Holy Trinity (Archdiocese of Newark, Hackensack)
| Holy Trinity Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Holy Trinity |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Archdiocese of Newark |
| Deanery: | Southeast Bergen (Planning Area D) |
| Address: | 34 Maple Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601 |
| Coordinates: | 40.886, -74.043 (approximate; based on standard coordinates for 34 Maple Ave, Hackensack, NJ – precise values may vary slightly) |
| City: | Hackensack, NJ |
| Subdivision: | New Jersey |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Bergen County |
| Website: | https://www.hthackensack.org |
| Founded: | 1861 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | Not publicly listed on main sources |
Holy Trinity Church is a territorial Roman Catholic parish located in Hackensack, New Jersey, serving the local geographic community in Bergen County. Established in 1861, it is one of the older parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark and has historically served a diverse, multiethnic congregation, reflecting the evolving Catholic population of the area.[1]
The current church building, a notable example of Romanesque Byzantine (or Romanesque Revival with Byzantine elements) architecture, was dedicated in 1929. It replaced earlier structures and stands as an outstanding example of ecclesiastical architecture in Bergen County, according to local descriptions.[2] The parish offers Masses in English, Spanish, and periodically in Tagalog, indicating its service to Hispanic/Latino and Filipino communities alongside traditional English-speaking parishioners.[3]
As a longstanding community institution, Holy Trinity maintains active devotional practices, including Eucharistic adoration and confessions in multiple languages, and is associated with a parish school.
History
Holy Trinity Church was founded in 1861, during a period of growth for Catholicism in northern New Jersey following the establishment of the Diocese of Newark in 1853.[4] The first Mass in Hackensack was celebrated by Father Louis Dominic Senez on June 19, 1857, serving a small community primarily of Irish immigrants.[5] A small mission church (St. Lawrence) opened in May 1861, and the parish was formally established that year.
In 1868, Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley dedicated a brick church building as the "Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity."[6] The first resident pastor arrived the following year.
Due to growth, a new, larger church was constructed in the late 1920s. Designed by architect Raphael Hume, the present Romanesque Byzantine structure was joyously dedicated by Bishop Thomas J. Walsh on June 2, 1929.[7] The design features eight Corinthian marble columns at the entrance, an octagonal dome, a soaring apse, and impressive interior elements.
The parish has evolved into a multiethnic community, with ministries in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, reflecting demographic changes in Hackensack.[8] It has been served by numerous pastors, including recent ones such as Rev. Thomas Quinn (appointed 2022–present, with updates in later years).[9]
Limited sources suggest the parish has maintained continuity since its founding, with no major mergers or closures reported.
Special features
- Multi-lingual liturgy and devotions, including Masses in English, Spanish, and Tagalog (every second Sunday).[10]
- Daily Eucharistic adoration (Monday–Friday, 1pm–6pm) with a dedicated adoration chapel and online holy hour sign-up.[11]
- Associated parish school.[12]
- Historical significance as one of the earliest Catholic establishments in Hackensack, serving immigrants from the mid-19th century onward.[13]
Relics
No specific information about notable first-, second-, or third-class relics, reliquaries, or shrine relics is available from parish sources, diocesan records, or public descriptions. As is customary in Catholic churches, the main altar likely contains relics sealed in the sepulcrum (traditionally a small first-class relic of a martyr), per liturgical norms, but this cannot be confirmed without interior documentation. No public mentions of side-altar relics or special veneration of particular saints' relics were found.
Architecture
The current church building is described as an outstanding example of ecclesiastical architecture in Bergen County.[14]
External features
- Features eight Corinthian marble columns at the entrance.[15]
- Octagonal dome and soaring apse.[16]
- Constructed in the Romanesque Byzantine style (also noted as Romanesque Revival with Byzantine influences) by architect Raphael Hume, dedicated in 1929.[17]
Interior features
- Beautiful stained glass windows (specific subjects not detailed in available sources).[18]
- Wonderful pipe organ.[19]
- Impressive interior appointments described as "at once austere and ornate."[20]
Associated buildings include a parish school, a former convent now serving as the parish office (20 Pangborn Place), and likely a rectory (historical Tudor Revival rectory by Hume noted in older accounts, though status as of 2026 is unclear).
Art and Devotional Features
Limited public details are available on specific artwork. The parish highlights its beautiful stained glass windows and ornate interior elements in historical descriptions.[21] No detailed inventories of statues, sculptures, murals, or specific saint depictions (beyond the dedication to the Holy Trinity) appear in accessible sources.
Stained Glass Windows
The church contains beautiful stained glass windows, contributing to the interior's aesthetic, but subjects, artists, or dates are not specified in available references.[22]
Statues and Sculptures
No specific information on prominent statues or sculptures is documented in public sources.
Other Artwork
General references to impressive interior appointments exist, but no further details on paintings, mosaics, icons, or devotional shrines are provided.
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Related parishes
Other Catholic parishes in Hackensack within the Archdiocese of Newark include:
- Immaculate Conception Church (Archdiocese of Newark)
- St. Francis of Assisi Church (Archdiocese of Newark)
- St. Joseph Church (Archdiocese of Newark)
External links
- [Official parish website](https://www.hthackensack.org)
- Archdiocese of Newark parishes directory: https://rcan.org/parishes/
References
- ↑ According to parish historical accounts and Archdiocesan records.
- ↑ Wikipedia entry on churches in the Archdiocese of Newark; historical parish site descriptions.
- ↑ Current parish website https://www.hthackensack.org (as of January 2026).
- ↑ Archdiocese of Newark archives chronology.
- ↑ Parish historical account from former site holytrinity1861.org.
- ↑ Catholic Advocate article (1961) and parish history.
- ↑ Parish historical narrative.
- ↑ Current parish website and bulletins (as of 2025–2026).
- ↑ Archdiocese of Newark clergy appointment announcements.
- ↑ Parish website.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Parish office description.
- ↑ Parish history.
- ↑ Local newspaper acknowledgments cited in parish history.
- ↑ Parish historical description.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Churches of the Archdiocese of Newark blog and Wikipedia.
- ↑ Parish history.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Parish history narrative.
- ↑ Ibid.