Parish History

Our Lady of the Angels Parish

In January 2004, the Diocese of Trenton began the Ward Study Program.  The demographics throughout the City of Trenton had changed dramatically.  More and more families had moved out to the suburbs.  Some stayed in the city parishes and returned weekly for services.  Many others joined parishes closer to home.  As a result of the year long study, the diocese merged some parishes and closed others because of declining membership and the shortage of priests. As a result it was decided to merge St. Joachim and Immaculate Conception and form a new parish under the name of Our Lady of the Angels Parish.  Father Jeffrey E. Lee was named pastor of the new parish. He was installed on July 31, 2005. A new chapter in the history of the people of Immaculate Conception had begun.

History of Immaculate Conception Church

1874 was a year of new beginnings. Some were amusing, some amazing, some exciting. Rugby football was introduced on American college campuses, the first public zoo was opened in Philadelphia, the first steel bridge arched over the Mississippi River. And for the first time, a cartoon elephant was used to represent the Republican party.

More radiant and inspiring was the beginning in Trenton that year. In the borough of Chambersburg, the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes was dedicated, a parish which was to grow into the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Trenton was a city born of commerce, not religion. It was named for William Trent, a sharp Scottish trader, who amassed a fortune in the eighteenth century import-export and supervised his ships sailing to and from the falls of the Delaware, from the mansion he built on its banks. After playing a starring role in the Revolutionary War, Trenton turned back to its concentration on money-making.

But, its prospering businesses had attracted varied people from diverse backgrounds. Some of them, of course, were Roman Catholics and enough were scattered throughout the Delaware Valley area to engage priests from Philadelphia to celebrate Mass on Sundays, first in a print shop, then in a private home in Trenton. By 1814, the first Roman Catholic Church in Trenton, called St. John's, was built at Market Street and Lamberton Street.

In 1866, St. Mary's Cathedral was built on the historic site of the Battle of Trenton, and St. Francis Church came in the same year. But, one of the great population shifts in history was changing the sight and sound of nineteenth century America. Great industrial empires like John A. Roebling Company were rising and casting their giant shadows. They needed workers and the word spread in the crowded towns of Europe. Trenton became a mecca for men and women, hungry for a new start in a faroff new world. The prize they came for was a steady job at a salary of nine to twelve dollars a week, for a twelve hour day. Lunch hours did not exist — a man ate from a pail brought by a son or daughter. Child labor was not frowned upon. And, though they had shown the courage and enterprise to leave all they had known and endure a rough voyage to seek the future in the bar r en rooms of Roebling's, they were willing to vote for the man for whom their bosses told them to vote. They poured in from Germany, Italy, Ireland, Poland and Greece — thousands of Catholics. The one part of their past they had never meant to abandon was their faith. Now they needed a Church. In response to a fervent appeal, a young Italian priest named Peter Jachetti was sent from Rome to survey the exploding community, and find appropriate ways to establish the ancient rock in the shifting sands of a developing culture. Father Jachetti, a Conventual Franciscan, was sent first to the predominately German St. Francis Church, but soon saw the need for more priests He was given permission to organize a seminary in the Borough of Chambersburg, where the flood of immigrants was surging around the growing factories. The seminary chapel was crowded from its first weeks with Catholics, to whom the Mass was blessedly familiar, though their neighbors' accents might not be.

From classical studies in Assisi, to ecclesiastical studies in Rome, to his arrival in Trenton in 1869, Father Jachetti had reached the year 1888 and the moment when a new parish was waiting to be dedicated. It had been only sixteen years since the miraculous appearance of Our Lady to Bernadette, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes seemed the right name for the time. The congregants of the seminary chapel, who formed the new parish joined Father Jachetti enthusiastically to make the church the center of the growing community.

In another dozen years, a beautiful Gothic church replaced the chapel. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception had been proclaimed only twenty years before, and it was the new name chosen for the parish in 1874.

By that time it had become a parent. It had originally been planned as a German church, but the immigrant swarms had made it multi-ethnic. As each ethnic group grew to suitable size, Father Jachetti had helped its members found their own parish, incorporating the ceremonies of the lands they had come from to America. St. Joachim's, Holy Cross, SS. Peter & Paul, St. Stanislaus, St. Mary's Greek Catholic and St. Stephen's are descendants of Immaculate Conception. Father Jachetti knew that to be a force in a community, a group of people must share beliefs, but must also create colorful events and traditions to provide rallying points. Part of his myth holds that he personally conceived the annual Columbus Day Parade, which still draws musicians.

