Photos by James A. McBride
Msgr. Joseph DiMauro, center, celebrates Mass in honor of the 100th anniversary of St. Patrick Church, Woodbury. Also pictured are, from left Deacon Paul Parchinski; Father Thomas Capperella; Father Ken Hallahan, who was ordained at St. Patrick’s in 1975; Deacon David Murnane; and Father John Ekeocha. Below, Msgr. DiMauro blesses the old and new items to be placed in the cornerstone.
On Saturday, July 18, St. Patrick Parish in Woodbury celebrated the 100th anniversary of the church building.
Established as a parish in 1877, the current church’s cornerstone was laid in 1909, and the new church at Euclid and Cooper Street was dedicated in 1910.
Before the 4:30 p.m. anniversary Mass at the parish center, there were prayers, a reading of the history of the church, a removal of the 1909 cornerstone, and 2009 items added to the cornerstone, and a procession by the parish priests to the parish center.
The 1909 cornerstone included pictures of the old St. Patrick church, a British coin of 1796, silver 25-cent and 50-cent pieces, and a copy of the Gloucester County Times dated July 18, 1909.
The 2009 cornerstone includes 2009 currency, the American and papal flags, a current copy of the Catholic Star Herald, a copy of the current Gloucester County Times, a prayer card for the cornerstone ceremony, and a history of the parish.
The parish is currently preparing to merge with St. Matthew Parish, National Park and Most Holy Redeemer, Westville Grove to form a new parish.