About St. Mary /Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish/ · Malaga, New Jersey
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish (OLBS) is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Camden that serves the rural southern New Jersey communities of Malaga, Newfield, Landisville, Minotola, and Buena across Gloucester, Cumberland, and Atlantic counties. It was canonically erected on August 31, 2011 by Bishop Joseph Galante through the merger of three long-standing parishes — St. Mary (Malaga), St. Rose of Lima (Newfield), and Queen of Angels (which itself combined Our Lady of Victories, Landisville, and St. Michael, Minotola). The parish now ministers to roughly 2,500 families through five worship sites: St. Rose of Lima Church in Newfield (the parish seat), St. Mary Church in Malaga, St. Michael Church in Minotola, Our Lady of Victory Church in Landisville, and the St. Padre Pio Shrine on U.S. Route 40 in Landisville. It offers Mass in both English and Spanish, a daily Mass schedule, Eucharistic adoration, RCIA, faith formation, the Caritas Christi food pantry, and an active calendar of devotions, prayer groups, and community events.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
- Rector
- Father Ariel Hernandez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Camden
Why belong here
OLBS is a welcoming rural parish that genuinely lives out its mission to be 'welcoming, charitable, and spiritually nurturing.' A parishioner can worship daily in five different historic churches across three counties — including a beloved Italian-built Assumption church in Malaga — and find Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish keeps a deep traditional devotional life: weekly Eucharistic adoration, the Padre Pio Prayer Group, the Cenacle Rosary Group at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, a monthly Schoenstatt Mass with benediction, a charismatic bilingual Mass, the Legion of Mary, and the America Needs Fatima rosary. It also serves the broader community through the Caritas Christi Food & Clothes Pantry, a vibrant religious education program, RCIA for adults, and parish-wide fellowship like weekly BINGO at the OLBS Parish Center in Landisville.
Mass times at St. Mary /Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish/
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Rose of Lima Church, 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield, NJ
- Schoenstatt Mass (18th of the month): Confession at 6:00 PM at St. Michael Church, Minotola
Adoration times
- Thursday 10:00 AM – 6:45 PM at Our Lady of Victory Church, 202 NW Blvd, Landisville
- Thursday 9:45 AM (before evening Benediction/Charismatic Mass)
- First Friday 6:00 PM Holy Hour at Our Lady of Victory Church
Parish Overview & Mission
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish (OLBS) is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Camden serving roughly 2,500 families across rural southern New Jersey. The parish was canonically erected on August 31, 2011 by Bishop Joseph Galante through the consolidation of St. Mary (Malaga), St. Rose of Lima (Newfield), and the former Queen of Angels Parish (Our Lady of Victories, Landisville, plus St. Michael, Minotola). It is one of the larger consolidated parishes in the diocese and operates five worship sites in three counties. The parish's published mission is to 'promote our Catholic Faith' and provide 'a church community for all people that will be welcoming, charitable, and spiritually nurturing,' in keeping with the teachings of Christ and Sacred Scripture.
- Diocese: Camden
- Erected: August 31, 2011
- Families served: ~2,500
- Worship sites: 5
Worship Sites
OLBS is one of the few parishes in the region that operates as a true multi-site community, with five distinct churches under one pastoral team. The parish seat (offices and the seat church) is St. Rose of Lima in Newfield; the oldest is St. Mary in Malaga (1922/1923); St. Michael in Minotola and Our Lady of Victory in Landisville host most weekend Masses; and the St. Padre Pio Shrine on U.S. Route 40 in Landisville is a regional pilgrimage destination served by the parish rector.
- St. Rose of Lima Church — 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield, NJ 08344 (parish seat; Saturday Vigil Mass)
- St. Mary Church — 253 Old Dutch Mill Road, Malaga, NJ 08328 (Mon/Tue/Wed 9 AM Daily Mass; annual Feast of the Assumption)
- St. Michael Church — 504 S West Ave, Minotola, NJ 08341 (Sunday 10 AM English, 12 PM Spanish; Schoenstatt Mass on the 18th)
- Our Lady of Victory Church — 202 NW Blvd, Landisville, NJ 08326 (Thu/Fri 9 AM Daily Mass, Tuesday 7 PM Spanish Mass, Thursday 7 PM Charismatic Mass, Adoration, First Friday)
- St. Padre Pio Shrine — U.S. Route 40 & Central Avenue, Landisville, NJ 08326
History & Heritage
OLBS as a canonical entity dates to 2011, but its constituent communities are much older. St. Mary's in Malaga traces back to Italian immigrant farmers in the early 1920s: an earlier 1887 church was destroyed by fire on April 3, 1922, was rebuilt the same year, and the present church was completed in 1923 with $5,000 raised largely from local Italian farming families. The first OLBS pastor, Father Allain B. Caparas (ordained 2006), led the parish for a six-year term beginning September 2011 and simultaneously served as Rector of the St. Padre Pio Shrine.
- 1887 — First St. Mary's Church built in Malaga
- April 3, 1922 — St. Mary's destroyed by fire; rebuilt same year
- 1923 — Present St. Mary's Church completed; Italian immigrant farming community
- August 31, 2011 — Bishop Joseph Galante erects OLBS Parish by merging St. Mary (Malaga), St. Rose of Lima (Newfield), and Queen of Angels (Landisville/Minotola)
- September 2011 — Father Allain B. Caparas named founding pastor (six-year term)
- 2012 — Malaga parishioners hold around-the-clock vigil to keep St. Mary's open after merger
Clergy & Staff
OLBS is currently pastored by Father Ariel Hernandez, supported by two permanent deacons, a business administrator, and a network of parish staff and ministry coordinators. The clergy and staff are reachable through the parish office at 856-213-6259.
