Tucked onto Van Ness Place in Newark's South Ward, Blessed Sacrament - St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church is a parish with two historic names under one roof. The parish grounds carry on a long Newark Catholic tradition of worship and service, with a pastor who writes online about engaging teens with the Bible and a community that runs a food pantry, a media team that streams Mass on YouTube, and a choir that leads the congregation through every season of the church year. The parish motto says it simply: "A Church that prays together . . . Stays together."
A Mission That Reaches Beyond the Altar
The parish describes its mission as "Faith and Catholic tradition in ministering to the spiritual, material, educational, physical and social needs of the parish community. We accomplish this in our worship, in our programs, and by the example of our daily lives." That mission shows up in everything from the Liturgy Committee that prepares the seasons of Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Advent and Christmas, to the food pantry that hands out canned goods twice a month, to the Bereavement Ministry that walks with families from mourning toward joy.
Worship, Choir and Livestreamed Mass
The Music Ministry, led by John Garner, is described as "a vital component" of the parish's liturgical celebrations. The choirs lead the congregation in songs and responses of many different styles and also sing for Confirmation, First Eucharist, Holy Week services and the annual Passion Play. Choir members rehearse on Thursday evenings, and the parish is actively recruiting sopranos, altos, tenors and baritones with prior choir experience.
Worship is livestreamed on YouTube at the channel @bsscbnj, and the Media Ministry also records sermons on CD for the homebound and for evangelization. Bible study CDs are available in the parish bookstore. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at weekend Masses and special liturgies, with assignments rotating about twice a month, and altar servers in fourth grade and older assist the priests at the altar.
Feeding the Neighborhood: The Food Pantry
The parish Food Pantry is one of the most visible signs of the parish's commitment to its South Ward neighbors. It opens on the third and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for families, and on the third and fourth Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for singles. Food donations of canned vegetables, cereal, soup, peanut butter and jelly are always needed, and monetary donations can be made through an account at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey designated for the Blessed Sacrament St. Charles Pantry.
Walking With People Through Every Stage of Life
More than a dozen ministries share the work of the parish. The RCIA program offers instruction classes for adults 18 and over who want to learn about the Catholic Church or prepare for the sacraments. The Bereavement Ministry, led by Janice Champ, offers comfort and support after the loss of a loved one, and a parallel Repast Ministry coordinated by Helen Brooks helps with the practical side of that care. The Homebound Support Ministry, led by Juanita Moore, reaches parishioners who cannot attend Mass through phone calls, visits and written correspondence.
Hospitality Ministers welcome visitors, help with seating, take up the collection and assist anyone who becomes ill during Mass, while the Welcome Ministry pairs new members with seasoned parishioners. The Wellness Ministry supports parishioners' whole-person health, and a Van Service, coordinated by Kevin Ralph, offers rides to Sunday Mass for those who need them through the parish office.
Men, Women and Young People
The parish has long-standing societies for its men and women. The Holy Name Society, led by Harold Uche, gathers the men of the parish, while the Rosary Altar Society enriches parish life through cultural events and an annual retreat. A Men's Fellowship led by Fr. Albert and Fr. Erasmus meets every other month on the second Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the parish hall for spiritual guidance, teaching and sharing, and is open to men 18 and older.
Youth Ministry, also under Fr. Albert Nzeh, is looking for adult advisors and mentors to walk with the parish's young people, complementing his writing on keeping the faith alive among teenagers in a Gen Z culture. Cursillo rounds out the parish's small-group spiritual life under the coordination of Merilyn Smith.
Staying Connected Through the Week
Sunday bulletins are posted online going back several years, with a fresh bulletin published almost every week. A weekly Announcements page keeps parishioners up to date on choir recruitment, the Rosary Altar Society's ongoing fundraisers, parish council nominations and messages from Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark. Parish registration is available through an online form that records household members, sacraments received and ministry interests.
Online giving is set up through Parish Giving, and a parish GoFundMe page coordinated with the Archdiocese of Newark supports outreach to those in need and helps the parish cover employee and utility costs during times of crisis. Giving, registration, the weekly bulletin and announcements are all accessible from the parish home page.
A Parish That Meets People Where They Are
From the food pantry tables to the choir loft, from the homebound visits to the youth room, Blessed Sacrament - St. Charles Borromeo is built around the conviction that a parish is more than a building. The pastor, the associate priest, the music director, the media team and dozens of ministry leaders keep the parish running week after week, welcoming anyone who walks through the door on Van Ness Place or joins the livestream from home.