St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish in West New York celebrated the 160th anniversary mass wit Cardinal Joseph Tobin on March 16th.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Addressing the hundreds of gathered faithful, Tobin said during the ceremony that it is fitting their church was named after St. Joseph because just as he protected Jesus, the parish has cared for Hudson County Catholics since 1863.
The cardinal later attended a reception honoring 13 longtime employees and parishioners, including a 91-year-old congregation member who still hosts parish activities.
“The celebration was a wonderful experience, and the entire anniversary year was a great opportunity to show everyone we’re a parish that’s very vibrant and alive,” Father Helber Victoria, St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish’s current pastor, said in a statement.
“Our 160th year is over now, but by the grace of God, we’ll continue to serve and welcome everyone for another 160 years.”
Auxiliary Bishop Gregory J. Studerus, who concelebrated the liturgy with Tobin, was also recognized for the 15 years he served as St. Joseph of the Palisades’ pastor.
Prior to the mass, St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish commemorated its anniversary by making numerous refurbishments to its convent, music room, kitchens, and other locations over the past year.
Additionally, an electronic sign and a statue of St. Michael was blessed by Tobin.
The community also gathered for two additional milestones: the 75th anniversary of the parish’s Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in North Bergen and the 150th anniversary of its school, the Academy of St. Joseph of the Palisades in West New York.
Boasting a population of approximately 5,000 parishioners spread across multiple communities, St. Joseph of the Palisades is one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark.
It is also the Archdiocese’s single-largest Hispanic parish, with more than 90 percent of its parishioners being Hispanic. For more information, click here.
