Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church and Jesus the Lord Roman Catholic Church officially merged under one parish, Our Lady of Fatima, on July 1 during a morning sermon that was held at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Keyport.
Both churches plan to remain open for worship under their original campus titles, but will operate under a single parish, according to a press release.
According to the statement, “This celebration is the culmination of an entire year of hard work to bring together these two Catholic communities. The merging of the parish was part of the ‘Faith in Our Future’ pastoral planning initiative by the Diocese of Trenton that was launched in 2015. We are very much looking forward to integrating the communities and serving a larger group through shared services, ministries and resources.”
Diego Goez, business manager of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, described “Faith in Our Future” as a long-term plan for the diocese. Goez said the merger was one of multiple church mergers that were outlined in the document. The plan addressed what Goez said are directions to help better serve members of Roman Catholic congregations.
Bishop David Michael O’Connell of the Diocese of Trenton oversaw the decree that officiated the merger. O’Connell outlined the appropriate causes for the churches coming together under one parish in the formal doctrine, according to the press release.
In the official decree, O’Connell said the religious sectors will merge under one parish in order to better serve the population of Hispanic Catholics in Keyport and surrounding communities.
Goez said, “A study was conducted a few years ago to see what should be done with all the churches in the Bayshore area of Monmouth County. No one ever wants a church to close, so merging is the direction to be taken as we have a decline in vocations to the priesthood, and finances can be tight for any parish. It was decided that St. Joseph and Jesus the Lord would merge, having one pastor of the two campuses, building the Hispanic ministry and strengthening the presence of the Gospel in Keyport.”
Goez said the process required the reworking of mass schedules, decisions regarding where to hold church meetings, and the joining of liturgical ministries.
The pastor and the parochial vicar, Goez said, evaluated new ways to serve parishioners and their spiritual needs.
“Many meetings took place … With any change, sadness or anger can come, but we slowly saw the move to excitement and joy as this dream was coming to life,” Goez said.
Goez said the new name for the parish, Our Lady of Fatima, was chosen after parishioners from Saint Joseph’s and Jesus the Lord submitted suggestions as to what they believed would be most appropriate to represent both congregations.
“The participation from the parishioners was overwhelming and gave us a chance to come together as a family in Christ to be part of the merger,” Goez said.
The sermon that commenced the joining of the churches, held on July 1, was the first bilingual mass that was held as a united parish, Goez said. A shrine honoring Our Lady of Fatima was introduced and blessed before the congregation at Saint Joseph’s Church, which is located on Maple Place.
“We pray through Mary our Mother, that the merger will enrich, enliven the spirit, and help us grow to what we all see the future of the parish to be,” Goez said.