Parish Name: The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light
Location: Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Founded: 2009 as a result of a merger of St. Peter Celestine and Queen of Heaven (each founded in 1962)
Diocese: Camden
Pastor: Rev. Thomas Newton
Number of Parishioners: More than 3,500 families
Parish website: www.christourlight.net
What makes your parish different from other parishes?
At Christ Our Light, all are welcome. It is an intentional community, with parishioners coming from far and wide. Christ Our Light staff members are all professionals, with years and years of experience in ministry. Parishioners participate in more than 60 different ministries, and when a need arises, new efforts begin. Four full-time pastoral associates provide guidance and lay leadership for the community alongside the clergy. Our parish faith community has a deep commitment to justice and social action which flows from our shared experience of celebrating the Eucharist together. Our vibrant and dynamic liturgies involve the entire community, led by our outstanding music ministry and more than 200 liturgical ministers.
What’s the most distinguishing characteristic of your church building?
The church was unusually large for its era with seating for more than 1,000 people. Great care was taken to use items from both churches that were suppressed to create our new community five years ago. A recent renovation created a beautiful, contemporary space for worship with an inviting, accessible sanctuary, state-of-the-art sound system, and pew design which gathers us all together. Our stations of the cross, created by a parishioner, were entirely made from materials found on the farm that existed on the land before it became church property, including wood, wire, nails, and cloth. Our Welcome and Information desk, staffed after weekend Masses by the Welcome committee, hosts information about upcoming events and ministries. It provides an easy way to register with the parish.
Who is your most interesting parishioner, and what makes them so interesting?
Our parish draws together people of many backgrounds and interests. Pete Cote is a retired FEMA regional administrator, and his wife, Jan, is a retired teacher. They are involved with JustFaith, the Cherry Hill Food Pantry, Cathedral Kitchen, the Diocesan Immigration Reform task force, and the Diocesan Refugee resettlement program. Dr. Michael Gomez is the principal of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, and is dedicated to serving the educational needs of underprivileged teens. Michael and Genevieve Jordan Laskey are active in the Young Adult Ministry, are authors and bloggers, and work tirelessly to raise awareness of the connection between justice and spirituality.
What’s the most popular event, ministry, or holiday tradition at your parish?
Our sandwich making ministry, just beginning its third year, has made almost 25,000 sandwiches for agencies serving those experiencing homelessness in Camden six miles away. The ministry attracts families, seniors, and youth alike to provide a meal for those who are hungry. The Misa de Gallo, a novena with roots in the Philippino tradition, draws hundreds of people each morning for Mass at 5:30 a.m. on the nine days leading to Christmas Day. Following Mass each morning, a veritable feast is shared for breakfast, with many traditional Philippino dishes served. Mitzvah Day, held each autumn, is a parish-wide day of service, when hundreds of parishioners of all ages participate in service projects throughout the area.
If we asked parishioners what they love most about the parish, what would they say?
They would say they love being part of this parish, that they love each other and our outstanding staff. People who come here find a welcoming attitude and a genuine, sincere sense of acceptance for who they are, no matter where they are coming from. People say they love the music, which is outstanding, with three different music choirs/ensembles, a children’s choir, and almost a dozen cantors certified by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Lastly, parishioners would say they love the commitment to putting our love as disciples into action, responding to immediate needs through charitable works, and advocating for those who are most vulnerable. Finally, they would say they love that we keep moving forward, striving to be a relevant and significant part of the community, and making it easy for people to find their way to our loving and merciful God.
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