Saints Joseph and Michael Parish in Union City celebrates
Bells rang, and music by the Union City High School student band filled Central Avenue last Sunday, Nov.6, at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the merging of Saint Joseph and Saint Michael parishes.
In 1982, the Parish of the Monastery of Saint Michael and the Parish of Saint Joseph were merged, becoming Saints Joseph and Michael Parish.
St. Joseph was founded in 1889 to accommodate the overflow from the huge Passionist St. Michael’s Monastery nearby. When the Passionists closed St. Michael’s in 1982, St. Joseph took on St. Michael’s name as well, according to Father Alexander Santora in an article about the parish For the Jersey Journal.
Gone was the northern Hudson County parish building that was influential for over 100 years. The Cathedral was the center of spirituality and home of formation for the community of the Passionist Fathers. The history of the city cannot be written without considering the significant contribution of the Monastery of Saint Michael Parish to the different waves of immigrants who settled there. “Veronica’s Veil” Lenten play was presented for 85 consecutive years at the parish. The musical animated the community and attracted thousands of people from near and far to witness this representation of the Lord’s passion during Lent.
While Italian immigrants who flocked to St. Michael’s and the German immigrants who founded of St. Joseph are mainly gone, Hispanics now find comfort in the merged parish.
With that great history behind them, the two parishes were united 40 years ago. And the community, encouraged by its parish priest, Father Aro Nathan, and his vicar, Father Fernando Echeverri, wanted to celebrate it with a solemn Mass presided over by the Archbishop, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin. Several priests concelebrated the Mass on Nov. 6, including three Passionists. Parishioners and visitors filled the church to overflowing. Enthusiastic voices rang out from the entire assembly, animated by four different musical groups in English and Spanish.
Everyone’s faces were radiant. The image of the flames that caused so much damage in the fire on the night of March 4, 2017, and the tears shed came to everyone’s mind. Also, they felt a great closeness that day from Cardinal Tobin, who later decided to rebuild it.
His warm words during the mass, particularly in the homily, sounded like gratitude for a past full of fruit and an invitation for the parish to continue being a missionary community reaching out to meet those who need it most.
At the end of the mass, Father Aro Nathan addressed the Cardinal on behalf of the entire community to thank him for his presence and support of the parish. It was the moment of several recognitions: to the Cardinal himself, to the Passionist Fathers present, and to two parishioners who have distinguished themselves for their service to it in these four decades. The representation of the civil and educational authorities of the city was also appreciated, recognizing their continuous collaboration with the parish.
After the mass, all participated in a meal prepared in the parish school gymnasium. A Mariachi band animated the party with their songs. Sitting at the same table were those who have called this parish home for many decades and those who arrived recently, celebrating the past and looking to the future. And new faces continue to arrive every day.
Photos by Sharon Giraldo
Saints Joseph and Michael Parish
314 Central Ave.
Union City, New Jersey 07087
Phone: (201) 865-2325
Email: Stsjmuc@gmail.com
Website: http://www.ssjmnj.org/
Mass Times
Saturday Vigil / Misas del Sabado
4:00 pm – Bella Vista (Bilingual)
5:30 pm – (English)
7:00 pm – (Espanol)
8:00 pm – Neo-Catechumenate
Sunday / Domingo
9:30 am – (English)
11:00 am – (Espanol)
12:30 pm – (Espanol)
Daily Masses / Misas Diarias
Monday to Friday: 8:30 am (Eng.)
Monday to Friday: 7:00 pm (Esp.)
Confession / Confessiones:
Saturday / Sabado: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
