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[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Hello all! I’m about to move back to New Jersey and I’d like some help finding an orthodox Catholic parish, i.e., a parish which is faithful to the Holy Mother Church’s teachings. It doesn’t necessarily have to be what some would call “traditionalist”, but I’d also welcome any suggestions for that kind as well. Ah, I forgot to mention that I’m a Roman Catholic (though I intend to, as time progresses, find out more about the Eastern rites). I’ll be living around the Marlboro, Manaplan area, but for a good parish I’m willing to go a long way. Any help is much apreciated!

 

[japhy]

Hello all! I’m about to move back to New Jersey and I’d like some help finding an orthodox Catholic parish, i.e., a parish which is faithful to the Holy Mother Church’s teachings. It doesn’t necessarily have to be what some would call “traditionalist”, but I’d also welcome any suggestions for that kind as well.

Welcome back to New Jersey! I live in Princeton, so I can’t really help you out on the parish front, but welcome anyway!

I have heard some good things about St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Mercy, in Englishtown (near Marlboro and Manalapan). Both churches belong to one parish; the church of St. Thomas More is a bit too modern-looking and reductionist for my taste (the main altar appears to be smaller than the altar in their chapel, not to mention both are round and the main one doesn’t really evoke “altar” in my mind), while the church of Our Lady of Mercy is more traditional and, in my estimation, more beautiful.

Our Lady of Mercy had, until recently, the Extraordinary Form of the Mass offered on a monthly basis, but the priest who offered it is was reassigned.

 

[Sarabande]

I’m not sure how far away Manaplan is from Berlin or Merchantville, but if you really want a traditional church, there is Mater Ecclesiae in Berlin, NJ. They do only the Extraordinary Form. I’ve attended mass there a few times for holy days. It’s not a “beautiful” church as it was established in 2000 to serve Catholics who wanted to attend mass using the 1962 missal. The mass is very reverent and the people are very devout.

materecclesiae.org/

Christmas at Mater Ecclesiae:
materecclesiae.org/viewalbum.php?albid=61

They do the Feast of the Assumption at the Cathedral in Camden:
materecclesiae.org/viewalbum.php?albid=64

You can hear some of the music they did for the Assumption this year here:
thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2008/08/recordings-from-mater-ecclesiaes.html

There is also St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Merchantville, NJ. I’ve never attended mass there, but my friend is the music director for the chant schola there for their mass in the Extraordinary form. They also do the Ordinary Form there. It looks like a beautiful church from the photo.

stpeterrcc.com/

Also read their website’s principles of Sacred Liturgy:
stpeterrcc.com/SacredLiturgy.htm

These are photos from their Easter Latin Mass:
stpeterrcc.com/Photos_Easter2008.htm

May Crowning:
stpeterrcc.com/Photos_MayCrowning.htm

 

[bpbasilphx]

I like how St. Thomas More Church has provision for baptizing adults by immersion.

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Thanks for the replies! I’m already in Marlboro and it turns out that the closest church to where I’m living is St.Gabriel’s Church. Has anyone heard anything about it? Our Lady of Mercy looks nice, but it’s about 9 miles from where I live. I guess I’ll give St.Gabriel’s a try and see what to do after that.