Continuing the Journey: Annuciation Parish commemorates 60th Anniversary
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
BLOOMSBURY — Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski urged parishioners of Annunciation Parish to continue what the founding families started by leading others to Christ at a Mass to commemorate its 60th anniversary Sept. 20.
The parish began the anniversary commemoration with a holy hour for vocations Sept. 19, and concluded it with a dinner after the Mass.
Concelebrants included Father Roberto D. Coruna, pastor, and priests from the diocese.
In his homily, Bishop Bootkoski said the parishioners of Annunciation could honor those who established the parish by “being kind and supporting one another.”
Bishop Bootkoski cited the importance of the laity in the success of a parish, which began as a mission church.
“There is something in all of us that makes us believe there is more to life than meets the eye,” the bishop said. “May you always seek Jesus, who called us to holiness. May you find what you are looking for here at Annunciation, just as the generations before you did.
“As Paul said, ‘To me, life is Christ’ (Phil 1:21), and the people who helped establish this parish never ever gave up trying to find that life.”
Citing the Gospel reading (Mt 20:1-16), Bishop Bootkoski said just as the landowner paid the laborers in the vineyard equally no matter how long they worked, God is always generous.
“Be pleased with what you have,” the bishop said. “Although your parish may not be as large as others in our diocese, it is a jewel. It is alive. There is a richness here.”
Called to serve
Before the Mass ended, Father Coruna thanked God for the 60 years he has watched over Annunciation Parish, and Mary, its patroness.
He also thanked the numerous volunteers who helped make the celebration a success.
Prior to the Mass, Father Coruna said the parish’s relatively small size — 425 families — makes it easy for parishioners to work together in ministries and projects.
“I love this parish,” he said. “The people are very close. I try to remember all their names, even the children, so when they go home they feel good the priest knows them by name.”
The parish has about 250 children in religious education. Many of the parishioners commute to jobs in New York and Philadelphia.
Parishioners have opportunities to serve on the parish council, a social concerns group, the Holy Name Society, the women’s guild and the youth group.
Father Coruna said he enjoys meeting the needs of the parishioners, whether it is encouraging spiritual formation of youth or visiting the homebound and sick to bring them Communion.
“Many times they have nobody with them during the day because their family may be working, so just giving them a chance to talk a little bit helps,” he said.
He said is particularly concerned about the busy schedules of families in his parish.
“I also remind them to be more concerned about their spiritual training than soccer practice or other activities. If you know your values you know what to do with your life. If you have values that are different from the Gospel of Christ you are going to be in trouble.”
Father Coruna said the parishioners are also generous with their time and money. The parish, for example, reached its goal for the 2007 Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
In the wake of the anniversary, Father Coruna said he wants parishioners to live its theme, “Annunciation: Reflecting on the Past, Journeying Together with the Lord.”
“We can take advantage of this celebration to encourage people to not only go to Mass but to evangelize,” he said. “In many parishes, usually about one-third comes to Mass every Sunday. If, for example, we have 400 families and we can multiply that by three — mother, father, son or daughter — that is 1,200 people.”
Faithful witnesses
Several longtime parishioners also said they enjoy the quaintness and community-like atmosphere of Annunciation Parish.
Joseph Zinkann, an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and a member of the Holy Name Society, said Annunciation is not a parish where people go their own way after Sunday Mass.
“The two big events each year are the picnic and St. Patrick’s Day,” said Zinkann, whose his wife, Mary, is a member of the choir. “On St. Patrick’s Day we fill the place. We bring in Irish steppers and everything.”
Bill Girton, whose two children are altar servers, described Annunciation as a “big spiritual family” and added that Father Coruna is “open and accessible.”
Cheryl McKee said she is also a member of the choir and volunteers to clean the church.
“I have had two children baptized here, three who have received communion and one who has been confirmed. I used to belong to a much larger parish and I had to get used to the change, but the people are welcoming and supportive.”
From the ashes
The roots of Annunciation Parish were planted about 1870, when Father Francis O’Neill, pastor of St. Ann Parish, Hampton, founded the mission churches of St Joachim, West Portal; St. Rose of Lima, Oxford; St. Joseph, High Bridge; and St. Joseph, Washington.
The church dedicated to St. Joachim was built to minister to workers digging a railroad tunnel through Musconetcong Mountain in Bethlehem Township.
In the early 1900s, spiritual care of St. Joachim was transferred to St. Philip and St. James, Phillipsburg.
About 1940, when St. Joachim Church was destroyed by fire, its spiritual care went back to St. Ann Parish. In the interim, Masses were held in private homes as well as in a funeral storage facility in Bloomsbury.
The Church of the Annunciation was established as a mission parish and dedicated Sept. 28, 1948. It became an independent parish in December 1982.
The parish celebrated its golden anniversary with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Vincent De Paul Breen Oct. 11, 1998, during the pastorate of Father James W. Hagerman.
