Parish name: Madonna Parish
Location (City, State): Fort Lee, NJ
Year founded: 1858
Diocese: Newark
Pastor: Rev Bruce Janiga
Number of parishioners: 1281 families
Parish website: madonnachurch.org
What makes your parish different from other parishes?
We are the oldest parish in Bergen County, operating the oldest Catholic cemetery in the county. The original Church, an historic landmark, was built in 1858 on the highest piece of property in the area. Andrew Carnegie donated the pipe organ. We have Civil War veterans buried in our cemetery.
The parish has been welcoming various immigrant groups throughout its history. Each group brings its own gifts and talents. They include: Italian, Irish, German, Croatian, Polish, Filipino, Mexican, Central American, South American, Caribbean, Indian, Chinese and Japanese. The latest major group is from Korea. In the past ten years the Korean community has grown from 50 families to over 500. We have 11 weekend Masses; four are in Korean, the others in English. They comprise about 40% of our community.
Members of Madonna’s various choirs came together at the Installation Mass to “Make a Joyful Noise.” The parish has youth and adult choirs who sing in Korean and English at various Masses. Image: Courtesy of Marianne Monaco
What’s the most distinguishing characteristic of your church building?
The most distinguishing characteristic of our church building is the bell tower, which is attached to the school building. Some of my friends call the church a “churchatorium” since it was originally intended to be a temporary worship space until the new church was built, transitioning then to serve as the school auditorium or gymnasium. However, the new church was never built.
A watercolor “portrait” was commissioned to serve as a new logo for the parish. Artist Steve Zazenski has been creating church “portraits” for many years. Image: Courtesy of Steve Zazenski
What’s the most popular event, ministry, or holiday tradition at your parish?
The most popular event is the annual Mardi Gras celebration because it brings together the various different ethnic communities represented in our parish. In addition, our recent parish picnic was also a great success, as we had over 600 people attend. The petting farm and magician were especially popular with the children, and the adults enjoyed trying different ethnic foods for the first time. We are planning on making it an annual event.
The Rosary Society supplied over four hundred philodendron clippings, grown from twenty plants, that were given to parishioners. The rooted clippings were labeled with, “I am the vine, you are the branches” in English and Korean. Image: Courtesy of Marianne Monaco
If we asked parishioners what they love most about the parish, what would they say?
The ethnic diversity, sense of history and tradition, excellent school, good Sunday liturgies, friendly parishioners and staff and, most importantly love of God. Many families have been worshiping here for generations and this is “home” to them.
New pastor, Rev. Bruce Janiga, is welcomed by trustee Jack Cavanaugh during the Mass of Installation. The cover image also comes from the Mass of Installation. The new pastor’s nephews added holy water from the Jordan River to the Baptismal Font before the Rite of Sprinkling. They were baptized with Jordan River water. Water from each of Fr Bruce’s previous assignments was also blended into the font. Image: Courtesy of Marianne Monaco
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Image: Courtesy of Marianne Monaco
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