FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – The 15-year-old church that has served as the place of worship for the community of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Freehold Township was formally elevated to the status of a co-cathedral for the Diocese of Trenton during a Mass on Feb. 19.
The Diocese of Trenton is a community of more than 700,000 Catholics worshiping and ministering in 107 parishes across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to a press release.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell and included the signing and reading of the “acta” or decree, officially recognizing the elevation in the presence of invited church leaders. The event marked the final step in the process of being granted a co-cathedral, which was formally begun by O’Connell in April 2016.
A co-cathedral is a secondary worship site supplementing the mission and ministry of a diocese’s cathedral, or Mother Church. Fewer than 10 co-cathedrals in the United States have been approved by the Vatican, according to the press release.
The characteristic that best distinguishes a cathedral or co-cathedral is its cathedra, or official seat of the bishop, upon which the word “cathedral” is based.
The new seat that is being installed in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral is a reproduction of an 1880s cathedra out of Europe, and is composed of American Black Walnut, according to the press release.
According to the cathedra’s Mercer County-based craftsman, John Hans Martini, the wood was harvested from downed trees following a storm that struck the area.
St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral will support St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Trenton and different events will be held in one of the two locations depending on the specific needs present.
In a Dec. 28 message to the Diocese, O’Connell said the architecture and environment of St. Robert Bellarmine Church was notable. He said, “Although the building is a new construction, it contains many traditional elements that make the nave (worship space) and sanctuary warm and welcoming.”
The Bishop also acknowledged the exemplary cooperation the St. Robert community has consistently shown in facilitating numerous diocesan events.
The St. Robert Bellarmine Parish was established in 1971 and has grown in response to a burgeoning Catholic community in western Monmouth County. It now numbers more than 4,400 registered families, according to the press release.