St. Francis of Assisi (Archdiocese of Newark): Difference between revisions

St. Francis of Assisi Church is a territorial Roman Catholic parish in Hackensack, New Jersey, within the Archdiocese of Newark. It serves the local geographic community in Bergen County. The parish was established in 1917, initially to serve the growing Italian immigrant population in the area, with early Masses conducted in a house on Fair Street by Father Petrone, supported by families such as the Pesaturo family.<ref>According to the parish website's "Parish Information" section (stfrancisofassisihackensack.com, as of January 2026); also noted in Wikipedia listing of churches in the Archdiocese of Newark.</ref>

A new wooden-frame building was dedicated on December 9 of that year by Bishop O'Connor, and the parish was placed under the care of the diocese.<ref>Parish website historical summary.</ref> The current church building, constructed in a mid-Renaissance style reminiscent of 14th-century Italian architecture, was built by Sicilian and Italian immigrants shortly after the founding (specific completion date within the late 1910s or early 1920s not precisely documented in available public sources).<ref>Community reviews and historical mentions (e.g., Yelp description referencing 1917 construction by immigrants in mid-Renaissance style).</ref>

St. Francis of Assisi Parish was established in 1917 amid the influx of Italian immigrants to Hackensack.<ref>Archdiocesan records and Wikipedia entry on churches in the Archdiocese of Newark.</ref> Father Petrone began offering Mass in a private home on Fair Street, with the Pesaturo family providing space for gatherings.<ref>Parish website "Parish Information".</ref>

Later that year, on December 9, 1917, Bishop O'Connor dedicated a new wooden-frame church building, formally naming the parish for St. Francis of Assisi and entrusting it to diocesan clergy.<ref>Ibid.</ref>

The parish church was constructed in the mid-Renaissance (14th-century Italian-inspired) style by immigrant communities from Sicily and Italy.<ref>Historical community descriptions.</ref> The parish has maintained continuity since its founding, with no major mergers or suppressions documented in available records. It has an associated school, and in later years participated in diocesan events such as Catholic Schools Week (e.g., noted in 2005 Archdiocesan newspaper references).

The current church building is described as constructed in a mid-Renaissance style evoking 14th-century Italian architecture.<ref>Community historical reviews.</ref>