About Our Lady of Victories & Shrine of St. Jude · Paterson, New Jersey
Our Lady of Victories & Shrine of St. Jude is a historic Roman Catholic parish in downtown Paterson, New Jersey, belonging to the Diocese of Paterson. Founded in 1892 to serve French-speaking immigrants who worked in Paterson's silk mills, the parish has grown into a vibrant, multicultural faith community of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and White believers. The church is best known as the home of the Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus, a devotional center drawing thousands to its weekly and Solemn Novenas in honor of the patron saint of desperate and hopeless cases.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victories (Blessed Virgin Mary); also honors Saint Jude Thaddeus as patron of the shrine
- Rector
- Rev. Angel J. Torres (Administrator, appointed August 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Paterson
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victories offers a rare combination: a historic downtown parish with a recognized devotional shrine, a genuinely multicultural worshipping community, and a bilingual (English/Spanish) schedule that welcomes newcomers from many backgrounds. The Shrine of Saint Jude gives the parish a spiritual identity that has drawn the faithful for more than sixty years, with weekly Thursday Masses & Novenas and an annual Solemn Novena leading to the October 28 feast. With recent renovation of the church, daily and Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, weekly adoration, and a downtown location at the corner of Broadway and Memorial Drive, the parish is a welcoming spiritual home in the heart of Paterson.
Mass times at Our Lady of Victories & Shrine of St. Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available — call the rectory to arrange: (973) 279-0487
- Reconciliation is encouraged as part of the Solemn Novena preparation
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (call office to register)
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (call office to register)
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (call office to register)
Parish Identity & Mission
We, the parish family of Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church in downtown Paterson, within the Diocese of Paterson, strive to be open to the Holy Spirit as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. The parish describes itself as a truly multicultural community, blessed by members from many countries and backgrounds who enrich the congregation with their languages, traditions, and vibrant faith. Nourished by the Eucharist and sustained by the Word of God, the parish family goes forth as one Body in Christ with a clear mission in the heart of Paterson: to welcome, to serve, and to evangelize — bringing the love of Christ to the core of the city with justice, compassion, and humble faith.
- Parish name: Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Parish & The Shrine of St. Jude
- Located in downtown Paterson, Diocese of Paterson
- Multicultural parish: African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and White believers
- Mission: welcome, serve, and evangelize at the heart of Paterson
History of Our Lady of Victories
The parish was established in the early 1890s to serve French-speaking immigrants who had come to Paterson to work in the silk mills. The first church was a two-story frame building at 80-82 Bridge Street, and the building was completed in early 1892. By the early 1930s the parish had become so weak it could not even cover its fuel bill, but Bishop Thomas Joseph Walsh of Newark sent Fr. Christian A. Pfister in the summer of 1933 to take over. Monsignor Pfister not only saved the parish but launched the Shrine of Saint Jude and shaped the community that exists today. The church has recently undergone renovation and restoration.
- 1892 — first church building completed at 80-82 Bridge Street
- Founded to serve French-speaking silk-mill immigrants
- 1933 — Bishop Thomas Joseph Walsh of Newark assigns Fr. Christian A. Pfister
- Bronze relief of Msgr. Pfister by Minor Federici (1955) stands outside the church
Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus
The Shrine of Saint Jude has been part of Our Lady of Victories for more than sixty years. It traces its origin to an October visit by a woman from Jersey City who, having received a special favor through a novena to St. Jude, asked Fr. Pfister to begin a regular novena to the saint known for helping those in desperate trouble. St. Jude Thaddeus is known as the patron saint of 'despaired cases,' and the Shrine is now a recognized center of devotion for people seeking his intercession in seemingly hopeless situations.
- Weekly Thursday 12:00 PM Mass & Novena to St. Jude (English)
- Weekly Thursday 6:15 PM Mass & Novena to St. Jude (Spanish)
- Veneration of the Relic of St. Jude after each service
- Solemn Novena begins nine weeks before October 28
- Feast Day celebration at 3:00 PM: Mass, candlelight procession, anointing with St. Jude oil, veneration of the relic, and Benediction
- Novena in honor of St. Jude Thaddeus and Our Lady of Fatima
Sacraments
Arrangements for all sacraments are handled through the parish rectory, open 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM at (973) 279-0487. Baptism requires attendance at a Baptismal Preparation Meeting for parents (and godparents). Couples preparing for Marriage are asked to call the rectory well in advance. Confession is available by appointment and is recommended as part of the Solemn Novena preparation.
- Baptism — Baptismal Preparation Meetings for parents and godparents
- Marriage — call the rectory to begin preparation
- Reconciliation (Confession) — by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Funeral — by request
Clergy & Staff
Our Lady of Victories is presently administered by Rev. Angel J. Torres, who was appointed Administrator of the parish by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney effective August 1, 2025; he simultaneously serves as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Paterson. Rev. Yojaneider Garcia assists at the parish (along with Our Lady of Lourdes) while pursuing continued studies in MA Catechetic Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville. The historic pastor Monsignor Christian A. Pfister, who rescued the parish in 1933 and founded the Shrine of St. Jude, is commemorated by a 1955 bronze relief outside the church.
- Rev. Angel J. Torres — Administrator (effective Aug. 1, 2025)
- Rev. Yojaneider Garcia — assisting priest
- Msgr. Christian A. Pfister — pastor from 1933, founder of the Shrine of St. Jude
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Christian A. Pfister (later Monsignor Pfister)1933 onward (decades of service)
Sent by Bishop Thomas Joseph Walsh of Newark in summer 1933 to save the struggling parish; credited with revitalizing it and founding the Shrine of St. Jude after a woman from Jersey City asked him to begin a novena.
- Rev. Yojaneider Garcia
Assigned to assist at Our Lady of Victories and Our Lady of Lourdes while continuing studies in MA Catechetic Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville (effective June 13).
- Rev. Angel J. TorresEffective August 1, 2025
Appointed Administrator of Our Lady of Victories Parish, Paterson, by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney; also serves as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Paterson.