Church’s growth cited
as need for expansion
By jane waterhouse
Staff Writer
RUMSON — A letter sent by the Rev. Joseph Hughes to a portion of the Holy Cross parish became a point of controversy at the July 9 zoning meeting.
The letter, dated June 19, reportedly targeted those families supportive of the proposed expansion, asking them to attend the meeting as "a personal favor to me." Hughes enclosed an attachment with a list of 12 suggested speaking points, which included the following:
• I feel the proposed plans are very necessary and very much needed for now and for the future.
• I am familiar with the expert testimony presented which made it very clear that the town of Rumson and the area around the school will not be negatively affected by the proposal; moreover, the building and parking involvement will have a very beneficial effect on the parishioners of Holy Cross and its neighbors.
• The children of Holy Cross have the right to a first-class school and facility.
• The school has not asked for a major improvement in 40 years. In the last five years Rumson, Fair Haven, Shrewsbury, Little Silver, and Middletown have all added improvements or classrooms to their facilities.
• Holy Cross church is 117 years old, and has not asked for additional seating in 117 years.
• I would like to attend Mass each Sunday and holiday in Holy Cross with my family — not in a gymnasium.
• I feel strongly that the addition to Holy Cross church is necessary and needed for the spiritual and family life of its parishioners.
• I ask the board to approve the application unanimously.
One woman who received the letter said she was "distressed and upset" by it. Other parishioners seemed more than happy to show their support for both the priest and the proposed add-on to their church.
Speaking of Hughes, a female parishioner said, "He took a place that was in distress and made it into a place of greatness."
When council President George Moss asked for a show of hands to see how many people were planning to voice an opinion, nearly everyone in the packed room raised hands.
Tom Reed, a longtime member of Holy Cross Church and a Rumson resident, said, "The application has been based on want, not need. Need has not been shown."
A fellow parishioner, Tom Duff, saw things differently, saying, "The church needs to grow as the community has grown."
The gamut of reasons against the plan ran from concerns about traffic, trees and drainage, to whether the expansion was worth "disturbing the ecosystem of the grass tennis courts." Those courts are part of the Sea Bright Lawn Tennis Club, next door to the school and which is actively objecting to the proposed expansion.
"Give us something to work with," said a supporter of the proposal. "Don’t just be in opposition."
Adriane Gullotta-Gsell said, "See how cramped and crowded this room is? That’s what it’s like to pray at Holy Cross."
Jean Cuje agreed. "Our parishioners deserve to attend worship in a real church and not a rinky-dink auditorium," she said.
"I’m just sad that the esteem of our parish has sunk so low," said John Conklin, "that we’re willing to offer up 50 percent of our historic, 117-year-old church to the bulldozer."
One thing that both sides seemed to agree upon was that the expansion plan has taken a heavy toll on everyone. One woman said, "Holy Cross may never recover from the division that’s taken place here."
The hearing was continued until the next meeting of the Zoning Board which is scheduled for Aug. 12. Supporters and objectors to the proposed application may address the board only once.