Holy Trinity Parish celebrates 75 years of ‘rich history’

Raritan’s Holy Trinity Parish, which, in the words of Bishop James F. Checchio, “sees what needs to be done and meets those needs,” celebrated 75 years of such faith-filled service Sept. 30 with a jubilee Mass.

The Bishop served as principal celebrant and homilist. Concelebrating were pastor emeritus Father John Pringle, who had served the parish for 38 years, and its current shepherd, Father Jeffrey M. Calia, a member of the Raritan Oratorian Community of St Philip Neri.

In addition to Holy Trinity, the community serves the parishes of St. Ann, St. Joseph, and the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, all in Raritan.

In his homily, Bishop Checchio answered the question, “How can I grow closer to the Lord at this very moment?” with Jesus’ parable of the two sons asked to work in the vineyard. The Bishop reminded the congregation of Jesus’ own words, “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But only the one who does the will of my Father.

“Actions over words are more important,” Bishop Checchio reminded the congregation. “Jesus wants disciples who will respond to his teaching on their own initiative without preference or prejudice. We are called to be disciples not just in words but in deeds too,” he said, repeating the adage, “People may not always believe what you say but they will believe what you do.”

The Bishop told the parishioners, “I am so grateful for all you do here at Holy Trinity Parish, for striving to live the faith here for 75 years You have such rich history and you have strived to assure that the faith has been passed on generation after generation.

According to church records, the possibility of providing Sunday Masses to the residents of the Bradley Gardens community in Bridgewater Township was investigated as early as 1938.  Initially Masses were celebrated in a private home and the local fire station by priests serving St. Bernard Parish, then in Raritan. It was not until 1948 that the Parish of Holy Trinity was established, and in 1949 Mass was celebrated for the first time in the auditorium of the present Church structure.

Due to an increase of both residential and commercial activity in the area the parish outgrew the initial church building and a parish center was completed in 1967 to provide space for Sunday Mass and other parish programs and functions.

Prior to his 2018 retirement, Deacon Michael J. Forrestall had served the parish for 40 of its 75-year existence. He commented, “It was a wonderful experience working with so many wonderful parishioners and the great priests that the parish has been graced with over the years.”

Holy Trinity, like many parishes, saw a downturn in parish life due to the COVID pandemic. Joseph Raimondo and his wife Mary, who have been parishioners since from the mid-1950s, noted that impact.

“All the pastors and other priests who have been assigned to Holy Trinity over the years have fostered that sense of community and involvement,” Raimondo said. He deemed the positive response of so many to the Jubilee celebration, reception and dinner dance that followed as “a hopeful sign of return to involvement in parish life.”