- Pastor — Father Ariel Hernandez
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon Anthony Jadick
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon Charles Schiapelli
- Business Administrator — RoseAnn Crothers (856-213-6259)
- Office Staff — Kathy Kopreski (856-213-6259)
- Bulletin Coordinator — Linda VanDusen (856-213-6259)
- Religious Education / CCD — Fran Emmons (856-697-9599)
- Spanish Apostolate — Francisco Bencosme (856-213-6259)
- RCIA Coordinators — Arlene & Ron Stampa (609-364-2177); Cindy & Howie Saul (609-364-5726)
- Music Director — Jill Baruffi (856-213-7163, www.olbsmusicministry.com)
- Youth Choir Director — Sharon Ricci (www.olbsmusicministry.com)
- Founding Pastor (2011–~2017) — Father Allain B. Caparas, now Rector of the St. Padre Pio Shrine
Devotions & Prayer Groups
OLBS maintains a rich traditional devotional calendar. Eucharistic Adoration is offered every Thursday morning into the early evening at Our Lady of Victory, and the parish hosts multiple Marian and saint-centered prayer groups including the St. Padre Pio Prayer Group, the Cenacle Rosary Group, the America Needs Fatima rosary, and the Legion of Mary. The monthly Schoenstatt Mass at St. Michael in Minotola is a particular highlight, with Adoration, Confession, Rosary, and Benediction leading into Mass.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Thursday 10:00 AM – 6:45 PM, Our Lady of Victory
- Padre Pio Prayer Group — Wednesday 7:00 PM Rosary, St. Padre Pio Shrine
- Cenacle Rosary Group — 12:00 PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine (Our Lady of Victory)
- America Needs Fatima Rosary — 12:00 noon (dates in bulletin), St. Padre Pio Shrine
- Schoenstatt Mass — 18th of every month: 6:00 PM Adoration/Confession, 6:30 Rosary, 7:00 PM Benediction/Mass, St. Michael Church
- Legion of Mary — Thursday 7:00 PM
- Annual Feast of the Assumption — first weekend of August, St. Mary's Malaga (Mass, procession with Italian-made statue of the Blessed Mother, festival, carnival, auction)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education (CCD) and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) are cornerstones of parish life at OLBS. The CCD program is directed by Fran Emmons and prepares children for the sacraments; RCIA welcomes adults seeking baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, or full communion into the Catholic Church, as well as baptized adults wanting a refresher in the faith.
- Religious Education / CCD — Fran Emmons (856-697-9599)
- RCIA Coordinators — Arlene & Ron Stampa (609-364-2177); Cindy & Howie Saul (609-364-5726)
- RCIA is for: the unbaptized, baptized but never confirmed, baptized but never received Communion, those married civilly who want a Catholic wedding, and anyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith
- Includes the ancient Rites of Welcoming, Election, Scrutinies, Dismissals, and Reception into Full Communion
Music Ministry
Music at OLBS is led by Music Director Jill Baruffi and Youth Choir Director Sharon Ricci, with liturgy-licensed streamed music covered under One License #A-7275822. The parish operates a dedicated music website at www.olbsmusicministry.com and livestreams weekend Masses through the 'Marian Center NJ LiveStream Channel.'
- Music Director — Jill Baruffi (856-213-7163, [email protected])
- Youth Choir Director — Sharon Ricci
- Music Ministry website — www.olbsmusicministry.com
- Live Stream Channel — 'Marian Center NJ LiveStream Channel'
Outreach: Caritas Christi Food & Clothes Pantry
The Caritas Christi Food & Clothes Pantry is OLBS's primary outreach to neighbors in need across its three-county area. It operates every Thursday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the OLBS Parish Center in Landisville with curbside service — drive up to the door and staff will bring food to your car. Clothing is available by calling the pantry at 856-457-7501 during pantry hours; food donations are accepted on Thursdays and may also be left at the front entrance of any parish church.
- Hours: Every Thursday 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (special Christmas-week schedule may shift to a Tuesday)
- Location: OLBS Parish Center, 601 S Central Ave (also listed as 601 Central Ave), Landisville, NJ
- Service style: Curbside — drive up, staff brings groceries out
- Clothing requests: 856-457-7501 (during pantry hours only)
- Donations: Food accepted on Thursdays; clothing donations temporarily not accepted; food may be left at the front entrance of any parish church
Parish Life & Fellowship
Beyond Mass and devotions, OLBS nurtures community through BINGO every Monday night, food drives, parish feast days, and regular bulletins. The OLBS Parish Center at 601 S Central Ave in Landisville is the fellowship hub, and the parish maintains a parish bulletin and a Facebook-adjacent communications presence through the Marian Center.
- BINGO — Monday evenings, doors open 5:00 PM, OLBS Parish Center, 601 S Central Ave, Landisville
- Parish Bulletin — published weekly, with announcements and calendar
- Office hours: Newfield 10 AM–3 PM Mon–Wed; Landisville 10 AM–3 PM Thu
- Live Stream Weekend Masses (Sat 4 PM, Sun 10 AM, Sun 12 PM Spanish)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Allain B. CaparasSeptember 2011 – ~2017 (six-year term as founding pastor)
Ordained 2006 for the Diocese of Camden; previously parochial vicar at Queen of Angels Parish (Landisville) and St. Peter's (Merchantville). Appointed first pastor of the newly erected OLBS Parish. While at OLBS he also served as Rector of the St. Padre Pio Shrine, later became Director of Catholic Identity at Gloucester Catholic HS, then Principal/President of St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, and is now pastor of Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish.