WOODBURY — A ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of St. Patrick Church is set for tomorrow, July 18, with the opening of the building’s cornerstone.
“The original church building was some five blocks away but the congregation outgrew it,” said Beth Barry, chairwoman of the anniversary committee. “Our current church on Cooper Street was dedicated on July 18, 1909.”
Those attending the celebration will meet in the church at 3:45 p.m. Invited clergy will join Msgr. Joseph DiMauro, pastor, along with priests who have served at St. Patrick in the past.
“The committee will meet with everyone in the church,” said Barry. “There will be prayers and the history of the church will be read. Outside, the cornerstone will be opened and the items inside inspected.”
The cornerstone, laid during the time of Pope Pius X contains, among other items, pictures of the old St. Patrick church, a British coin of 1796, 10 silver 25-cent and 50-cent pieces, a copy of the U.S. Constitution, and a copy of the Gloucester County Times for July 18, 1909.
Before the cornerstone is closed members of the committee will put into it some 2009 currency, the American and papal flags, a copy each of the current Catholic Star Herald and the Gloucester County Times, a church bulletin, a prayer card made for the cornerstone ceremony, and a history of the parish, among other items.
A Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. with a full choir and guest musicians. There will be an offertory procession featuring the longest-living baptized person and the youngest, the longest-living married couple in the parish and a newly-married couple.
Barry said the homilist will be Father Kenneth Hallahan, who, in 1975, was ordained at St. Patrick and is the only priest ever to be ordained there. Father Hallahan currently serves as pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Camden.
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