About Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus and Archdiocesan Shrine of Pope Saint John Paul II · Linden, New Jersey
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in Linden, New Jersey, founded in 1925 to serve the Polish immigrant community of the city. It also holds the distinction of being the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II, a designation granted by the Archdiocese of Newark in September 2013. A century after its founding, the parish remains a trilingual community celebrating Mass in Polish, English, and Spanish, and is home to the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who minister in both the parish and school. The parish marked its centennial on April 27, 2025, with a jubilant Mass followed by a reception at The Grand in Totowa.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)
- Rector
- Rev. Ireneusz Pierzchała, S.T.L.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
St. Theresa's is a trilingual Roman Catholic community — Mass is celebrated in Polish, English, and Spanish — making it a true home for Polish-American Catholics and for the broader Linden community. The parish offers a full sacramental life (daily Mass in multiple languages, Reconciliation several days a week, perpetual adoration in the Chapel of Divine Mercy on Fridays, First Friday visits to the sick, and baptism and marriage preparation), a school served by the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, and a range of active lay groups including the Knights of Columbus, the Children of Mary, the Eucharistic Group of God's Mercy, the Soli Deo youth group, and a Home Church group. As the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II, it carries a special connection to the Polish pope and to the wider Church.
Mass times at Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus and Archdiocesan Shrine of Pope Saint John Paul II
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:45 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- First Friday of the month: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (church)
- Wednesday: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (church)
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Chapel of Divine Mercy)
- Friday: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (church)
Parish History
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus was founded in 1925 when the Archdiocese of Newark appointed Fr. Edward S. Kozłowski as pastor of a new parish to serve the spiritual welfare of the Polish people of Linden. Twenty people attended the very first Mass. Groundbreaking for the original church and school followed in 1926, with the Sisters of Nazareth staffing the school until the Felician Sisters took over in 1952. Through the 1940s and 1950s the parish grew steadily, and in 1954 a new, larger church was begun on the site. The parish suffered a major setback on Thanksgiving morning 1970, when fire damaged the building and forced the recently purchased organ to be dismantled, cleaned, and reassembled.
- Founded 1925 by Fr. Edward S. Kozłowski
- 20 people at the first Mass
- Church and school groundbreaking: 1926
- Sisters of Nazareth staffed the school until 1952; replaced by the Felician Sisters
- 1954: groundbreaking for a separate, larger church
- 1956: Fr. Raymond Lukenda, a parishioner, ordained to the priesthood
- September 16, 1959: founding pastor Fr. Kozłowski died; buried beside the church
- November 25, 1970 (Thanksgiving morning): fire damaged the church and organ
- September 2013: designated the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II
- April 27, 2025: 100th anniversary Mass celebrated
Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II
In September 2013 the parish was elevated to the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II, a designation conferred by the Archdiocese of Newark that links this historic Polish-American community to the Polish pope. The shrine was also named one of the Jubilee Churches for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. As a shrine, it serves as a special place of devotion to St. John Paul II within the Archdiocese of Newark and draws pilgrims from across the region.
- Shrine designation granted September 2013
- Jubilee Church in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
- Jurisdiction: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Newark
Parochial Staff
The parish is served by a Polish-born priest and parochial vicars, the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (LSIC), and a team of lay staff. Religious sisters staff both the parish Religious Education program and the RCIA, and a lay music director leads the parish's liturgical music.
- Pastor: Rev. Ireneusz Pierzchała, S.T.L.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Grzegorz Dziedzic
- Weekend Assistant: Rev. Zachary Swantek, S.T.L.
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Magdalena Oleszkowicz, LSIC
- RCIA Program: Sr. Irena Lisowska, LSIC
- Parish Trustee: Mr. Karol Kiewlak
- Parish Accountant: Mrs. Magdalena Dickinson
- Secretary: Mrs. Dorota Mazurkiewicz
- Music Director: Mr. Jaroslaw Lepkowski
- Maintenance Manager: Mr. Józef Zielonka
Sacraments
The parish offers the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms are celebrated twice a month in alternating languages, with required preparation classes for parents and godparents. Marriages must be arranged at least one year in advance. Priests visit the sick on the First Friday of each month and Reconciliation is heard several times a week.
