About St. Valentine · Bloomfield, New Jersey
St. Valentine Parish Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Bloomfield, New Jersey, within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Newark. Founded in 1898 by Polish immigrants who had previously walked to St. Stanislaus Church in Newark, it was originally a Polish national parish serving the Polish and Lithuanian communities of Bloomfield, Nutley, Belleville and the surrounding Essex County area. Today the parish continues at 125 North Spring Street as an English-language community offering daily and weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation, a food pantry, and outreach, and in 2024 it celebrated its 125th anniversary with Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, presiding.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Valentine
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Andrew N. (Nnaemeka Andrew) Onyemaobi
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
St. Valentine is a long-established Bloomfield parish with deep roots — it was founded in 1898 by Polish immigrants and is now in its 125th year — that offers a stable, welcoming rhythm of worship: three Sunday Masses (8:00, 10:00, 12:00 noon), a Saturday vigil at 5:30 PM, daily noon Mass in the rectory chapel Monday through Saturday, Saturday confession at 12:45 PM, a rosary before weekday Masses, and faith formation for children coordinated by an acting DRE. Active parishioners run a food pantry (coordinated by Jean Frucci) and pastoral council, and the parish gathers regularly for the sacraments, missions and parish life — a good fit for Catholics in Bloomfield, Nutley, Belleville and the surrounding Essex County communities looking for an accessible, mid-sized parish home.
Mass times at St. Valentine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 12:45 PM (in the church, after the 12:00 PM weekday Mass in the rectory chapel)
- By appointment — call the parish office during the week to arrange a time with the priest
History of St. Valentine Parish
St. Valentine Parish was founded in 1898 by Polish immigrants in Bloomfield, New Jersey, at the initiative of St. Valentine's Mutual Benefit Society. After meetings in June 1898, leaders approached Bishop Michael A. Wigger of Newark for permission to found a parish; the community then purchased the 'Hope Chapel' on Hoover Avenue from the Broughton Presbyterian Society for $1,875. The parish was incorporated on February 16, 1899 at the Sacred Heart Rectory in Bloomfield, blessed by Bishop Wigger on August 6, 1899, and from 1900 onward under its first permanent pastor, Rev. Alexius Iwanow, built the rectory (1901), the present church on the corner site (1905, $15,000), the Main Altar (1913, $1,300) and the great bell (1916, $450), and welcomed the Felician Sisters in 1918.
- Founded 1898; incorporated February 16, 1899
- Church blessed by Bishop Michael A. Wigger on August 6, 1899
- First permanent pastor: Rev. Alexius Iwanow (1900–1921)
- Second pastor: Rev. Bronislaus A. Socha (from March 1921)
- Felician Sisters began teaching in the parochial school in 1918
- Parish missions begun in 1922 and preached every four years since
- 125th anniversary celebrated March 3, 2024 with Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
Sacraments
Information for each of the seven sacraments as published in the parish bulletin and on the parish website.
- Baptism — celebrated at the 12:00 Noon Sunday Mass; parents must be active registered parishioners; parents and godparents must attend a meeting in the Rectory; godparents must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 12:45 PM and by appointment.
- Eucharist — see Mass Schedule.
- Confirmation — preparation for children is part of the Faith Formation program.
- Matrimony — at least one year of preparation; meet with the priest before booking a date, time, or banquet.
- Anointing of the Sick — call Fr. Andrew Onyemaobi at (973) 743-0220 to arrange.
- Holy Orders — contact the parish office for guidance.
Faith Formation / Religious Education
St. Valentine's Religious Education Program provides faith formation for the parish's children. The acting Director of Religious Education is Mrs. Marta Cirilli-Kuebler; families seeking information or registration are invited to email [email protected]. Sacraments of initiation for children are coordinated through this program in cooperation with the parish office.
- Acting DRE: Mrs. Marta Cirilli-Kuebler
- Contact: [email protected]
- Baptism and First Communion preparation coordinated through the program
Music Ministry
The parish choir — St. Valentine's Choir — traces its roots to the 'Harmonia Choir' organized in the early twentieth century, adopting its present name in 1917 under organist and choir director Sylvester Gutkowski. Today the music ministry is led by Director of Music Iris Prcic.
