SEA ISLE CITY — Bishop Joseph Galante traveled to Cape May County on April 18 to break ground at the site of the only new Catholic church currently under construction in the region. More than 500 parishioners and guests were in attendance as the bishop presided at Sunday morning Mass in the parish auditorium in Sea Isle City, where he praised and thanked God and all the parishioners who helped bring the new building project to fruition.
At the beginning of the Mass, a much-anticipated celebration that was in the planning stages for months, a Knights of Columbus Color Guard, comprised of Knights from across the county, led the entrance procession to the altar. In addition to Bishop Galante, the procession also included St. Joseph pastor Father Joseph Perreault and Deacon Liam O’Clisham. Also included were numerous visiting priests, including Msgr. William Quinn, Msgr. Thomas Fitzsimmons, Msgr. Joseph Joynes, Father James Locke and Father Frank Gramigna. Deacon Michael Carter also participated in the event.
A small group of parishioners carried special offertory gifts to the altar, including a small statue of St. Joseph and a ceremonial shovel. Those participating in the offertory procession were Parish Council President Kathleen (Dutch) Devlin, Parish Financial Council Member Thomas Henry, and two local students, Krista Iannone and Ben Jargowsky.
Father Perreault introduced Sen. Jeff Van Drew, who presented the parish with a Joint Legislative Resolution from the State Senate and General Assembly. Afterward, the Knights of Columbus Color Guard led the entire congregation one-block over to the site of the parish’s future 1,300-seat worship space, where the bishop offered more prayers before turning the soil with the ceremonial shovel and officially beginning construction of the community’s new church.
The parish’s existing church, a 19th-century gothic-style building that has long-been a major landmark in Sea Isle City, is next to the site of the planned church. The new church, which will be constructed by Stanker and Galetto Building Contractors of Vineland, will be connected to the old church with a passageway, effectively creating one large facility with two sanctuaries. Once completed in 2011, the new church will be the site of Sunday services, which means that Masses will no longer be held in the parish auditorium (a converted gymnasium). For decades, during the spring, summer and fall months, the parish has been forced to worship each weekend in the auditorium due to the large Catholic presence in town.
For additional information about Sea Isle City’s newest and largest church, phone 609-263-8696, or visit the Saint Joseph Church parish website, www.stjosephsic.org.