About Our Lady of Sorrows · Jersey City, New Jersey
Our Lady of Sorrows is a Roman Catholic parish in the Greenville section of Jersey City, New Jersey, belonging to the Archdiocese of Newark. Founded in 1913 as an Italian-American mission church by Monsignor Ernest J. Monteleone, it is celebrated for its 1935 modern Romanesque sanctuary — believed to be the first church in the area built without interior columns — and for its long-running Mary House Emergency Food Pantry. Today it is a bilingual, multicultural parish offering Mass in Latin, English, and Spanish, served by a current pastoral team led by Rev. Brian X. Needles. Its mission statement, drawn from Psalm 87, declares: 'The Lord loves His city...and so do we.'
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Seven Sorrows)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian X. Needles
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
Our Lady of Sorrows is a bilingual English/Spanish parish in Jersey City's Greenville neighborhood with Mass celebrated in Latin, English, and Spanish every Sunday, daily weekday Masses, weekly Confessions and Adoration, and a Charismatic prayer group. It sustains the Mary House Emergency Food Pantry — open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — and a regional Catholic school, CCD religious-education program, youth ministry, and women's/adult-formation tracks led by a Ministerial Associate. Whether you come for the historic 1935 sanctuary, the century-old Italian-American devotional heritage, the welcoming Hispanic community, or the practical outreach to neighbors in need, OLS describes itself simply as 'a family...real people who care for one another beyond the time of Sunday Mass.'
Mass times at Our Lady of Sorrows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM (followed by Adoration and 7:00 PM Spanish Mass)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with Confessions)
Parish Identity & Welcome
Our Lady of Sorrows describes itself as 'not just a congregation. It is a family' — real people who care for one another beyond Sunday Mass. The parish mission, drawn from Psalm 87, reads: 'The Lord loves His city...and so do we.' In the words of the parish statement, OLS is 'a very accepting and non-judgmental church where all contribute according to their gifts. All accomplishments are recognized. All efforts are encouraged to serve the needs of the neediest. There is plenty good room for you.'
- Parish mission statement: 'The Lord loves His city...and so do we' (Psalm 87)
- Bilingual English/Spanish parish in the Greenville section of Jersey City
History
Our Lady of Sorrows traces its roots to Italian immigration and to its founder, Msgr. Ernest J. Monteleone, who came to America in 1902. After founding Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1905, he established the Our Lady of Sorrows mission in 1913 in a converted Presbyterian church, then built the present-day complex in 1935 during the Great Depression. The parish evolved through changing demographics, the opening of Mary House in 1981, and the Archdiocese's New Energies linkage program from 2002 onward, while always retaining its identity as a family-centered parish rooted in Mary.
- 1913 — Mission founded by Msgr. Monteleone in former Presbyterian church on Claremont Avenue
- 1918 — Purchased 93-95 Clerk Street campus (house & barn → rectory & hall)
- 1922 — Acquired school and convent sites
- 1935 — Modern Romanesque sanctuary dedicated (architect Anthony de Pace); new convent (119 Clerk St.) and school (68-72 Claremont Ave.) open with Filippini Sisters
- 1941 — First outdoor Pietà shrine erected at Claremont & Ocean
- 1955 — Founder Msgr. Monteleone dies (May 19); Rev. Laurence Cardelichio named pastor (June 27)
- 1976 — Rev. James O'Brien begins ecumenical era, jazz prayer concerts and Claremont Presbyterian partnership
- 1978 — Dominican sisters move into the convent
- 1981 — Mary House: A Center for Concern established with food pantry
- 1982 — Mary House declared a Peace Site by NJ SANE
- 2002 — Linked with Our Lady of Mercy under Archdiocese's New Energies Program
- 2015 — Spanish Mass added at Bishop Donato's request
- 2017 — Linkage transferred to Christ the King; Father Thomas C. Roberts administrator (Jul–Oct, d. December)
- 2019 — Rev. Brian X. Needles appointed pastor
Architecture & Sacred Spaces
The 1935 sanctuary is the visual and spiritual heart of the parish — a modern Romanesque brick building designed by New York Italian-American architect Anthony de Pace. With seating for 600 and a column-free interior (the first in the area), it gives worshippers an unobstructed view of the sanctuary. Adjacent on the campus are the Filippini convent at 119 Clerk Street, the school at 68-72 Claremont Avenue, and — most striking from the street — the outdoor Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, a reproduction of Michelangelo's Pietà on the southeast corner of Claremont and Ocean, a Greenville landmark since 1941.
