Church of the Holy Rosary

Our Parish

Church of the Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic parish in Edgewater, New Jersey, located at 365 Undercliff Avenue and belonging to the Archdiocese of Newark. Founded in 1904 with its present church built between 1907 and 1910, it is the last remaining house of public worship in the borough. The parish community is small, close-knit, and rooted in Edgewater's transformation from a pastoral town to a Hudson River community.

• Founded 1904
• Church constructed 1907–1910
• Archdiocese of Newark
• Last house of public worship in Edgewater
• Bilingual: English and Spanish

Mission Statement

According to the parish's own website, 'We, the members of the Holy Rosary Parish family, are the living sign of Christ's Presence, reconciling life, light, hopefulness, and healing within our community. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we seek to realize the full potential of our creative energies to be about the work of God in our commitment to the Lord, each other, the Church and our world.' The mission statement also frames itself around stewardship: 'We, the members of Holy Rosary Parish family, are striving to return to God, the gifts He has given us, our time, talent and treasure, through our faithful stewardship.'

History

Founded in 1904 and constructed between 1907 and 1910, the Church of the Holy Rosary has watched Edgewater grow from a sleepy, pastoral town into a booming industrial center and finally into a vital center on the Hudson River. The parish published Ruth Paci's 'Down by the River and Under the Cliff: The Story of the Church of the Holy Rosary and its Parishioners' in 1994, the same year the church underwent a major renovation. The Archdiocese of Newark records describe the building's style as Romanesque Revival.

• Founded 1904
• Church built 1907–1910
• Parish history published in 1994
• Renovation in 1994
• Romanesque Revival style

Staff

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Jose Amante Abalon and supported by two trustees and a small lay staff who run the parish office, music program, and physical plant. Father Jose was installed on October 20, 2019, following the retirement of Father George earlier that year.

• Pastor: Rev. Jose Amante Abalon (installed October 20, 2019)
• Trustee: John Pilot
• Trustee: Peter Plachta
• Parish Secretary, DRE & LSEC: Barbara L. Brady
• Music Ministry: Bill Jones
• Maintenance: Jimmy D'Anna

Becoming a Parishioner

To be considered an 'active' parishioner in the Roman Catholic Church of the United States, one must be registered in the Parish for a sufficient period of time, fulfill the Sabbath Commandment by attending Mass faithfully on Sundays and Holy Days, and continuously support the Mission of Christ through the envelope or online system. The parish requires that one be an active and contributing member for three months before being married in the church or receiving a certificate to serve as a sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation. To register, parishioners are directed to email [email protected].

• Register by emailing [email protected]
• Three-month active-membership requirement for marriage and sponsor certificates

Faith Formation (CCD)

Holy Rosary's Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program begins in the first grade and concludes after the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the eighth or ninth grade. It prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. CCD at Holy Rosary follows the curriculum and policy of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark and emphasizes the parents' role as the primary educators of their children in the faith.

• Grades 1–8 (through Confirmation)
• Classes held weekly in the Parish Center (26 Edgewater Place)
• Classes run 9:15 AM gathering, 9:30–10:45 AM class time (concluding before the 11:00 AM Mass)
• First Reconciliation prerequisite for First Holy Communion
• Two years of preparation required for First Holy Communion and Confirmation
• Tuition: $100/child or $150/two or more children if registered before September 1; $200/child or $250/two or more children after

Sacraments

Holy Rosary celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments with formation and sacramental preparation in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Newark. Children prepare for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation through the parish CCD program; adults typically prepare through RCIA. Baptisms, marriages and the sacrament of the sick are coordinated through the parish office.

• Baptism
• First Reconciliation / First Holy Communion
• Confirmation
• Marriage (3-month active-member requirement)
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Orders / Vocations (via Archdiocese)
• Eucharist to the Home and Hospital

Outreach and Charity

The parish operates a Food Pantry and runs a Community Meal, while also accepting donations of clothing and non-perishable food. Father Jose, joined by parishioners, ministers weekly to those at the local nursing home through the Homebound Ministry. Other outreach activities include visits to the sick and shut-ins and volunteer opportunities for parishioners.

• Food Pantry
• Community Meal
• Clothing donations
• Homebound / Nursing-home ministry (weekly visits)
• Visits to the sick and shut-ins

Music and Liturgy

Music at Holy Rosary is led by Bill Jones of the Music Ministry, who directs a choir that rehearses on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Church. The parish also lists Instrumental Music and Healing Prayer as part of its liturgical life, in addition to the Choir.

• Music Ministry Director: Bill Jones
• Choir rehearsal Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
• Instrumental Music
• Children's Liturgy of the Word
• Healing Prayer

Christ the Teacher Interparochial School

The Church of the Holy Rosary Parish is a proud co-sponsor of Christ the Teacher Interparochial School, located at 359 Whiteman Street, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 (phone 201-944-0421, web: christtheteacherschool.org). The interparochial school is supported jointly by Holy Rosary and neighboring parishes as part of the Archdiocese of Newark's Catholic elementary school system.

• Address: 359 Whiteman St., Fort Lee, NJ 07024
• Phone: 201-944-0421
• Website: http://www.christtheteacherschool.org/
• Co-sponsored by Holy Rosary Parish

Sunday Bulletins

The parish publishes a weekly Sunday Bulletin that is available in the church and online; parishioners can subscribe to have it automatically delivered to their email each week for free.

• Weekly online bulletin available via holyrosaryedgewater.org
• Free email subscription