After a year of celebrations, Saint James the Apostle Church ends its centennial year
The parish community of Saint James the Apostle Church in Springfield ended its centennial anniversary year in mid-September with a Mass, picnic, and school reunion.
Centennial Mass with Cardinal Tobin
Parishioners, civic leaders, prior pastors, and priests who served at Saint James the Apostle Parish at various points during its history gathered for a Centennial Mass on Saturday, Sept. 9, celebrated by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, and Auxilary Bishop Elias Richard Lorenzo, OSB. It was a joyful reunion as parishioners excitedly greeted the priests who had served at Saint James through the years, while the priests were happy to be warmly welcomed back.
Cardinal Tobin was generous with his words of gratitude for the work and witness of the parish within the Archdiocese of Newark. He greeted and engaged in conversations with parishioners and graciously participated in photo requests at the reception immediately after Mass.
The parish was also presented with a proclamation by the township recognizing and honoring the charitable work and steadfast presence of Saint James the Apostle Parish in the township of Springfield for the past 100 years.
The Mass was the capstone of the parish’s yearlong charge to “Remember our Past, Celebrate our Faith, and Lead the Way into the Future.”
Parish picnic and butterfly release
The weekend concluded with a parish picnic after the noon Mass on Sunday, Sept. 10, bringing together parishioners for a barbecue with games and dancing. An old-fashioned ice cream truck was a hit with all ages.
A highlight of the picnic was a release of live monarch butterflies, honoring past and current members of the parish family. As he blessed the butterflies, Father David C. Santos, pastor of Saint James, prayed that, “they be an inspiration and a reminder of the love that God shares with us, especially with the intentions that they represent.” Father Santos became pastor during the church’s centennial year.
As the parish family came together, it was grateful to have the opportunity to remember the men and women who worked to build the parish, to celebrate how living out the gift of faith has enriched this area of Union County and beyond, and to accept with joy the responsibility to lead Saint James the Apostle Parish boldly forward in faith into the future.
Saint James the Apostle School Reunion
Alumni and former faculty and administrators were welcomed to an alumni reception on Friday, Sept. 8, for all graduating years for Saint James the Apostle, which opened in 1952. A highlight was to have a member of the first graduating class together with students from the last year of the school, which closed in 2020. Also in attendance were alumni who traveled from Florida to present at the celebration.
All those connected to Saint James the Apostle School were able to reminisce about what the school meant to them as students and parishioners and how it shaped their friendships and future experiences.
Throughout the year, celebratory activities included a parish festival, a day of service, and a video series featuring interviews with Parishioners. Earlier in the year, the town celebrated the anniversary by naming South Springfield Avenue from Shunpike Road to Mountain Avenue “Saint James Way” in a special ceremony.
