|
OUR PARISH
In the spring of 1911, a number of Catholics living in Warren visited Father William Dittrich, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Bound Brook, requesting the regular celebration of Sunday Mass in Warren. On June 18, 1911, Father Dittrich offered Mass in the parlor of the Binz's Hotel, later known as the King George Inn.
With the growth of the Catholic population of the area, construction began on a stone chapel late in 1911, and Father Dittrich offered the first Mass in the new building on December 22, 1912. On July 4, 1913, Bishop James A. McFaul formally dedicated the chapel.
From 1911 until 1952, Our Lady of the Mount was a mission, first of St. Joseph Parish in Bound Brook, then St. Joseph Parish in North Plainfield, and finally St. James Parish in Basking Ridge.
In September, 1952, Bishop George W. Ahr established Our Lady of the Mount as an independent parish, with Father Thomas, I. Flynn as founding pastor. With the continued growth of the parish, a rectory was built in 1953. A parish center was built in 1970 during the the pastorate of Father James A. Russell. Masses were celebrated in the gym of the parish center. In 1988, Father William Hewitt renovated the gym into a permanent church. The parish center and parking lot were expanded in 1998, and the church grounds beautified with the prayer garden in 2000 during the pastorate of Msgr. William Benwell.
Our Lady of the Mount, with Father Sean Kenney as Pastor, now serves over 1700 families in Warren.
|
