Saint Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church of Union City will observe its 125th Anniversary from Aug. 26 to 28, with a three-day celebration that will temporarily close part of 40th Street.
The event starts off with a gala dinner Friday night at La Fortuna in Fairview, N.J. Tickets are on sale at the parish office. The celebration continues with an all-day festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Food and entertainment will be available. Then on Sunday, a bilingual ceremony will be conducted by Bishops Thomas Donato and Manuel Cruz at 9 a.m., followed by a procession at 10 a.m. to honor the patron saint Augustine. The festival will also continue from noon to 10 p.m. that Sunday.
The beginning of a parish
Back in 1886, Reverend Augustine M. Brady, who came from the New York diocese, initiated construction of the church. Six lots were purchased on the block between Morgan and Gardner Streets in Union Hill. Today, these blocks are known as 39th and 40th Street in Union City. The church was re-built two more times, in 1931 and 1958, to accommodate the growing congregation and the changing demographics.
‘I thank god for this church’ – Father Tom Devine
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For nearly the first 50 years of Saint Augustine’s existence, the German and Irish immigrant population made the majority of the parishioners. That population began to decline because the second and third generations began moving outside the city.
So with a new growing congregation, Reverend Healy wanted a modern and larger house of worship. He hoped for a building of a type that was never seen before in Union City. In 1958, the church opened, welcoming its ever-growing Latino community.
Jailed for religion in Cuba
When Maria de los Angeles Garcia arrived in the United States on May 19, 1967, she did not imagine she would be a member and a volunteer for the church. While in Cuba, Garcia was in jail for teaching religion.
Forty-four years later, she remains active.
“Four days after my arrival from Cuba, I was asked to help with religious activities,” said Garcia.
She continues to help the church with many programs like teaching catechism classes to English and Spanish-speaking children. The Sunday school program sees about 400 children every week.
Garcia also recalls the Spanish population, mostly Cubans, influencing Saint Augustine’s Church to have a Spanish mass.
“In those days, the mass was held in the basement,” said Garcia.
The Cuban population had a major influence in the neighborhood. Garcia remembers Bergenline Avenue with very few businesses.
“It was the Cubans who opened a lot of small businesses that made Bergenline what it is today,” said Garcia.
The church is now experiencing another wave of change. “This time, the second and third generations of Cubans are now moving to the suburbs,” said Garcia. The Latino population in Union City is not only Cubans anymore. “You now have a mix of Caribbean, Central and South Americans,” she said.
Programs for kids, the poor
Today, Father Tom Devine presides over the church’s day to day operations. He feels it is the church’s mission to open its doors and adjust to the needs of a changing neighborhood. As he looks back, he feels “the arrival of the Cubans is a major milestone for this [Saint Augustine’s] church.”
The church offers a variety of services dedicated to keep the youths off the streets. Programs like Agua Viva for children ages 13-18 and Luz de Dios for young adults teach them about spirituality and to give back to the community.
Saint Augustine’s also offer programs to help with hardship during these tough economic times. Annually, the church assists families who need to pay their rent. They also have a food pantry “especially for those who are struggling to put food on the table,” said Fr. Devine. The church also tries to help new immigrants find a home and employment.
In preparation for the anniversary, the church has completed two steps of a three-phase upgrade. They recently repaired the roof, and the entrance of the church had a major make-over.
“Hopefully, with the help of donations, we will be able to renovate the interior of the church,” said Devine.
As they reflect and prepare for the upcoming celebration, Fr. Devine said, “I thank god for this church. Spiritually I have grown.”
Gustavo L. Adrianzen may be reached at editorial@hudsonreporter.com.