- Modern Romanesque style sanctuary, dedicated 1935
- Architect: Anthony de Pace, New York City
- First local church with no interior columns; 600-seat capacity
- Outdoor Pietà shrine (Michelangelo reproduction) at Claremont & Ocean, est. 1941
- School building 68-72 Claremont Ave.
- Convent at 119 Clerk Street (Filippini Sisters, 1935)
Mass & Worship Schedule
Sunday liturgy at Our Lady of Sorrows is offered in three languages — Latin at 9:00 AM, English at 11:00 AM, and Spanish at 1:00 PM. The Rosary is prayed before the English and Spanish Masses, and fellowship follows in the Cinelli Center after the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses. Weekday worship is anchored by Tuesday evening Confessions at 6:00 PM, followed by Adoration and the 7:00 PM Spanish Mass, and Saturday morning with an 8:00 AM bilingual Mass and the 5:30 PM Charismatic Prayer Group gathering.
- Sunday 9:00 AM — Latin Mass
- Sunday 11:00 AM — English Mass
- Sunday 1:00 PM — Spanish Mass
- Tuesday 6:00 PM — Confessions & Adoration
- Tuesday 7:00 PM — Spanish Mass
- Saturday 8:00 AM — Bilingual Mass
- Saturday 5:30 PM — Charismatic Group
- Rosary before the 11 AM and 1 PM Sunday Masses
- Fellowship in Cinelli Center after the 9 AM and 11 AM Masses
Sacraments & Devotions
The parish offers the standard Catholic sacraments through its office and CCD program, with Confessions available every Tuesday at 6:00 PM. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through the Sacramental Preparation Program coordinated by Jennifer Noll. Eucharistic Adoration is celebrated weekly on Tuesday evenings alongside the Spanish Mass. The Charismatic Prayer Group meets Saturday evenings, and Mary House devotions/prayer accompany the parish's outreach work.
- Confessions — Tuesday 6:00 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration — Tuesday 6:00 PM
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation (CCD)
- Baptism, Marriage, other inquiries: contact parish office at (201) 433-0626
Clergy & Staff
Our Lady of Sorrows is pastored by Rev. Brian X. Needles (since 2019), with Rev. JuHyun Andrew Lee serving as Parochial Vicar and Rev. Patrick Seo as Priest in Residence. Permanent deacons Walter Wiggins and Steven Greydanus assist. The parish staff includes a Pastoral Associate (Sr. Mary Selina, S.C.C.), a Ministerial Associate (Stephanie Sonnick), a Catechetical Coordinator (Jennifer Noll), a Youth Minister (Christopher Kaiser), a Director of Music (Preston Dibble), a Business Manager (Charles Noun), a Parish Secretary (Mary Beth Zurat), an Administrative Assistant (Colleen McDonald), a Nursery Director (Karlene Campbell), and a School Principal (Judy Foley).
- Pastor: Rev. Brian X. Needles
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. JuHyun Andrew Lee
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Patrick Seo (Director of Priestly Vocations, Archdiocese of Newark)
- Permanent Deacons: Walter Wiggins and Steven Greydanus
- Pastoral Associate: Sr. Mary Selina, S.C.C.
- Ministerial Associate: Stephanie Sonnick
- Catechetical Coordinator: Jennifer Noll
- Youth Minister: Christopher Kaiser
- Director of Music: Preston Dibble
Faith Formation & School
Faith formation at OLS is offered through the parish school and the CCD program. Jennifer Noll, the Catechetical Coordinator, oversees the K-8 CCD program and the Sacramental Preparation Program for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. The parish school (principal Judy Foley) continues the Catholic K-8 educational tradition that began in the converted barn in the parish's earliest years and moved into the 1935 school building under the Filippini Sisters. Volunteer catechists and aides must complete VIRTUS Protecting God's Children training.
