St. Antoninus Church
337 South Orange Ave, Newark NJ 07103 (map) .
Phone : 973-623-0258. Email : [email protected]
337 South Orange Ave, Newark NJ 07103 (map) .
Phone : 973-623-0258. Email : [email protected]
FROM DOMINICAN ROOTS TO CHARISMATIC FIRE — 150 YEARS OF ST. ANTONINUS
DOMINICAN ERA (1875–1975)
January 24, 1875
Bishop Michael Corrigan of the then episcopal City of Newark, asked Dominican Father Stephen Byrne to establish a community of the Order in the city.
March 1875
With permission from Rome, Father Byrne at once selected a location for a new parish on the outskirts of Newark known as the “West End”. There he rented a three-story frame building that stood on Bank Street between South Eighth and South Ninth streets. He lived on the floor and turned the first floor into a church.
July 18, 1875
Father Byrne then purchased a large plot of land that extended from South Eighth to South Ninth streets on South Orange Avenue. He turned the wooden barn that was on the land into a little chapel and named it St. Antoninus after the great Dominican Archbishop of Florence.
On Sunday, July 18, 1875, Bishop Corrigan dedicated this little church to the Lord.
EXPANSION & CONSTRUCTION (1900–1940)
1905–1906
By the early 1900s, the parish outgrew its little chapel. Under Prior Father Thomas Louis Power, plans were made for a new rectory and church. The church became a house of prayer and devotion. Catholics came from all over Newark to hear sermons and to attend parish missions. The parish had about a hundred families and was one of the smallest and most scattered congregations in Newark.
1880s–1911
Second wooden church . As the community grew, a larger wooden structure replaced the first to accommodate the expanding parish family.
1911 — Ground was broken for a large French-Gothic style stone church under Father Heffernan. Due to cost, only the lower church (“the basement church”) was completed first and a temporary roof put over it.
May 12, 1912
Bishop John J. O’Connor laid the cornerstone.
October 6, 1912
The lower church was dedicated. It soon became renowned across the diocese for its “devotions and reverent holy hour."
Saint Antoninus Church became known as a church remarkable for its devotions, and its holy hour became a model for others to follow. Father Heffernan embellished the lower church and it became an exquisitely beautiful house of prayer.” (Archives)
1940
Our current Church on S. Orange Ave
The fruition of the plan to build the full or the “upper” French-Gothic style church took place in 1940. Archbishop Walsh dedicated the parish on September 21, 1940. About 1,500 parishioners witnessed the ceremony.
GOLDEN YEARS & TRIALS (1940–1975)
From the 1940s to the early 1960s, St. Antoninus thrived both spiritually and socially. Under pastors like Father A.B. Davidson and Father Vincent Raetz, novenas, parish missions, musical shows, and even “victory gardens” flourished. So many parishioners attended Sunday Mass that latecomers had to be directed to the lower church.
1958 — Father W.B. Sullivan built a new convent for the Sisters of Charity, who staffed the parish school.
1967 — Newark’s racial riots deeply affected the community. Demographic shifts led many parish families to move to the suburbs.
Despite ninety years of faithful service, the Sisters of Charity could no longer sustain the church school, and enrollment declined.
April 1975 — After exactly 100 years, the Dominican Fathers were reassigned and lended their Newark mission.
But God was not finished with St. Antoninus.
THE CHARISMATIC ERA AND DIOCESAN LEADERSHIP (1975–PRESENT)
Fr. James J. Ferry (1975–1989)
In June 1975, Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety gave permission to a young team of thirteen priests, sisters, laymen and women to take up residence at St. Antoninus. He assigned Father James J. Ferry as administrator and pastor until January 1989 when our Lord called him home
Fr Jim Ferry said in a talk in 1976 , one year after after he came to St Antoninus:
‘We start to be broken down, so that we can be formed into the people he wants us to be, and then to be fitted together, piece by piece.
A lot of us have plans for life. How are we gonna go?
But what God wants to do is to give us a better plan, guided by his Holy Spirit. This begins with a change of heart. The Lord wants us to be more and more flexible.
But he’s going to do something new in the structure of the church.
We came to a Parish that was dying, that was at its last breath, and the Lord God, after one year has given us the opportunity to see new life coming forth. I believe that we have not seen the church that Christ wants us to be “
Then later , Fr Jim wrote in December 1987:
“Twelve and a half years, many bodies and many arms having done God’s work…and now we can look from the shoulders of those who have gone before us to a future filled with confidence, here in beautiful downtown Newark. When we came here in June 1975, we came with a desire to have a Charismatic church in the inner city. This would allow us to develop the liturgy that is the expression of changed lives and equip us to service the people in the neighborhood. This has worked out well. We have a Spirit-filled worship every Sunday and people come from near and far, amazing us at the distances they will travel to find a church with a live worship…So many good things have happened at St. Antoninus since we have been here. Men's breakfasts, women’s breakfasts, the healing ministry, Life in the Spirit courses, Catholic Discovery programs, intercession groups, just to mention some of the recent happenings. We seek God's plan for the neighborhood and wait on the surprises of the Spirit! We look to the future with more and more people coming under the Lordship of Jesus."
