St. Francis of Assisi (Archdiocese of Newark)
| St. Francis of Assisi Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | St. Francis of Assisi |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Archdiocese of Newark |
| Deanery: | Not specified in available sources |
| Address: | 50 Lodi St, Hackensack, NJ 07601 |
| Coordinates: | 40.888, -74.043 (approximate coordinates for 50 Lodi St, Hackensack, NJ, based on standard mapping data) |
| City: | Hackensack, NJ |
| Subdivision: | New Jersey |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Bergen County |
| Website: | https://stfrancisofassisihackensack.com |
| Founded: | 1917 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | Not publicly detailed in available sources, Not publicly detailed in available sources |
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.[1]
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.[2] 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).[3]
The parish has been associated with St. Francis of Assisi School, and it celebrated its 100th anniversary around 2017. As of January 2026, the parish remains active as part of the Archdiocese of Newark, though detailed current information on liturgical languages, devotions, or ministries is limited in publicly accessible sources.
History
St. Francis of Assisi Parish was established in 1917 amid the influx of Italian immigrants to Hackensack.[4] Father Petrone began offering Mass in a private home on Fair Street, with the Pesaturo family providing space for gatherings.[5]
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.[6]
The parish church was constructed in the mid-Renaissance (14th-century Italian-inspired) style by immigrant communities from Sicily and Italy.[7] 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).
Special features
- Associated parish school: St. Francis of Assisi School.[8]
- Historical significance as a parish founded in 1917 to serve Italian (particularly Sicilian) immigrant communities in Hackensack.[9]
Relics
No specific information about notable first-, second-, or third-class relics, visible reliquaries, or special relic shrines is documented on the parish website or in available public sources. As is standard practice in consecrated Catholic churches, the main altar likely contains a sealed sepulcrum with at least a small first-class relic (traditionally of a martyr) in accordance with liturgical norms, but this cannot be confirmed without direct parish or diocesan documentation. No references to side-altar relics or particular saint veneration through relics were found.
Architecture
The current church building is described as constructed in a mid-Renaissance style evoking 14th-century Italian architecture.[10]
External features
- Built by Sicilian and Italian immigrants in the early years following the 1917 founding (specific materials or facade details limited in sources).[11]
Interior features
No detailed public descriptions of interior elements—such as altars, stained glass subjects, pipe organ, or artwork—are available from accessible sources.
Associated buildings include the rectory and St. Francis of Assisi School.
Art and Devotional Features
Publicly available information on specific interior artwork, stained glass, statues, or devotional elements remains very limited. The parish website focuses on current community and ministries rather than detailed artistic inventories. No verified descriptions of depictions related to St. Francis of Assisi (the dedication) or other saints are present in accessible sources.
Stained Glass Windows
No specific details on stained glass windows, their subjects, artists, dates, or iconography are documented.
Statues and Sculptures
No documented information on prominent statues, sculptures, or shrine locations is available.
Other Artwork
General references to the church building exist, but no further details on paintings, mosaics, icons, murals, or dedicated devotional areas appear in public records.
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Related parishes
Other Catholic parishes in Hackensack within the Archdiocese of Newark include:
- Holy Trinity Church (Archdiocese of Newark)
- Immaculate Conception Church (Archdiocese of Newark)
- St. Joseph Church (Archdiocese of Newark)
External links
- [Official parish website](https://stfrancisofassisihackensack.com)
- Archdiocese of Newark parishes directory: https://rcan.org/parishes/
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Parish website historical summary.
- ↑ Community reviews and historical mentions (e.g., Yelp description referencing 1917 construction by immigrants in mid-Renaissance style).
- ↑ Archdiocesan records and Wikipedia entry on churches in the Archdiocese of Newark.
- ↑ Parish website "Parish Information".
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Historical community descriptions.
- ↑ Archdiocesan Catholic Advocate references and parish listings.
- ↑ From establishment accounts.
- ↑ Community historical reviews.
- ↑ Ibid.