About St. Michael /The Parish of the Holy Cross/ · Cedarville, New Jersey
St. Michael Church in Cedarville, New Jersey, is one of five worship sites that together make up The Parish of the Holy Cross, a recently merged Roman Catholic parish serving a large portion of Cumberland County and a slice of Salem County in southern New Jersey. The parish traces its roots to 1935, when Father Michael Dalton of Immaculate Conception in Bridgeton began celebrating Mass in a Cedarville farmhouse for Catholic families scattered nine miles south of town. Today, weekend Mass at St. Michael is celebrated on the 1st, 3rd, and alternating 5th Sundays at 11:30 AM, with a weekly Friday morning Mass and a Wednesday evening Holy Hour of Adoration. The parish is part of the Diocese of Camden and maintains a long-standing ministry to the Leesburg State Prison Complex located within its boundaries.
- Established
- 1942
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew R. Weber (Parish Pastor; Fr. Weber's last day as Pastor is announced as June 30, 2026, with Rev. Schned Bruno appointed as Parish Administrator effective July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Camden
Why belong here
St. Michael is one of five worship sites that together form The Parish of the Holy Cross, a recently merged Roman Catholic family of faith covering more than 400 square miles across Cumberland County and into Salem County. Worship at St. Michael includes a Friday morning Mass, a weekend Sunday Mass on the 1st, 3rd, and alternating 5th Sundays, and a Wednesday-evening Holy Hour of Adoration. The parish runs a full Sacramental Preparation program (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders), a P.R.E.P. religious education program for children, an RCIA process for adults, and a long-standing chaplaincy ministry to the inmates of the Leesburg State Prison Complex and the federal prison within its boundaries—giving parishioners real, tangible ways to put faith into action alongside their local neighbors.
Mass times at St. Michael /The Parish of the Holy Cross/
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
- Before Sunday Mass (at St. Michael / San Miguel)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (at St. Michael / San Miguel, Cedarville)
Parish of the Holy Cross — Our Family of Faith
The Parish of the Holy Cross is a recently merged Roman Catholic parish in southern New Jersey that brings together five churches: the Church of the Immaculate Conception (Bridgeton), St. Teresa of Avila (Bridgeton), St. Mary (Bridgeton), St. Michael (Cedarville), and St. Anthony (Port Norris). Together they cover a large portion of Cumberland County and a portion of Salem County. The parish says of itself: 'We are a recently merged Roman Catholic parish consisting of five churches covering a large portion of Cumberland County and a portion of Salem County in southern New Jersey.' The parish offices operate from 46 Central Avenue, Bridgeton, NJ 08302.
- Five worship sites: Immaculate Conception, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Mary, St. Michael, St. Anthony
- Geographic reach: large portion of Cumberland County + portion of Salem County
- Mailing office: 46 Central Avenue, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
The Story of St. Michael's, Cedarville
St. Michael's Church in Cedarville began in 1935 as an outreach of Immaculate Conception in Bridgeton. Father Michael Dalton said Sunday and Holy Day Mass in the farmhouse of George Sanza, opened a mission in Jerrell Hall in March 1939, and formally incorporated the church on September 18, 1942, with George Sanza and A. Julian Scarani as the first trustees. A new, purpose-built church designed by Frank Riches and constructed by Roland Aristone broke ground on April 4, 1954, had its cornerstone laid May 30, 1954, and was dedicated on October 31, 1954, the same day the Bishop elevated St. Michael's to an independent parish under Father James J. Gallagher.
- 1935: Father Dalton begins Masses in the Sanza farmhouse
- March 5, 1939: First Mass in rented Jerrell Hall
- September 18, 1942: St. Michael's officially incorporated
- May 1944: Father Thomas Gooley succeeds Father Dalton
- April 4, 1954: Groundbreaking for the new church
- June 12, 1954: St. Michael's elevated to parish; Fr. James J. Gallagher named first Pastor
- October 31, 1954: Dedication and First Solemn Mass
Growth, Boundaries, and the Brotherhood Memorial
Once elevated to parish status, St. Michael's inherited responsibility for St. Anthony's mission in Port Norris and the State Prison Farm in Leesburg, extending its ministry across more than 400 square miles of Cumberland County. In the wake of President Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963, Father Robert Bascom invited all the citizens of Cedarville—and their Protestant ministers—to a memorial Mass at St. Michael's. The resulting Brotherhood Memorial, dedicated with Protestant clergy on May 30, 1964, was the first such memorial in Cedarville.
