Our Lady of Mount Virgin (Archdiocese of Newark)

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Our Lady of Mount Virgin
Generic church icon.jpg
Dedication: Our Lady of Mount Virgin
Venerated Saints: None specified
Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark
Deanery:
Address: 188 MacArthur Ave, Garfield, NJ 07026
Coordinates: 40.8799, -74.1069
City: Garfield, NJ
Subdivision: New Jersey
Country: United States
County: Bergen County
Website: https://mountvirgin.com/
Founded: 1903
School: Yes
Email: office@mountvirgin.com

Our Lady of Mount Virgin is a Roman Catholic territorial parish located in Garfield, Bergen County, New Jersey, within the Archdiocese of Newark. Established as the first Catholic church in Garfield, the parish serves a diverse community with a strong historical emphasis on Italian heritage, as evidenced by its ongoing Italian-language Mass and participation in the Archdiocese's Italian Apostolate. The current church building was dedicated in 1927.

The parish maintains a rich tradition of community faith, offering multiple Sunday Masses in English and Italian to accommodate its parishioners. As of January 2026, it continues active ministry under diocesan clergy, with regular liturgical celebrations, music ministry, and community events.

History

According to reliable sources including Wikipedia's list of churches in the Archdiocese of Newark (drawing from diocesan and historical records), Our Lady of Mount Virgin was founded in 1903, making it the first Catholic church established in Garfield, New Jersey.[1] Earlier missionary activity dates to around 1901, with the first Mass celebrated by Father Giovanni Po in a barn on Clark Street.[2]

The present church building was dedicated in 1927. The parish has served as a center for the local Catholic community, particularly Italian immigrants and their descendants, as reflected in its continued provision of a 9:45 AM Italian Mass.[3]

In 1917, Our Lady of Sorrows opened as a mission of Our Lady of Mount Virgin; it was later merged into the parish.[4] The parish has maintained continuity as a territorial parish serving the geographic area of Garfield and surrounding communities, with a history spanning over a century.[5]

This reflects established diocesan and historical records; details on specific founding motivations (such as serving Italian immigrants) are consistent with patterns in early 20th-century New Jersey parishes but are not elaborately documented in available online sources.

Special features

  • The parish participates in the Archdiocese of Newark's Italian Apostolate, honoring Italian Catholic heritage through bilingual liturgies and cultural events.[6]
  • It includes a music ministry that enhances worship, with singing described as integral to prayer.[7]
  • The church serves as a community focal point for families in Garfield and nearby areas, with a century-long tradition of faith.[8]

Relics No specific documented relics (such as notable first- or second-class relics in public reliquaries) are mentioned in available parish or diocesan sources. Like most Catholic churches, it likely contains relics sealed in the altar stone per traditional practice, but this cannot be confirmed without onsite verification.

Architecture

Detailed information on the architectural style, architect, or specific construction materials of the 1927 church building is limited in publicly available sources. The structure is described in general terms as a venerable church building in local listings.[9] Visual analysis from public images (e.g., Google Maps and parish social media) suggests a traditional Roman Catholic church design typical of early 20th-century American parishes in the region, though no confirmed style (e.g., Gothic Revival or Romanesque) is documented.

External features

  • Located on MacArthur Avenue in a residential neighborhood.

Interior features

  • Features spaces suitable for multiple Masses, including streaming capabilities for select liturgies.[10]

Art and Devotional Features

Limited detailed descriptions of interior artwork, stained glass, statues, or devotional shrines are available from public sources. The parish emphasizes devotion to Our Lady of Mount Virgin (also known as Our Lady of Montevergine, tied to the Italian sanctuary near Avellino), consistent with its dedication and Italian heritage.

Stained Glass Windows No specific details on stained glass windows are documented in available sources.

Statues and Sculptures No confirmed details on prominent statues or sculptures are available publicly; typical Catholic parishes include images of the patroness and other saints, but this remains unverified here.

Other Artwork The parish maintains standard devotional elements for worship, but specific artworks, murals, or shrines cannot be confirmed without further primary documentation.

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Related parishes

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_churches_in_the_Archdiocese_of_Newark
  2. ↑ https://www.johntiedemann.com/projects-1-1
  3. ↑ https://mountvirgin.com/
  4. ↑ https://mountvirgin.com/about-us
  5. ↑ https://mountvirgin.com/about-us
  6. ↑ https://rcan.org/italian-apostolate/
  7. ↑ https://mountvirgin.com/music-ministry
  8. ↑ https://mountvirgin.com/about-us
  9. ↑ https://www.mapquest.com/us/new-jersey/our-lady-of-mount-virgin-church-378297872
  10. ↑ https://mountvirgin.com/mass-times
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