St. Paul the Apostle Senior Residence ready to welcome first occupants

FORDS — Standing before a small crowd gathered in the sun-drenched community room of St. Paul the Apostle Senior Residence, Bishop James F. Checchio imparted his blessing on the newly built home, asking God to make it “a place of goodness and a center of love.”

The July 21 dedication ceremony and blessing of the expansive three-story building at 635 Amboy Ave. in the Fords section of Edison was a stark contrast to the cold, rainy groundbreaking ceremony held there in Feb. 25, 2020, a day Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, said he remembers well.

“I was there on the groundbreaking day, but I was not aware at the time that a curtain was about to come down -— COVID [19],” Cardinal Tobin said, noting the pandemic that captured the world’s attention in the weeks that followed the groundbreaking. “I don’t think any of us realized when we first heard the reports or read the newspaper articles, how devastating it would be.”

Speaking to those gathered, which included many of the same civic and community leaders who helped to break ground for the residence, and several future residents who were present for the ceremony, Cardinal Tobin recalled the words shared with him last year by Pope Francis: nobody comes out of a crisis the same.

“We either come out better or we come out worse, but you cannot, as much as you would like to, go back to whatever you were before,” he continued. “I think what we celebrate here today is the fact that we are coming out better because, whether we liked it or not, COVID showed us how connected we are. The fact that this great accomplishment happened during that terrible time makes known the wonderful connection that exists between those who serve the political life of the state, the private sector and communities of faith.”

A project between Domus Corporation and Metuchen Community Services Corporation, an agency of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, St. Paul the Apostle Senior Residence will welcome its first residents later this summer, four years after receiving funding for the 42,788 square-foot facility.

The senior residence is the first project to be undertaken by Metuchen Community Services Corporation and the thirteenth for Domus Corporation, their first in Middlesex County, since the not-for-profit was founded in 1995. Domus Corporation serves as the housing development corporation on all permanent-housing initiatives for the Archdiocese of Newark.

With 42 affordable housing units for residents 62 and over, 11 of those designated for homeless senior citizens, the facility is constructed wholly for those who are considered low income by federal poverty standards and is expected to bring a meaningful presence to the community.

“We celebrate a connection with those who are often forgotten, those who are seniors,” Cardinal Tobin said in his remarks at the dedication ceremony, which was held only days before the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, as declared by Pope Francis and observed on July 25, close to the feast of 

Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. “We thank God for all here present who allowed this to come about. This is a sign of victory; a sign of hope and I sure am grateful for it.”

St. Paul the Apostle Senior Residence is situated across the street from Our Lady of Peace Church, with Catholic Charities’ Edison Family Service Center enveloping its other side, where it sits on a well-manicured lot that was once home to the annex building formerly owned by the parish.

First initiated under the leadership of Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski, who was present for the dedication ceremony and for whom the building is named, the senior residence was nearly six years in the making. By all accounts, the project was a collaborative effort, relying on the partnership between the Archdiocese of Newark, the Diocese of Metuchen and many others.

“Bishops always get the best jobs. They get to come in and bless wonderful things that other people do on our behalf and on behalf of the diocese,” Bishop Checchio quipped when he first approached the podium at the front of the room. “I am so blessed to be a part of this Diocese of Metuchen,” he continued in earnest.

“The name of the building is St. Paul the Apostle and, of course, it is honoring a great apostle, but it also is a subtle way of honoring my predecessor, too,” Bishop Checchio said, acknowledging Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski, who served as the fourth Bishop of Metuchen until May 2016, when Bishop Checchio was ordained and installed as Bishop of Metuchen. “He was the one who helped to come up with this project and I am grateful for that today.”

Before giving the blessing, the bishop expressed his thanks and remarked how many people had helped to shepherd the project to its completion, including Msgr. William Benwell, former chairman of the board of trustees for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen (CCDOM); Marianne Majewski, former executive director, CCDOM; Julio Coto, executive director, CCDOM; and Gary Hoagland, president of Metuchen Community Services Corporation.

Bishop Checchio also expressed his gratitude for the guidance from leaders in the Archdiocese of Newark, noting especially Cardinal Tobin and John Westervelt, president of Domus Corporation, who assisted with the project.

He continued to thank all who made the project possible, among which include Our Lady of Peace Parish; Edison Township; Middlesex County; New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency; TD Bank; Costanza Builders, Inc.; Steven S. Cohen, architect; Enterprise Housing Credit Investors, LLC; Community Preservation Corporation; and Monarch Housing Associates.

In his blessing, before he and others moved outside to cut the ribbon that would officially signify the opening of the building, Bishop Checchio said “when we serve those in need, it is Christ Himself we serve.”

“In this realization then, let us ask for God’s blessing on all those who will reside at St. Paul the Apostle Senior Residence and also upon all those who will devote themselves to caring for the residents here,” he continued. “Let us pray in thanksgiving for all those who have made this day possible and let us ask for the divine blessing on this building as it gets ready to accept its first residents.”

The facility, which Cardinal Tobin and Bishop Checchio both toured, features 41 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit. The residence contains an activity room, a community room that can be partitioned in half with a kitchen to support the rooms, management offices, a common laundry room with adjacent lounge, a large lobby and maintenance areas.

“What an extraordinary year this has been for all of us,” said John Westervelt, president of Domus Corporation and the emcee of the dedication ceremony. “Despite many challenges, I am delighted to be here as the vision becomes a reality to all of us who had a little part in designing this building.

Affordable housing is very much needed throughout this state, said Westervelt, who added that St. Paul the Apostle Senior Residence is a special project, “ideally suited for the town of Edison.”

“I am confident that the residence will add a meaningful presence to the fabric of this community,” he said.

Tara Smith is director of the diocesan Office of Communications