Cranford parish celebrates 150th anniversary with year of festivities

St. Michael Church in Cranford commemorated its 150th anniversary with a yearlong celebration featuring multiple events, a surge of community spirit, and a visit from Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark.

The festivities kicked off with a Day of Service on Oct. 2, 2021, that saw St. Michael’s parishioners plant a tree in recognition of the parish’s deep roots in Cranford. The parish then held a series of gatherings — including a Block Party Barbeque, a History Walk/Pub Trivia Night, a Gala, and the dedication of a Memorial Rock Garden — over the following months as a way of uniting its community while honoring its legacy.

As the sesquicentennial year neared its end, St. Michael Church resurrected its beloved Feast of St. Michael carnival following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cardinal Tobin then visited a few weeks later to close out the anniversary celebration, presiding over an October 22 Mass in which he urged those gathered to listen to God and each other as St. Michael’s enters its next 150 years.

“It was good to walk with parishioners and learn about our parish’s history,” said Monsignor Timothy J. Shugrue, pastor of St. Michael Church. “Over the past year, we’ve been gathering energy as we reflected on where we’ve been and what we are. Now we’re going to use that energy to power what we will be in the future.”

Much is planned for St. Michael Church moving forward. According to Monsignor Shugrue, the parish will soon collect feedback from parishioners regarding what changes they would like to see at St. Michael’s. Those insights will be used to create a pastoral plan to guide the parish into the future.

To learn more about St. Michael Church, visit www.stmichaelcranford.org.

Photos courtesy of St. Michael Church

*St. Michael Church’s 150th Anniversary Gala attracted approximately 160 people*.

Featured image: Monsignor Timothy J. Shugrue (standing center) and a team of parish community members plant a tree in honor of the 150th anniversary of St. Michael Church in Cranford during a Day of Service on October 2, 2021. (Photo courtesy of St. Michael Church)