The festive gala sponsored by St. Joseph Parish, Trenton, in honor of Bishop John M. Smith and Annunciation Sister Maria Pena Oct. 23 in Infinity Lounge, Trenton, was more than just a party.

It was, on so many levels, a celebration of everyone who has devoted their energies to keeping the religious heart of a beleaguered section of the capital city beating with new life, energy and faithfulness.

It was also a celebration of the parish itself, refreshed and renewed by the efforts of the Latino community of 1,000 families, boasting a new complex of administrative offices, a beautiful, wide, new Guadalupe Chapel and new auditorium/gym where the community can gather for education and social events.

The upbeat atmosphere of the evening reflected those achievements. “Let me tell you this,” said Marino Posso, who helped organize the event, “at St. Joseph, people love the church because in so many ways, it is welcoming.

“It is a family oriented church where the people are all involved in helping the community, whether it is donating time to the organizations and events or singing in the choir or helping to raise money for the improvements, everyone is involved. It really is a beautiful community.”

His sentiments reflected those of the more than 350 parishioners, guests and members of the community at-large who gathered, as their pastor, Father Javier Diaz said, “as a family” to share the night with Bishop Smith and Sister Maria.

Of Bishop Smith, Father Diaz said, “thanks to him, we still exist as a living parish within our great Diocese of Trenton, which has seen and experienced his leadership for more than a decade.”

After the gala, Father Diaz talked about the fact that Bishop Smith stood by the parish “located in a very hot spot in the city of Trenton.” The bishop, he said, recognized the vital contribution of the immigrants arriving from Latin America and what role their faith could play in anchoring the neighborhood.

“This parish in this spot in Trenton is a sign of Gospel preaching. This parish is a sign of the living Christ in the midst of all that is happening around us,” Father Diaz said. “Bishop Smith has always supported us and shown his love to our community. We wanted to honor him.”

Honor was also due to Sister Maria who arrived in the parish with the support of Bishop Smith in 2005.

Sister Maria, an author of works including “Workshop of Sensibility for Parents” and “What is a School of Parents,” credits her work as a teacher in the areas of religious studies in the secondary levels in Colombia for forming her vocation and mission.

Her evangelization work in St. Joseph Parish includes directing the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults as well as assisting and coordinating numerous parish activities and group meetings. Further, she provides personal consultation to families and those involved in prison ministry.

Parishioner Marlene Lao-Collins, coordinator of religious education, who helped organize the gala, talked of the importance of the RCIA and all of the ministries and how they have helped the parish to grow.

Lao-Collins, who is also associate director of social concerns for the New Jersey Catholic Conference, said the recent renovations have also opened the parish up to more families. The hope is now that the old school building, formerly used by the Trenton Board of Education, and now refurbished, can add even more to the growth.

The parish hopes, she said, to rent the school out during the day which would add income and leave the building free for use on the weekends and in the evenings.

“It’s an exciting time around here,” Lao-Collins said. “Our youth group is growing, our ministries are growing. We have learned how to be a family and work together as a family,” said Lao-Collins, who has been a member of St. Joseph Parish since 1983.

The gala in honor of Bishop Smith and Sister Maria is proof of that, she said. “The overwhelming response of people to the evening was very heartwarming,” she said. “The family was there.”