On Sunday, Dec. 18, Bishop Joseph A. Galante presided at a Mass of dedication for the new church at St. Joseph Parish in Sea Isle City.
Addressing the need for more worship space, the new church replaces the previous building on Landis Avenue.
St. Joseph Parish dates back to 1884, with the laying of the cornerstone on the first church, located on the northwest corner of 44th Street and Landis Avenue. In 1903, the church was moved to Landis Avenue.
The new church includes worship space for 1,200 people, and improved outdoor lighting and landscaping, and is physically connected with the old church, which will be used occasionally for events such as weddings and funerals.
Concelebrating the Mass of dedication were Father Joseph Perreault, pastor; Msgr. Thomas Fitzsimmons; Msgr. Russell Rock; Father Lewis Battisti; Father Frank Gramigna; Father Overton Jones; Father John Killeen; and Father James Locke.
The Mass included a blessing and sprinkling of the entire church and congregation with water as a sign of repentance and a reminder of their baptism, and to purify the walls and the altar of the church; anointing with oil, of the altar and walls; and the incensation, and lighting, of the altar and church.