- Director of Music: Iris Prcic
- Choir: St. Valentine's Choir (continuous since early 1900s)
Parish Staff
St. Valentine is served by a pastor, a priest in residence, a parish secretary, a maintenance team, a Director of Music, an acting Director of Religious Education, two financial trustees, and a food pantry coordinator.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Nnaemeka Andrew Onyemaobi
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Fr. Andrew Njoku
- Parish Secretary: Judy Giuliano
- Parish Maintenance: Mr. Robert Bulkowski
- Director of Music: Iris Prcic
- Acting DRE: Mrs. Marta Cirilli-Kuebler
- Financial Trustees: Kevin Amahit, Lisa Campanella
- Food Pantry Coordinator: Jean Frucci
Outreach and Parish Life
The parish operates a Food Pantry coordinated by parishioner Jean Frucci, with support from the parish community, and gathers a Pastoral Council whose members can be reached at [email protected]. Parishioners and visitors can sign up to participate in ministries or register as parishioners through forms on the parish website. The parish bulletin, published regularly, lists ongoing activities, holy day schedules and community events.
- Parish Food Pantry — Coordinator: Jean Frucci
- Pastoral Council — [email protected]
- Parishioner Registration / Update Form (online)
- Ministry Signup Form (online)
- Parish bulletin (posted to website)
Parish Heritage and Polish-American Roots
St. Valentine's was founded to serve Polish families who had settled in Bloomfield, Franklin (Nutley), Belleville, the Oranges and West Essex County. After the early pioneer priests who served the Polish colony, the parish grew under Father Iwanow and Father Socha, who introduced two-week parish missions (begun 1922, every four years since) and brought the use of English alongside Polish for the Sunday Gospel and parish announcements. The parish today operates in English while retaining a strong sense of its immigrant history, recorded in the 'Parish History' page on the parish website, drawn from the Orchard Lake Schools Central Archives.
- Source for parish history: Orchard Lake Schools Central Archives
- Polish-American founding community
- Felician Sisters taught in the parochial school from 1918
Contact and Visiting
The parish office is located at the rectory, 125 North Spring Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003. Telephone: (973) 743-0220. Fax: (973) 743-2041. Email: [email protected]. Rectory office hours are 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (per bulletin). The parish encourages visitors to register as parishioners through the online form on the parish website and to sign up for ministries in which they would like to serve.
- Address: 125 North Spring Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
- Telephone: (973) 743-0220
- Fax: (973) 743-2041
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Parish website: www.stvalentinechurch.com
- Parish Facebook: @SaintValentineBloomfieldNJ
- Parish Instagram: @SaintValentineBloomfieldNJ
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Constantine LazinskiMarch 1899 (temporary)
First priest to serve St. Valentine's after incorporation.
- Rev. John Adamowski1899 (temporary)
Early temporary priest before the first permanent pastor.
- Rev. John Stankiewicz1899–1900 (temporary)
Served in the period before the first permanent pastor arrived.
- Rev. Alexius Iwanow1900–1921
First permanent pastor; oversaw construction of the 1901 rectory/convent, relocation and construction of the present church in 1905 ($15,000), installation of the Main Altar (1913, $1,300) and the large bell (1916, $450), purchase of the present rectory in 1916, and the arrival of the Felician Sisters in 1918; resigned in 1921 after 20 years.
- Rev. Bronislaus A. SochaMarch 1921– (long pastorate)
Alumnus of Seton Hall College and the Diocesan Seminary; appointed by Bishop John J. O'Connor in March 1921; began two-week parish missions (1922 onward, every four years), introduced English alongside Polish for Gospel and announcements, organized parish societies (Athletic Club, PTA), oversaw church renovation, expansion of facilities, and the parish bulletin.
- Rev. Fr. Nnaemeka Andrew OnyemaobiPresent (2024–)
Current pastor; presided over the parish's 125th anniversary year celebrations beginning in 2024.