- February 1963: Father Robert Bascom becomes pastor
- November 22, 1963: Ecumenical memorial Mass for President Kennedy
- May 30, 1964: Brotherhood Memorial dedicated; Fr. John Sullivan appointed first full-time assistant
- 1975: Parish mortgage burned
- 1992: Church renovated for 50th anniversary
Laurel Lake — Our Lady's Chapel
In 1965, to serve the growing number of summer residents at Laurel Lake, the parish established a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. The first summer Mass was celebrated on the back of a truck under a tarp on a vacant lot, then moved to a location on Battle Lane, before a small open building was constructed in 1968. Over the years it was gradually enclosed; in 1981 Alfred and Heidi Porowicz donated the land and building to St. Michael's; in 1986 a sacristy and bathroom were added; and in 1991 the interior was renovated to provide a more comfortable setting for worship.
- 1965: Chapel dedicated to Our Lady established in Laurel Lake
- First Mass under a tarp on a vacant lot
- 1968: Open-air building constructed
- 1981: Porowicz family donates land and chapel to the parish
- 1986: Sacristy and bathroom added
- 1991: Interior renovation
- Early 1970s: Year-round Mass offered; later a second weekend Mass added
Prison Ministry at Leesburg and Beyond
The Leesburg State Prison Farm, also inherited by St. Michael's when it became a parish, grew dramatically with the addition of Bayside Prison in 1969, Southern State Prison phase one in 1983, and phase two later in the decade. In 1983 the Bishop appointed a full-time bilingual Chaplain to assist the parish in serving inmates. A federal prison also lies within the parish's boundaries and is served primarily by its own chaplain, with backup from St. Michael's.
- 1969: Bayside Prison added at Leesburg
- 1983: Southern State Prison phase one; full-time bilingual Chaplain appointed by the Bishop
- Federal prison served by its own chaplain with backup from St. Michael's
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish's bilingual parish team includes the pastor, a parochial vicar, three deacons, four Sisters from the M.D.P.V.M. religious community, and lay staff serving liturgy, religious education, communications/cemeteries, bookkeeping, and the parish offices.
- Rev. Matthew R. Weber — Pastor (last day: 6/30/2026)
- Rev. Ruben Valdes Arias — Parochial Vicar
- Dcn. William Johnson, Dcn. Christopher D. Nichols, Dcn. Robert Rodriguez — Deacons
- Sr. Maria de Jesus Herrera, M.D.P.V.M. — Superior; Coordinator of Religious Education
- Sr. Vera Maria Retamozo, M.D.P.V.M.; Sr. Ricarda Garza Martinez, M.D.P.V.M.; Sr. Marta Garcia Cabral, M.D.P.V.M. — Religious sisters
- Sarah Krug — Secretary; Alejandro Martinez — Communications & Cemeteries; Maria De Jesus Lopez — Bookkeeper; Patricia Borgese — Liturgy Coordinator; Melissa Kiessling — Religious Education Administrator
- Rev. Schned Bruno (Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince) — incoming Administrator beginning July 1, 2026
Sacramental Preparation & Faith Formation
The parish's Sacramental Preparation page covers the seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist/Communion, Penance & Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Orders — with the same practical first step each time: call the parish office. Marriage arrangements must begin one year before the wedding date; Anointing of the Sick in the hospital is coordinated through the hospital chaplain, with the parish's own after-hours sacramental emergency line available.
- Baptism — arrangements through parish office
- Confirmation, Eucharist/First Communion — via P.R.E.P.
- Penance & Reconciliation — by appointment, before Sunday Mass
- Anointing of the Sick — parish office; hospital patients via hospital chaplain
- Marriage — arrangements one year in advance
- Holy Orders & Religious Life — discernment support
Religious Education, RCIA, and Bishop Schad Regional School
Children's faith formation is delivered through P.R.E.P. (Parish Religious Education Program), under Sr. Maria de Jesus Herrera, M.D.P.V.M., CRE, with Melissa Kiessling as Religious Education Administrator. The parish also runs an R.C.I.A. / Adult Education process for adults seeking initiation or full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish family is affiliated with Bishop Schad Regional School, led by Principal Sr. Olga Cano (856-691-4490).