For 125 years, the church has grown with the community. Leaders have graduated from its schools and athletes have emerged from its playing fields. In the days before television and other sources of entertainment, the church provided the center of activity and fun which included well performed plays and music. Today it still offers the same spirit, both in tune with innovation and rich in reflection.

In January 2004, the Diocese of Trenton began the Ward Study Program.  The demographics throughout the City of Trenton had changed dramatically.  More and more families had moved out to the suburbs.  Some stayed in the city parishes and returned weekly for services.  Many others joined parishes closer to home.  As a result of the year long study, the diocese merged some parishes and closed others because of declining membership and the shortage of priests. As a result it was decided to merge St. Joachim and Immaculate Conception and form a new parish under the name of Our Lady of the Angels Parish.  Father Jeffrey E. Lee was named pastor of the new parish. He was installed on July 31, 2005. A new chapter in the history of the people of Immaculate Conception had begun.

History of Saint Joachim Church

By the beginning of the 20th century, thousands of Italian immigrants were coming to America with the hope of a better future for themselves and their children. Many settled in Trenton finding work in the city's steel mills, rubber, and pottery factories. The Italians were Catholic by birth and tradition, but because of their religious customs, cultural differences, and their inability to speak English, they were not welcomed in the local territorial parish. In order to serve the spiritual, social, and cultural needs of these immigrants, the Most. Rev. James A. McFaul, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, established the Parish of St. Joachim in Trenton in 1901. The Rev. Aloysius Pozzi, an Italian priest who had come to the United States in 1897 to serve among the immigrants, was given the task of founding the first Italian parish in the Diocese of Trenton. 

Temporary services were held in Centennial Hall which was located on Hudson and Genesee Streets. On his first Sunday in Trenton, Father Pozzi offered Mass before a congregation of 1500 people. There was much enthusiasm when the new pastor announced his determination to build a new church within two years. Finally the Italians would have a church of their own where they could worship and keep alive the beloved traditions they had brought with them from Italy. After much effort and with the help of benefactors outside the parish, property was purchased on Butler St. and the cornerstone of the new St. Joachim Church was laid on August 15, 1903. The occasion was observed with a parade and colorful festivities in the presence of church and civic dignitaries and 7000 Italians. 

Father Pozzi, who was named a Monsignor In 1908, now turned his attention to building a parochial school. In 1910, at the request of Msgr. Pozzi, Pope Pius X sent 5 sisters of the Religious Teachers Filippini from Italy to staff the newly built St. Joachim School which already had 133 pupils enrolled. Over the years the school grew and at one point the enrollment reached more than 1000 students. St. Joachim's gave many of its sons and daughters to the priesthood and consecrated life. The school educated thousands of young women and men who today serve in every profession imaginable. Unfortunately, because of falling enrollment and changing demographics, St Joachim School was closed in 1999. 

In 1912 the Rev Edward C. Griffin succeeded Msgr. Pozzi as pastor. During his five year pastorate he opened Holy Family Mission in North Trenton to serve the 4000 Italians in that area. The priests of St. Joachim's served this mission until 1919 when it became an independent parish, the present-day St. James Church on East Paul Ave. A one year pastorate then followed with the Rev. Michael Dilelsi as pastor of St. Joachim's. 

The Rev Alfonso Palombi, who had been an assistant at St. Joachim's for seven years, was appointed pastor by Bishop Thomas E. Walsh in 1920. Under Father Palombi, several improvements were made to the church and school. The interior of the church was redecorated and oil paintings were added. In 1927 the facade was renovated and a vestibule added. In 1939 the church was again refurbished and a new pipe organ was installed. After a long illness Father Palombi died in 1941. His loss was felt by the entire Italian community of Trenton. 

In 1941 Bishop William E. Griffin appointed Rev Emilio A. Cardelia as the 5th pastor of St. Joachim's. For the next 40 years Father Cardelia served as pastor of the church where he had been baptized. He was the first vocation to the priesthood from the parish and as a dedicated priest, inspired many other young men of the parish to follow in his footsteps. 

During his pastorate many properties near the church and school were purchased and demolished to make room for a school playground and parking lot for the ever growing parish. There were over 35GO families and there was a need to alleviate the over-crowded conditions at Sunday Mass. In 1957 Father Cardelia built a new chapel beneath the upper church to accommodate more people. There were nine masses every Sunday. At this time the upper church was completely renovated with the addition of marble altars and marble wainscoting throughout. He commissioned the execution of a beautiful Boehm crucifix for the main altar, the only other copy of which was 
presented to Pope John xxiii and is now in the Vatican. Hand carved wooden statues from Italy together with new stained glass windows completed the newly restored edifice. A central air condition was also installed. 

