Building on the past, preparing for the future
by MELISSA L. GAFFNEY, Staff Writer, The Courier, May 8
Posted:05/09/08

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church celebrated the dedication of its new, 1,200-seat church on Cherry Tree Farm Road this past Sunday, May 3.

Parishioners, clergy and the Most Reverend John M. Smith, bishop of Trenton, crowded outside for the blessing of the cornerstone, where the weather was suitable to the occasion.

Deacon Martin McMahan said the sun and blue sky were not what they were expecting, but even better.

Deacon Aspirit Carlo Squicciarini said the building is truly beautiful and something the congregation has needed for a long time. "During these times, it's sometimes difficult to get people to see why we need things like a new church," he said. "But this building is truly beautiful."  

Monsignor Michael Walsh, the pastor of St. Mary's, said the consciousness of the need for a new building had grown over the years. "The congregation has needed a new church for about 45 years," he said. "It has worshipped every weekend in Memorial Hall, the school's gymnasium, up to this point."

Walsh said he became pastor in 2002 and was honored to lead the process from its beginning. "We started the capital campaign to raise funds in 2004 and broke ground in the fall of 2006," he explained. "The building was completed a few weeks ago."

The pastor said the campaign raised $7.5 million for the $12 million project.

Former Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina said both the Azzolina and Scaduto families donated money for the new church. "Monsignor Walsh did a fantastic job putting together a team and raising the money for this church through its capital campaign," he said. "The building is a testament to those who put this project together."

Lou Scaduto Jr., vice president of operations and merchandising for Food Circus, said he was baptized at St. Mary's and went to grade school and high school there. "This building is a great thing because the new church has been a long time coming," he said. "I can remember there was talk of it when I when I was in first grade."

Scaduto said he grew up in Middletown and his family is very involved at the church. "Pastor Walsh is a phenomenal spiritual leader," he said. "He has done a great job."

Mary Jennings, 15, attends Mater Dei High School and is an altar server at St. Mary's. Jennings said she has been serving since fifth grade.

She said for her to see a new church built in her lifetime is amazing. "It's just indescribable," Jennings said.

Squicciarini noted how parishioners range in age. "There are also senior citizens who went to school here, as well as many young faces," he said.   

The Reverend Bruce Seymour, senior pastor at New Monmouth Baptist Church, said there were many parish leaders from the community present at the dedication. "St. Mary's and New Monmouth Baptist are neighbors," he said. "Even though these times are hard, it's great to see a new church."

The bishop said he was joyful for another beautiful addition to the Diocese. "It's a great joy to dedicate a new church, especially one that has been here for over 100 years," he said. "This community is going from a very small space to a much larger home. It's great how parishioners can come here now and worship as one family."

Azzolina said he remembered when the thought of a new church was just a dream. "When I was first in Middletown, I knew Father Robert Bulman of St. Mary's," he said. "His dream was to have a new church one day. Finally his dream came true."
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