principal celebrant of a Mass of Thanksgiving at 2 p.m. Sept. 18. Joining Bishop O’Connell at the altar will be priests who currently serve in the parish, as well as former parish priests and those from neighboring parishes.

Later in the evening, the celebration will continue with a gala dinner held in Eagle Ridge Country Club, Lakewood, beginning at 5 p.m.

“It is a wonderful time in the life of St. Barnabas,” said Father Stanley P. Lukaszewski, pastor. “We are so grateful to our founding pastor, the priests, religious and faithful parishioners – who, with great wisdom, courage and determination, took an empty piece of land where the people of South Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach, Ocean Gate and Bayville could come worship and grow stronger in their faith commitment to God.”

The 50th anniversary will also be commemorated through the unearthing of a time capsule that had been buried in front of the church on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. A special unearthing ceremony will take place Sept. 17 after the 4 p.m. Mass, and the items inside of the capsule – including a current local newspaper, photos of the staff, programs for 25th anniversary activities, some coins with the year, and a copy of The Monitor from the time – will be displayed during the subsequent festivities.

The 50th anniversary celebration will continue after all Masses Sept. 25, during which time a video of the anniversary celebrations will be shown.

The events this month follow a large picnic to kick off the anniversary year last September, as well as a variety of other celebrations and gatherings.

“This is a perfect way to culminate the 50th anniversary as a parish family,” Father Lukaszewski said. “May our celebration today be not only one of thanksgiving, but may it be the incentive, the courage and the strength to inspire all of us today to continue the work of our forefathers.”

The founding of St. Barnabas Parish was prompted by the rapid growth of St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, and the recognition that a new faith community was warranted to serve Catholics in the region. The parish was established Sept. 27, 1966, and a parish complex, including a church, parish center and rectory on a 54-acre parcel, was completed in October 1969.

The Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, stationed in St. Joseph Parish, educated the parish children weekly from October 1969 through 1980. Sisters of St. Francis and lay volunteers have since continued the religious education program there.

In a recent interview, Father Lukaszewski remarked on the evolution of the parish community since its founding.

“The parish has grown, and grown tremendously,” he said, noting the some 6,200 registered families and more than 1,200 religious education students.

“The parish has really flourished and grown over the past 50 years, and hopefully will continue to grow. We are excited to celebrate what we have.”