- Our Lady of Sorrows School (Catholic K-8)
- CCD Religious Education Program (Grades K-8)
- Sacramental Preparation — First Reconciliation & First Eucharist
- VIRTUS / Protecting God's Children volunteer training required
- Nursery program (Karlene Campbell, thenurseryatols.org)
Outreach: Mary House Emergency Food Pantry
The Mary House Emergency Food Pantry is the parish's signature social ministry. Founded in 1981 by the Dominican sisters resident at OLS and declared a Peace Site by New Jersey SANE (now Peace Action) the following year, the pantry exists to be a 'life raft' for families and individuals facing emergency food needs — job loss, illness, robbery, unexpected bills. It is staffed entirely by parish volunteers and funded entirely by donations from parishioners and supporters. Mary House, located at 75 Claremont Avenue, also distributes clothing and household items on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- Requirements: registration, valid ID, proof of address, family size, and income
- Contact: Carol Harris, (201) 433-0626
- Mary House also distributes clothing and household items on Wed & Fri
- Declared a NJ SANE Peace Site in 1982
Music & Liturgy
Preston Dibble has served as Organist and Director of Music for Our Lady of Sorrows since August 2019 and is also the Diocesan Director of Music. The parish's trilingual Sunday schedule (Latin, English, Spanish) and its Tuesday Adoration and Spanish Mass, plus the Saturday Charismatic group, give the music ministry a particularly broad liturgical palette.
- Director of Music: Preston Dibble (since August 2019)
- Music for Latin, English, and Spanish Sunday Masses
- Music for Tuesday Adoration and Spanish Mass
- Music for Saturday bilingual Mass and Charismatic group
Parish Life & Getting Involved
Beyond worship, OLS runs an active parish life under the coordination of Ministerial Associate Stephanie Sonnick, who supports retreats, women's ministry, adult formation, young adult ministry, and parish events. Volunteers staff the food pantry, serve as liturgical ministers, teach in CCD, drive events like the St. Patrick's Day party, and gather for fellowship in the Cinelli Center after Sunday Masses. All adult volunteers must complete the Archdiocese of Newark's Protecting God's Children and Keeping the Promise Alive trainings.
- Retreats, Women's Ministry, Adult Formation, Young Adult Ministry
- Fellowship in the Cinelli Center after the 9 AM and 11 AM Sunday Masses
- Volunteer training: VIRTUS Protecting God's Children (PGC) and Keeping the Promise Alive (KPA)
- Annual St. Patrick's Day party and other parish events
Diocese & Ecumenical Partnerships
Our Lady of Sorrows is part of the Archdiocese of Newark. Since 2002 it has participated in the New Energies linkage program — first linked with Our Lady of Mercy, and from July 1, 2017 linked with Christ the King in Jersey City. Pastor Fr. Brian Needles serves on the Council of Priests and Priest Personnel Board of the Archdiocese. Ecumenically, since the era of Fr. James O'Brien, the parish has hosted annual jazz prayer concerts and partnered closely with neighboring Claremont Presbyterian Church — a collaboration that continues today.
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark (Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop)
- Linked parish (since July 1, 2017): Christ the King, Jersey City
- Ecumenical partner: Claremont Presbyterian Church
- Annual jazz prayer concerts
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
The parish office can be reached at (201) 433-0626 or [email protected]. The historic campus is in the Greenville section of Jersey City at 93-95 Clerk Street, with the school at 68-72 Claremont Avenue and the Mary House Food Pantry at 75 Claremont Avenue. The Pietà shrine at Claremont and Ocean serves as a recognizable parish landmark. Weekend Mass times are Sunday 9:00 AM (Latin), 11:00 AM (English), and 1:00 PM (Spanish).
- Address: 93-95 Clerk Street, Jersey City, NJ 07305
- Phone: (201) 433-0626
- Email: [email protected]
- Pantry entry: 75 Claremont Avenue
- Website: http://olsnj.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Ernest J. Monteleone1913–1955
Founder; first pastor; emigrated from Italy in 1902, also founded Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Died May 19, 1955 and was interred at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows.
- Rev. Laurence Cardelichio1955–
Appointed by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland on June 27, 1955.
- Rev. James O'Brien1976–
Named pastor September 11, 1976; reopened OLS as a Vatican II mission church for the surrounding community and began the annual jazz prayer concerts and ecumenical gatherings with Claremont Presbyterian.
- Father Thomas C. RobertsJuly–October 2017
Appointed administrator of linked parishes OLS and Christ the King; resigned due to illness and died in December 2017.
- Father Marty Jacinto2016–
Appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mercy and administrator of Our Lady of Sorrows on July 1, 2016.
- Father Esterminio 'Mino' Chica
Appointed pastor by Cardinal Tobin; fluent in English and Spanish.
- Rev. Brian X. Needles2019–present
Current pastor; previously Director of Campus Ministry at Seton Hall (2016–19); ordained in Rome (transitional diaconate 2005, priesthood 2006); Adjunct Professor of Theology at Seton Hall and adjunct spiritual director at Immaculate Conception Seminary.