Sacred Heart Church's closure in Newark
For generations, Sunday morning for Catholics in northern New Jersey began with a mad rush for a seat at Sacred Heart Church.
Confraternity of the Holy Name in better days
“If you didn’t get in early, you were going to have to stand,” said Bob Madara, who joined the parish in 1971. “There were even masses in the cafeteria to handle the overflow. It was just huge.”
Built in 1929, the cavernous structure had long anchored the city’s bustling Vailsburg neighborhood. For a time, it was also a linchpin of city and state politics, providing a base for the Giblin and Cryan families and former Chief Justice James Zazzali.
But now, faced with changing demographics and expensive repairs, the Newark Archdiocese will close the church July 1. Worshippers will be directed to Saint Joseph’s in East Orange instead.
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