Fr. Paul Lehman (1989–1999)
In January 1989, Father Paul Lehman became pastor. He remained pastor until August 1999. During his pastorate, St. Antoninus became a tithing parish, giving away ten percent of the weekly collection to Food for the Poor and other worthy causes. He also began the parish First-Friday Masses with all-night vigil before the Blessed Sacrament. He said,
"I know St. Antoninus will go on. There is a sense of something special here. We are concerned about helping people to experience the Lord– not just to know about him. We also teach the necessity of allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Father, while being open to ecumenical activities.”
In 1990, Father Paul spearheaded renovations of the church, bringing the altar forward and improving the sound and music systems. He also consecrated the church to the Blessed Mother.
Fr. Bill Halbing (1999–2012)
When Father Bill Halbing became pastor in 1999, he augmented the charismatic activities of the parish. A gifted and renowned Bible scholar and teacher, he began a dynamic Bible study on Tuesday evenings which continues today, Praise and Worship on Wednesdays (also ongoing), and a two hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays. He re-introduced parish missions that were so common during the Dominican days. The Saturday morning men's breakfast that began in 1987 continues to thrive.
Fr. Bill, who was a fiery speaker , was especially remembered for recurring phrases and passionate proclamations during his homilies and teachings. Such us: “You’ve got to know your Jesus personally!”
“The Word of God is alive! If you’re bored reading it — you’re not reading it in the Spirit!”
“Brothers and sisters — Wake up! We’re living in the Book of Acts!”
Fr. Joseph Meagher (2012–Present)
In 2012, Father Joseph Meagher, a previous parishioner going back to the days of Father Ferry, returned to Saint Antoninus and continues to be the current pastor. Under his guidance the parish continues the legacy of Fr Jim Ferry, Fr Paul Lehman & Fr Bill Halbing. Fr Joseph is a passionate priest with a contagious love for Jesus & our Blessed Mother, and is on fire with the Holy Spirit. He has opened the gates of the parish to the inner-city neighborhood, and has introduced daily Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel and Holy Hour before the 10am Sunday Mass. He has also made Eucharistic Adoration as part and parcel the different prayer weekly and monthly meetings held by the different ministries in the parish. A Charismatic Marian priest, Fr Joseph has initiated and supported Marian devotions, including a lively daily online Rosary.
All the pastors that have served in this parish, along with many of of parishioners from generation to generation, have poured out their lives in making the parish what it is today and by the continuous working of the Holy Spirit, what it will be tomorrow.
Ans os we continue to proclaim to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father! Allelluia!
DOMINICAN ERA (1875–1975)
January 24, 1875
Bishop Michael Corrigan of the then episcopal City of Newark, asked Dominican Father Stephen Byrne to establish a community of the Order in the city.
March 1875
With permission from Rome, Father Byrne at once selected a location for a new parish on the outskirts of Newark known as the “West End”. There he rented a three-story frame building that stood on Bank Street between South Eighth and South Ninth streets. He lived on the floor and turned the first floor into a church.
July 18, 1875
Father Byrne then purchased a large plot of land that extended from South Eighth to South Ninth streets on South Orange Avenue. He turned the wooden barn that was on the land into a little chapel and named it St. Antoninus after the great Dominican Archbishop of Florence.
On Sunday, July 18, 1875, Bishop Corrigan dedicated this little church to the Lord.
EXPANSION & CONSTRUCTION (1900–1940)
1905–1906
By the early 1900s, the parish outgrew its little chapel. Under Prior Father Thomas Louis Power, plans were made for a new rectory and church. The church became a house of prayer and devotion. Catholics came from all over Newark to hear sermons and to attend parish missions. The parish had about a hundred families and was one of the smallest and most scattered congregations in Newark.
1880s–1911
Second wooden church . As the community grew, a larger wooden structure replaced the first to accommodate the expanding parish family.
1911 — Ground was broken for a large French-Gothic style stone church under Father Heffernan. Due to cost, only the lower church (“the basement church”) was completed first and a temporary roof put over it.
May 12, 1912
Bishop John J. O’Connor laid the cornerstone.
October 6, 1912
The lower church was dedicated. It soon became renowned across the diocese for its “devotions and reverent holy hour."
Saint Antoninus Church became known as a church remarkable for its devotions, and its holy hour became a model for others to follow. Father Heffernan embellished the lower church and it became an exquisitely beautiful house of prayer.” (Archives)
1940
Our current Church on S. Orange Ave
The fruition of the plan to build the full or the “upper” French-Gothic style church took place in 1940. Archbishop Walsh dedicated the parish on September 21, 1940. About 1,500 parishioners witnessed the ceremony.
GOLDEN YEARS & TRIALS (1940–1975)
From the 1940s to the early 1960s, St. Antoninus thrived both spiritually and socially. Under pastors like Father A.B. Davidson and Father Vincent Raetz, novenas, parish missions, musical shows, and even “victory gardens” flourished. So many parishioners attended Sunday Mass that latecomers had to be directed to the lower church.
