Church, Parish, Mission

A Brief History of St. Adalbert’s Parish
 
The first records of Polish settlers in the Elizabeth area date back to the 1870’s.  To hear the Word of God in their native tongue, they traveled to St. Stanislaus Church in New York City, and then to St. Stanislaus in Newark, and Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church in Elizabeth.
 
In 1905, a delegation of Elizabeth residents contacted Rev. Vitus J. Masnicki, pastor of the Newark church, requesting his assistance in forming their own parish. As their inaugural meeting on May 21, 1905, the group decided to name the parish after the Patron and Apostle of Poland, Saint Adalbert (Wojciech) and incorporated according to the regulations of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark. Land was purchased for a combination school and church and on November 6, 1906, the building was dedicated. The succeeding years found much growth in both parishioners and in additional structures which included a school, rectory and convent.
 
Monsignor Masnicki died on July 29, 1956 after a pastorate of 51 years.  His successor, Rev. Joseph A. Smolen, a native son of St. Adalbert’s, was concerned about the deteriorating condition of the convent and rectory and initiated a fund raising effort to replace both in 1960.  New pews were installed in the church, the upper nave windows were replaced, and the church was air-conditioned during the late 1960’s by Monsignor Smolen who retired in 1972. He was as succeeded by another native son, Rev. Joseph A. Marjanczyk.
 
The late 1970’s saw renovations in the church and parish hall as well as construction of Calvary Garden Mausoleum at Mount Calvary Cemetery. The diminishing amount of available land necessitated this expansion. In 1983, Rev. Edward Gubernat became the fourth pastor of St. Adalbert’s. The parish school was the focus of improvements during the 1980’s but because of declining enrollment, three parishes united to form Elizabethport Catholic School in 1996.  Father Gubernat did not live to see this neighborhood academy become a reality; he died in September 1995 and Rev. Ronald J. Marczewski became the parish’s fifth pastor.
 
A restoration Campaign was launched in 1996 focusing on the church building and much of the extensive work was completed by 1998. Subsequently, the main meeting room in the lower church was converted into a daily Mass chapel and the Grotto Shrine of Our Lady was added on the lawn adjoining the Church.  Monsignor Marczewski was named pastor of St. Aloysius’ Church in Caldwell and in July 2004, Rev. Krzysztof Szczotka, was named the sixth pastor of St. Adalbert’s. 
 
With Father Szczotka’s pastorate, the parish looked towards celebrating the centennial of its founding. Beginning with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Archbishop John Myers on May 21, 2005 and ending with a gala celebration concluding the Jubilee Year on April 23, 2006, monthly centennial gatherings highlighted memories of the past encouraging the parish community as it moved into its second century.

We at St. Adalbert are reaching out to everyone in our locality with the loving embrace of God. We strive to fulfill our mission in service to our Lord Jesus Christ in the following ways: by worshipping together in a spirit of love and peace lifting our hearts up to God in word and in song; by providing for the educational needs of our children in Religious Education Program; by providing for continuing Catholic Adult Formation and Evangelization; by offering our support and assistance to the poor and needy of our parish and community; by supporting life in all its stages; by promoting and affirming family life; and by being faithful and respectful stewards of what the Lord has given us.