- P.R.E.P. — Sr. Maria de Jesus Herrera, CRE ([email protected])
- Religious Education Administrator — Melissa Kiessling
- R.C.I.A. / Adult Education — 856-455-2323
- Bishop Schad Regional School — Sr. Olga Cano, Principal — 856-691-4490
- Safe Environment Coordinator — Rev. Matthew R. Weber
Communications, Cemeteries, and Getting Involved
Parish communications — including bulletin publication, Constant Contact emails, the website, and a parish 2025 Ministry Guidebook — are coordinated by Alejandro Martinez. The same office coordinates parish cemetery operations. The 2025 Ministry Guidebook is published annually in English and Spanish and is offered both as a download and as a printed hardcopy on request from the parish office.
- Weekly bulletin and parish website: www.parishholycross.org
- Parish emails via Constant Contact (sign-up on the homepage)
- 2025 Ministry Guidebook — English & Spanish; download or hardcopy on request
- Cemeteries coordination through Alejandro Martinez, ext. 301
- Get involved: contact the parish office at (856) 455-2323 for ministry information
FORMED — Catholic Streaming for the Parish
FORMED is a Catholic online streaming service with talks, videos, and movies about the Catholic faith, including content for children and a Spanish-language catalog. Parishioners can sign up free through the parish's parish-wide subscription using zip code 08302.
- Catholic streaming — talks, videos, movies
- Children's content available
- Spanish-language content available
- Free for parishioners via the parish subscription (sign up with zip 08302)
Visit, Contact, and Sacramental Emergencies
St. Michael's church is at 363 Main Street, Cedarville, NJ 08311 (parish mailing address: 46 Central Avenue, Bridgeton, NJ 08302). Two parish office lines cover business hours — (856) 455-2323 (St. Teresa Office, Mon–Fri 9–12:30 and 1:30–5) and (856) 451-0254 (Immaculate Office, Mon–Fri 5–9 PM, Sat 10 AM–3 PM). For a priest outside those hours, the parish has an after-hours Sacramental Emergencies line at (856) 301-0109 — for sacramental emergencies only.
- St. Michael — 363 Main Street, Cedarville, NJ 08311
- Parish mailing office — 46 Central Avenue, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
- (856) 455-2323 — St. Teresa Office, Mon–Fri 9–12:30 & 1:30–5 PM
- (856) 451-0254 — Immaculate Office, Mon–Fri 5–9 PM, Sat 10–3 PM
- (856) 301-0109 — After-Hours Sacramental Emergencies only
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Dalton1935–1944
Appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception, Bridgeton, in July 1935; discovered Catholic families in Cedarville, started a Catechetical Center in George Sanza's farmhouse, celebrated Mass in the Sanza home, opened Jerrell Hall mission in March 1939, and oversaw the 1942 incorporation of St. Michael's Church, Cedarville.
- Rev. Thomas Gooley1944–c.1954
Succeeded Father Dalton in May 1944 and continued the work of building up the mission community.
- Rev. James J. Gallagher1954–
First Pastor after St. Michael's was elevated from mission to parish status by the Bishop's decree of June 12, 1954; celebrant of the First Solemn Mass on October 31, 1954.
- Rev. Mr. (Father) Darbybefore Feb 1963
Predecessor to Father Bascom; transferred in February 1963.
- Rev. Robert Bascomfrom February 1963
Took over in February 1963; celebrated the November 1963 memorial Mass for President Kennedy and the 1964 Brotherhood Memorial.
- Rev. John Sullivanfrom May 30, 1964
Appointed by the Archbishop as the parish's first full-time assistant on the same day the Brotherhood Memorial was dedicated.
- Rev. Matthew R. Weberapproximately 2016–June 30, 2026
Long-serving pastor of The Parish of the Holy Cross; his last day as pastor is announced as June 30, 2026, after which he will take an interval for rest and personal renewal before returning to active ministry as a Parochial Vicar of the same parish.