Sprinkling holy water on the new church doors, Bishop Dennis Sullivan visited Saint Joachim Parish, Bellmawr, Dec. 5 and “blessed the doors to the father,” said parish pastor Father Piotr Szamocki.
After celebrating Mass, the Bishop prayed over the church’s newest additions – two side doors and two vestibule doors made of aluminum and glass, replacing the old ones that were more than 50 years old. The upgrades were made possible with funds from Catholic Strong, the Diocese’s fundraising campaign. Adding to the spirit of unity: the two stained-glass windows embedded in the vestibule door frames – showcasing Saints Frances Xavier Cabrini and Thomas More – were taken from the former Saint Maurice Parish in Brooklawn.
In 2011, Saint Maurice was merged with the parishes of Annunciation (the site of Saint Joachim) and Saint Anne (Westville) to form the Saint Joachim Catholic community. The new additions, Father Szamocki said, will better allow the church to further its mission to open wide the doors to Christ to all. (Photos by Dave Hernandez)