Sights & Sounds: 175 years of faith at Saint John’s in Orange
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, celebrated a bilingual Mass on Oct. 4 marking the 175th anniversary of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Orange, NJ.
The Mass was concelebrated by Father George Faour, pastor; Father Aurelio López; and Father Joseph R. Laracy, with Deacon Jerry Romero assisting.
During his homily, Cardinal Tobin reflected on the day’s Gospel (Mt 21:33-43). Sometimes called the “Parable of the Wicked Tenants,” Jesus uses the image of a vineyard to speak about what is entrusted to God’s people.
Cardinal Tobin connected the parable to the parish’s 175 years, asking the congregation to consider the gifts it has received and its responsibility to pass them on to future generations.
Recognizing God’s gifts
“How does the parable of the ungrateful servant that we just heard shed light on this 175th anniversary of Saint John’s, the mother church of the Oranges?” Cardinal Tobin asked.
He said the parable reminds people not to see themselves as “self-made,” but to recognize that the good they have received comes from God. “So let us ask ourselves, on this anniversary, am I aware that I receive the gifts of life and faith?” he said.
Cardinal Tobin then compared the parish to the vineyard in the Gospel, pointing to the generations of parishioners who helped build and sustain Saint John’s over the past 175 years.
“The community of St. John’s Parish, all those women and men that came before us here, over the course of 175 years, who sacrificed and struggled to build this parish, now passed onto you the care of the vineyard,” he said. “God, Our Father, has given you everything, including this parish. But he expects good fruit from the vineyard.”
‘We’re a team’
The parish was founded in 1851. Construction of the present church began on June 24, 1866, under the direction of then-pastor Father Edward M. Hickey.
Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley, the first Bishop of Newark, blessed and laid the cornerstone that September. The church was designed by Newark architect Jeremiah O’Rourke and dedicated on Oct. 10, 1869.
Near the conclusion of the Mass, Father Faour thanked the parish’s lay faithful for their support throughout his years of ministry. “Yo no puedo existir sin ustedes,” Father Faour said. “I can’t exist without all the help that you’ve given me over these many years. This is what sustains me. We’re working together. Somos un equipo.”
Father Faour also asked parishioners to pray for him and Father López as they continue serving the parish.
The celebration concluded with the choir singing “O Santissima,” directed by Music Director Dr. Domecq Smith.
Click HERE to view more photos from the Mass.
Featured image: Saint John the Evangelist Church in Orange, NJ, celebrated its 175th anniversary on October 4, 2026, with a special Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark. (Photos by Shania Mosquera / Archdiocese of Newark)