1958 — Father W.B. Sullivan built a new convent for the Sisters of Charity, who staffed the parish school.
1967 — Newark’s racial riots deeply affected the community. Demographic shifts led many parish families to move to the suburbs.
Despite ninety years of faithful service, the Sisters of Charity could no longer sustain the church school, and enrollment declined.
April 1975 — After exactly 100 years, the Dominican Fathers were reassigned and lended their Newark mission.
But God was not finished with St. Antoninus.
THE CHARISMATIC ERA AND DIOCESAN LEADERSHIP (1975–PRESENT)
Fr. James J. Ferry (1975–1989)
In June 1975, Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety gave permission to a young team of thirteen priests, sisters, laymen and women to take up residence at St. Antoninus. He assigned Father James J. Ferry as administrator and pastor until January 1989 when our Lord called him home
Fr Jim Ferry said in a talk in 1976 , one year after after he came to St Antoninus:
‘We start to be broken down, so that we can be formed into the people he wants us to be, and then to be fitted together, piece by piece.
A lot of us have plans for life. How are we gonna go?
But what God wants to do is to give us a better plan, guided by his Holy Spirit. This begins with a change of heart. The Lord wants us to be more and more flexible.
But he’s going to do something new in the structure of the church.
We came to a Parish that was dying, that was at its last breath, and the Lord God, after one year has given us the opportunity to see new life coming forth. I believe that we have not seen the church that Christ wants us to be “
Then later , Fr Jim wrote in December 1987:
“Twelve and a half years, many bodies and many arms having done God’s work…and now we can look from the shoulders of those who have gone before us to a future filled with confidence, here in beautiful downtown Newark. When we came here in June 1975, we came with a desire to have a Charismatic church in the inner city. This would allow us to develop the liturgy that is the expression of changed lives and equip us to service the people in the neighborhood. This has worked out well. We have a Spirit-filled worship every Sunday and people come from near and far, amazing us at the distances they will travel to find a church with a live worship…So many good things have happened at St. Antoninus since we have been here. Men's breakfasts, women’s breakfasts, the healing ministry, Life in the Spirit courses, Catholic Discovery programs, intercession groups, just to mention some of the recent happenings. We seek God's plan for the neighborhood and wait on the surprises of the Spirit! We look to the future with more and more people coming under the Lordship of Jesus."
Fr. Paul Lehman (1989–1999)
In January 1989, Father Paul Lehman became pastor. He remained pastor until August 1999. During his pastorate, St. Antoninus became a tithing parish, giving away ten percent of the weekly collection to Food for the Poor and other worthy causes. He also began the parish First-Friday Masses with all-night vigil before the Blessed Sacrament. He said,
"I know St. Antoninus will go on. There is a sense of something special here. We are concerned about helping people to experience the Lord– not just to know about him. We also teach the necessity of allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Father, while being open to ecumenical activities.”
In 1990, Father Paul spearheaded renovations of the church, bringing the altar forward and improving the sound and music systems. He also consecrated the church to the Blessed Mother.
Fr. Bill Halbing (1999–2012)
When Father Bill Halbing became pastor in 1999, he augmented the charismatic activities of the parish. A gifted and renowned Bible scholar and teacher, he began a dynamic Bible study on Tuesday evenings which continues today, Praise and Worship on Wednesdays (also ongoing), and a two hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays. He re-introduced parish missions that were so common during the Dominican days. The Saturday morning men's breakfast that began in 1987 continues to thrive.
Fr. Bill, who was a fiery speaker , was especially remembered for recurring phrases and passionate proclamations during his homilies and teachings. Such us: “You’ve got to know your Jesus personally!”
“The Word of God is alive! If you’re bored reading it — you’re not reading it in the Spirit!”
“Brothers and sisters — Wake up! We’re living in the Book of Acts!”
Fr. Joseph Meagher (2012–Present)
In 2012, Father Joseph Meagher, a previous parishioner going back to the days of Father Ferry, returned to Saint Antoninus and continues to be the current pastor. Under his guidance the parish continues the legacy of Fr Jim Ferry, Fr Paul Lehman & Fr Bill Halbing. Fr Joseph is a passionate priest with a contagious love for Jesus & our Blessed Mother, and is on fire with the Holy Spirit. He has opened the gates of the parish to the inner-city neighborhood, and has introduced daily Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel and Holy Hour before the 10am Sunday Mass. He has also made Eucharistic Adoration as part and parcel the different prayer weekly and monthly meetings held by the different ministries in the parish. A Charismatic Marian priest, Fr Joseph has initiated and supported Marian devotions, including a lively daily online Rosary.
All the pastors that have served in this parish, along with many of of parishioners from generation to generation, have poured out their lives in making the parish what it is today and by the continuous working of the Holy Spirit, what it will be tomorrow.
Ans os we continue to proclaim to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father! Allelluia!
Below, watch 2 videos show Fr Ferry in the early days of St Antoninus.
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