- Baptism: 1st and 3rd Sundays — 12:30 PM (English), 1:30 PM (Polish); register at the Parish Office
- Baptism classes: 2nd Friday (English) and 4th Friday (Polish) at 7:00 PM in the chapel
- Marriage: arrange at the rectory at least one year in advance
- Visitation of the Sick: First Friday of the month; call the rectory to arrange
- Penance and Reconciliation: see separate section
Parish Ministries and Groups
The parish supports an active lay community through parish groups, sodalities, and fraternal organizations that meet in the school, the lower church, and the chapel. From the traditional Children of Mary sodality to the Knights of Columbus and a youth ministry, there are opportunities for every age to participate in the parish's life and mission.
- Eucharistic Group of God's Mercy — meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month in the lower church
- Children of Mary — meets every Tuesday at 6:00 PM in the school (contact Grażyna Mazewska, 908-247-5302)
- Youth Group 'Soli Deo' — contact Fr. Ireneusz Pierzchała
- Home Church Group — meets once a month; contact Fr. Ireneusz Pierzchała
- Knights of Columbus — meets 1st Sunday after 11:00 AM Mass in the lower church
- Knights of Columbus (second chapter) — contact Zbigniew, 908-523-7480
- Religious Education / CCD (Director: Sr. Magdalena Oleszkowicz, LSIC)
- RCIA (Director: Sr. Irena Lisowska, LSIC)
- Parish Music Ministry (Director: Mr. Jaroslaw Lepkowski)
Religious Education & RCIA
Faith formation for children and adults is led by the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Sr. Magdalena Oleszkowicz directs the parish Religious Education program, and Sr. Irena Lisowska directs the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those preparing to enter the Church.
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Magdalena Oleszkowicz, LSIC
- RCIA Program Director: Sr. Irena Lisowska, LSIC
- Religious Education address: 122 Liberty Street, Linden, NJ
School and Religious Sisters
Since the parish's earliest decades, religious sisters have staffed St. Theresa's school. The Sisters of Nazareth ran the school at its founding; they were replaced by the Felician Sisters in 1952. Today the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (LSIC) serve both the parish and the school, providing a continuing witness to consecrated life in the heart of Linden.
- Sisters of Nazareth — original school staff
- Felician Sisters — took over the school in 1952
- Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (LSIC) — current religious order serving parish and school
Centennial Anniversary (2025)
On Sunday, April 27, 2025, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish celebrated 100 years since its founding with a jubilant anniversary Mass followed by a reception at The Grand in Totowa. Mayor Derek Armstead recognized the parish for 'a century of service to the Linden community,' and official resolutions were presented to Pastor Rev. Ireneusz Pierzchała from the City of Linden (Council President Michele Yamakaitis), Union County (County Commissioner Joseph Bodek), and the State Senate (Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak). The city wished the parish 'another 100 years of faith, service, and community spirit. Sto Lat!'
- Centennial Mass: Sunday, April 27, 2025
- Reception: The Grand, Totowa
- Resolutions from the City of Linden, Union County, and State Senate
- Centennial motto: 'Sto Lat!'
Visit, Contact, and Rectory Hours
The parish welcomes visitors and new parishioners. The rectory office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings and afternoons, with extended evening hours on Friday. A 24-hour parish emergency line is available for anointing of the sick or other urgent needs.
- Address: 131 East Edgar Road, Linden, NJ 07036
- Religious Education: 122 Liberty Street, Linden, NJ
- Telephone: (908) 862-1116
- Fax: (908) 862-2930
- Parish Emergency Line: (201) 563-3038
- Rectory hours: Mon/Wed/Sat 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–4:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–8:00 PM
- Website: https://www.sttheresalinden.com/
- Polish-language site: https://pl.sttheresalinden.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward S. Kozłowski1925–1959
Founding pastor; built the parish church and school; organized parish societies; died September 16, 1959, and is buried beside the church under a monument of St. Thérèse.
- Rev. Stanley Stachowiak1959–1971
Appointed by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland on November 29, 1959; oversaw air conditioning, interior renovation, school improvements, and the 1970 fire recovery; retired 1971; died May 12, 1976.
- Rev. Ireneusz Pierzchała, S.T.L.
Current pastor; presided over the parish's 100th anniversary Mass on April 27, 2025.