Since then, generations have passed through its great bronze doors to celebrate the Sacraments as well as the joys, hopes and sorrows of the Catholic community.

PHOTO GALLERY: Final Mass at Holy Spirit Church, Asbury Park

On June 6, hundreds of faithful shared emotions and memories as they gathered for the closing Mass of the venerable church which, in 2014, had become one of two worship sites of Mother of Mercy Parish as part of a merger.

Late last year, Divine Word Father Miguel Virella, pastor, announced that Holy Spirit Church would need to close and explained some of the reasons behind the decision, including what he called “very serious financial challenges.”

“The parish must deal with the costly impact of aging buildings, old machinery and equipment, underground oil tanks, rising insurance rates, the loss of rental income and, most unfortunately, decreasing Mass attendance and offertory gifts,” he said at the time.   

Among those present for the Farewell Mass was Marjorie Penrod, whose great-grandmother, Elizabeth O’Connor, donated the marble for the three altars in 1912 and was a strong financial supporter of Holy Spirit School. Just after the Mass, Penrod’s eyes grew misty as she recalled how the family remained linked to the church throughout the decades.

“It was the centerpiece of their community life and family life,” she said. “My parents were married there. The babies were baptized there and made their First Communions there. Life revolved around the church.”

The Holy Spirit community was particularly special, she said. “It was always just ‘The Church,’ and everyone loved it. No matter who you were, you were always welcome at Holy Spirit. The community has changed over the decades, but that welcoming tradition was always there for you.”

The Mass, which included a procession of those who had volunteered over the years, was celebrated on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Father Virella and Father Jerome Nolan, a retired priest of the Diocese who served as Holy Spirit’s pastor from 1986 to 1992, were among the concelebrating priests.

In his homily, Father Virella drew from the Reading of Exodus, which recounts how Moses challenged the Israelites to do as the Lord asked them.

“Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate this feast, it reminds me of the 40- year search for the Promised Land; the encampments, the obstacles and the challenges they had to go through. The great sacrifices they had to make. Something important made them strong … though the journey was difficult.”

“It reminds us of our own journey,” which began when Holy Spirit Church formed 128 years ago. The journey will continue, he assured, “only the building will cease to be.” The care and love of the church will continue with God’s help, he said. “Today more than ever, we honor this journey.”

It’s been an ongoing journey, he said, one of many changing demographics and needs that resulted in mergers and now the church’s closing.

“We have asked the Lord to give us wisdom” in discerning what was “best for the parish as a whole. Some people were very disappointed. Some were hurt. But we had to consider the options,” said Father Virella.

“Letting go is very difficult,” he said. “As we celebrate this last Mass here, we must continue the journey. I want everybody to continue on at Mother of Mercy. Continue to pray with one another – that gives us hope. Look for the light.”

The service drew to a poignant close with parish trustees Tom Sobieszczyk and Lydia Okunseinde reading a litany of all of the ministries and programs that had enhanced parish life over the decades and finally, the ritual extinguishing of the altar candles and altar cloths and removal of the Holy Eucharist from the tabernacle.