Parishioners continuing centennial celebrations in wake of church fire
An April 4 fire that left its church partially damaged is not stopping Verona’s Our Lady of the Lake Parish (OLL) from honoring its 100th anniversary, with clergy and parishioners banding together to continue their months-long celebration that began last year.
The centennial festivities kicked off with a commemorative Mass on OLL’s actual anniversary date, Sept. 16, 2023. A few months later, the parish community gathered for a Christmas celebration that culminated in a remarkable spectacle — the sight of the church, school, parish center, and rectory buildings illuminated with holiday lights. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, then visited on Palm Sunday, leading a Mass that attracted about twice the number of people than normal for a noon weekend liturgy.
Perhaps the most sentimental occasion of the anniversary year thus far was OLL’s centennial gala, which took place March 21 at The Grove in Cedar Grove. Approximately 200 community members past and present united to enjoy an evening of reminiscence and delectable food. The parish also recognized the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, who have served Our Lady of the Lake School off-and-on for a combined 75 years since its 1924 founding. One 92-year-old sister in attendance even stated that she was inspired to enter religious life after learning from the Dominican Sisters as an OLL student in the 1930s.
“It was good seeing old faces mingling with new parishioners,” said Father Peter G. Wehrle, Our Lady of the Lake Parish’s pastor, who accepted a commendation acknowledging OLL’s 100th anniversary from Verona Mayor Christopher Tamburro on Feb. 26. “Everyone had a smile on their face. And that’s the goal of these anniversary events — we’re fun-raising instead of fundraising. We want to bring people together and enjoy each other’s company. We’re all a family.”
OLL’s centennial celebration will continue with a May 13 golf outing at West Orange’s Francis A. Byrne Golf Course. It will conclude with a June 23 picnic on the parish grounds, with many of the parish’s 2,800 registered families expected to attend. For more information on Our Lady of the Lake Parish — which is hoping to reopen its church before April’s end — visit www.ollverona.org.
Featured image: Father Peter G. Wehrle, pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Verona (center), received a commendation from Verona Mayor Christopher Tamburro (next to him) during a Verona Township Council meeting on February 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Township of Verona)
