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Twenty-fifth Anniversary

Most Holy Redeemer Parish Old Bridge Township

133 Amboy Road Matawan, New Jersey 07747

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MASS OF DEDICATION

MOST HOLY REDEEMER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

133 Amboy Road

Old Bridge Township

Matawan, New Jersey 07747

September 26, 1987

5:00 p.m.

MOST REVEREND EDWARD T. HUGHES

BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN

Celebrant

REVEREND JOSEPH L. DESMOND

Founding Pastor

November 2, 1984 - June 11, 1996

REVEREND HENRY L. HEMMERLING

Pastor Emeritus

Second Pastor

June 11, 1996 - June 13, 2001

REVEREND EDWARD J. STRUZIK

Pastor Emeritus

Third Pastor

June 13, 2001 - October 15, 2003

REVEREND CHESTER H. CARINA Present Pastor Fourth Pastor

November 11, 2003 – Present

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Ground breaking ceremony - Rev. Joseph L.Desmond and unidentified parishioner, dateNovember22,1986.

FuturehomeofMostHolyRedeemerChurch

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HISTORYOFMOSTHOLYREDEEMER

CHAPTERONE:THEBEGINNINGS

Pope JohnPaul IIproclaimed1983asaHolyYearcelebratingthe1,950thyearofourredemption.Inresponsetothis,onJune2,1983,BishopTheodoreE. McCarrick, founding Bishop of the Diocese ofMetuchen, established the Parish of Most HolyRedeemerinOldBridge.Thisparishwascarvedoutof St. Ambrose, Old Bridge, St. Lawrence, LaurenceHarbor,andSt.Bernadette,Parlin. On November 2, 1984, Reverence Joseph L.DesmondbegantheworkofgatheringthemembersoftheParishofMostHolyRedeemer. The firstMasswas celebratedNovember17,1984atCarlSandburgMiddleSchool.OnJanuary26,1985,theBishoppersonallyinstalledFatherDesmondastheFoundingPastor.InMarch1985,88LakeridgeDrivewaspurchasedastheRectoryandParishOffices. The parish center, which houses the churchhall,theBlessedSacramentChapelandoffices,cover15,180 square feet and is built on pre-designconstruction.Ithasbeenbuilton8.5acresonAmboyRoad,OldBridge. AnareawidecensuswasconductedinMayof1985.Thiscensusrevealedthatthereweremorethan325 Catholic families living within the parishboundaries.Todaywehavemorethan1,400families. InMayof1986,theBuildingFundCampaign,“Building our Home” was launched. Pledges andmemorialsarestillavailable. The groundbreaking ceremony was held onNovember 22, 1986, attended by parishioners, localcivicandecclesiasticaldignitaries. On Saturday, July 18, 1987, at 5:00 p.m., thefirst Mass was celebrated at Most Holy RedeemerChurch. On Saturday, September 26, 1987, BishopEdwardT.Hughes,BishopoftheDioceseofMetuchen,dedicated OUR HOME, the Church of Most HolyRedeemer.OnMay8,1988,ArchbishopTheodoreE.McCarrick,ArchbishopofNewark,blessedthestatuesintheChurch.

Our Religious Education Center was blessedSeptember19,1993byBishopEdwardT.Hughes.

TIMESTOREMEMBER11/02/84 FatherDesmond’sarrivalinOldBridgeto

beginhisworkatMostHolyRedeemer.11/03/84 Celebration of Mass at St. Ambrose by

Father Desmond, inviting newparishioners to be a part of this newadventure.

11/11/84 CelebrationofMassatSt.LawrenceandSt.

Bernadette by Father Desmond, againinviting newparishioners to be a part ofthisnewadventure.

11/17/84 CelebrationofMostHolyRedeemer’sFirst

Mass at Carl Sandburg Middle School at5:00p.m.

12/01/84 FirstMassofResurrection celebrated for

deceasedparishioner,Anthony J.Guidice,Jr.

12/10/84 First Neighborhood Mass hosted by

PatriciaSeltzer12/25/84 CelebrationofMassbyBishopMcCarrick

onourFirstChristmasat10:00a.m.12/27/84 Celebration ofMass for the first time for

ourparishionersatEmeryManorNursingHome.

01/06/85 First Baptism of Most Holy Redeemer

parishioners at St.AmbroseChurch; fourbabieswerebaptized.

01/26/85 InstallationofFatherDesmondbyBishop

McCarrick as First Pastor of Most HolyRedeemer.

02/85 FirstAshestoEasterLentenProgram03/15/85 Closing on 88 Lakeridge Drive house,

marking the establishment of the FirstRectory.

03/17/85 TriptoAtlanticCity,ourFirstFundraiser03/29/85 First Annual Pub Night at the Friendly

SonsoftheShillelagh

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04/14/85 ASecondTriptoAtlanticCity04/15/85 FirstWeekdayMassinRectoryChapel04/18/85 First Marriage in Most Holy Redeemer

Rectory Chapel betweenGerard V. SmithandFrancesTheresaHalligan

05/85 ParishCensus05/08/85 FirstPre-BaptismInstructionSessionTOBECONTINUED…