While Father Cardelia was pastor, St Joachim's Choir became renowned throughout the area as did the annual Parish Fair which drew hundreds of people who came to enjoy the delicious Italian food. Father Cardelia was named a Monsignor in 1960 and retired in 1981 after having served his home parish for 40 years. He had truly become a legend in the annals of St. Joachim Church and Chambersburg. 

The Rev. James Sauchelli was appointed pastor of St. Joachim's in 1981 and served for nearly 15 years. In 1986 the church underwent another renovation and a new entrance with a ramp for the handicapped was added to the side of the building. Father Jim also started the construction of Our Lady's Grotto on the church grounds and involved many parishioners in the lay liturgical ministries. 

On March 10, 1996, the Rev. Thomas N. Gervasio, another native son of the parish was made pastor of St. Joachim's by Bishop John Reiss. Having been born and raised in the closely knit neighborhood surrounding the church, he was no stranger to St. Joachim's. The people welcomed him with open arms as one of their own became the new pastor. Upon his arrival Father Gervasio undertook the complete renovation of the rectory which was in dire need of repairs. He had the sanctuary repainted and the vestibule was completely refurbished. He also saw to the completion of the outdoor grotto. Although the number of Italian speaking parishioners had dwindled, he made every effort to instill pride in the Italian heritage of the parish. In 1997 Father Gervasio was named Monsignor and the entire parish celebrated, for once again a native son had been honored for his dedicated service to the church. Msgr. Gervasio started planning for the approaching 100th anniversary of the parish, but his pastorate was unexpectedly cut short after less than four years when Bishop John Smith appointed him pastor of St. Anthony Church in Trenton after the untimely death of Msgr. Joseph Ferrante in 1999. 

On December 20, 1999 the Rev. Jeffrey E. Lee, another young priest who was born and raised in St. Joachim's, became the eighth pastor of his home parish.  Once again the people rejoiced as Father Lee announced his plans for St. Joachim's.  He finalized the plans for the Centennial Celebration in 2001 and established a Committee for Temporal Affairs, the Stewardship Committee and a Patrimony Committee all of which involved core groups of parishioners in over-seeing the various plans and day to day operation of the parish. With the help of Pastoral Associate for Consolation Ministries, Sister Josephine Calo MPF, Father Lee encouraged and recruited many more parishioners to become lay liturgical ministers. He hired John Cunningham as Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and an outreach program to the Latino population moving into Chambersburg was begun.  In the Fall of 2002 a weekly Mass in Spanish was added with Father Javier Diaz, head of the Hispanic Apostolate for the Diocese of Trenton celebrating mass.

Father Lee wasted no time in improving the parish facilities. Upon his appointment as pastor, he immediately began the renovation of the lower church hall (formerly the chapel).  It was completely refurbished and air conditioned and quickly became the hub for the many social activities of the parish.  He then proceeded to completely restore the exterior of the church and then the interior.  New fluted columns and the carefully co-ordinated color scheme of the walls combined to make the church more beautiful than ever. In the improvement program the outside was not forgotten.  The parking lot was entirely regraded and repaved and much needed landscaping added. New doors were installed throughout the church and repairs made to the parish house.  The parish school which was closed in 1999 was leased for five years to the Trenton Board of Education and became known as the Robbins School Annex at Bayard St.

In October 2003, Edwin Sevillano became the new Parish Coordinator for Faith Formation replacing Joseph Cunningham.  Edwin immediately reached out to the Hispanic population and invited them to join the parish.  He has been instrumental in developing the faith formation program and overseeing the RCIA and Religious Education (formerly known as CCD) Programs.  Meanwhile the Diocese of Trenton began the Ward Study Program in January 2004.  The demographics throughout the City of Trenton had changed dramatically.  More and more families had moved out to the suburbs.  Some stayed in the city parishes and returned weekly for services.  Many others joined parishes closer to home.  As a result of the year long study, the diocese merged some parishes and closed others because of declining membership and the shortage of priests. As a result it was decided to merge St. Joachim and Immaculate Conception and form a new parish under the name of Our Lady of the Angels Parish.  Father Jeffrey E. Lee was named pastor of the new parish. He was installed on July 31, 2005. A new chapter in the history of the people of St. Joachim had begun.