LAWRENCE: Bishop helps St. Ann’s celebrate its 75th

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   The storm clouds of war were gathering over Europe, the United States was continuing to struggle under the Great Depression, aviator Amelia Earheart disappeared, and actors Bill Cosby and Jack Nicholson were born.
   A new house cost $4,000, a loaf of bread was 9 cents, the average annual salary was $1,780 and gasoline cost 10 cents a gallon.
   Yes, 1937 was quite a year — and in the middle of it all, the Church of St. Ann was born, said Bishop David M. O’Connell.
   Bishop O’Connell of the Diocese of Trenton was on hand Sunday to help the parish celebrate its 75th anniversary at a festive Mass. The Church of St. Ann, which is located on Lawrence Road in the Eldridge Park section of the township, was founded in July 1937. It counts nearly 2,700 families as parishioners today.
   Catholics who lived in Lawrence Township in the late 19th century worshiped in private homes until a trolley line connecting Lawrence and Trenton made it possible for them to travel to St. Mary’s Cathedral or St. Joseph’s Church. Those who could not afford the fare would walk to Trenton.
   When Morris Hall for the Aged was established in 1905, Catholics would worship there. The Rev. Michael McCorristin, who was the chaplain at Morris Hall, realized that the growing Catholic community needed its own parish and in 1937, Bishop Moses Kiley created the parish of St. Ann. Its first pastor was Father McCorristin.
   Work began on the new church immediately, and it was dedicated in June 1938. By that time, the number of families who belonged to the parish exceeded 400. But the church burned in 1982. Services were held at St. Ann School, until the church could be re-built. The cornerstone of the new church was laid by Bishop John Reiss in 1986.
   Sunday afternoon’s festive Mass to celebrate the 75th anniversary began when the Knights of Columbus Council 7000 led the procession into the sanctuary. They were followed by the altar boys and altar girls, several priests, and then Bishop O’Connell. The bishop congratulated the parish “in the name of the diocese” on its “wonderful anniversary.”
   Bishop O’Connell also acknowledged the founding members who were present, including Mr. and Mrs. Charles Connell and Virginia Belviso, whose father — Dominic Chiacchio — was the general contractor who oversaw the construction of the first church in the 1930s.
   ”There is something about this church. When you walk in here, it is not only a building, it is not only a church, but a place where you feel you are in touch with God,” Bishop O’Connell said. There is a feeling of energy, “which doesn’t happen in every single church,” he said.
   Anniversaries are milestones, and they present an opportunity for a parish to remember and celebrate, Bishop O’Connell said. It is a celebration of family and of a community living out its faith. This anniversary represents 75 years of (fulfilling) the sacraments — of bringing new life into the world, marrying into new life and of handing lives back to God, he said.
   ”That’s what the Church of St. Ann is celebrating. It is a living, active, vibrant community of faith,” Bishop O’Connell said, adding that a parish — such as this one — grows when there is a hunger by Catholics for it.
   And despite the challenges of the past few years, such as the sexual abuse scandals and assertions that the church is out of touch, “our faith is one, it is holy and it is catholic. The milestone we are celebrating is 75 years of living faith — of a living, breathing, believing Church of St. Ann,” Bishop O’Connell said.
   The bishop wrapped up his remarks by noting that he was delighted to help the parish celebrate its anniversary. He said he was “filled with joy” to be with the parishioners, noting that in the Olympics of pastors, Monsignor F. Vincent Gartland “gets the gold.” The monsignor has been the pastor of the Church of St. Ann since 1995.
   Then, Bishop O’Connell and the priests — the Rev. John Chang, the Rev. Vladimir Chripko, Monsignor John Dermond, Monsignor Gartland, Monsignor Casimir Ladzinski, the Rev. Lazlo Rauch, Monsignor Hugh Ronan, Monsignor Joseph Rosie and the Rev. Scott Shaffer —filed out of the sanctuary.