St. Mary's of Malaga continues vigil — day and night | NJ.com
Sunday, June 05, 2011
By Carly Q. Romalino/Gloucester County Times
Church-sitting the 90-year-old building has become a second job for those whose names are on the weekly, around-the-clock schedule.
But Vassallo said the church is still home, despite a Camden Diocese decision to consolidate more than 100 parishes to less than 60. St. Mary’s is set to merge with Newfield’s St. Rose of Lima and Buena Borough’s Queen of Angels to become Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
Bishop Joseph Galante said the church’s low attendance — under 200 people on weekends — and broken boiler were grounds for closing the church last year.
The recent news of pastor reassignments is a dash of hope for Vassallo, who said pastors have a lot of pull in the diocese. Father Edward Namiotka had been St. Mary’s pastor since 2009. He has been reassigned to St. Joseph’s in Somers Point, and Father Allain Caparas will take over as pastor and convener of Queen of Angels, St. Rose of Lima and St. Mary’s starting on June 13.
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