A Roman Catholic Family of Faith in the Diocese of Trenton
The Parish of St. Thomas More is a Roman Catholic family of faith built on the inspiration of past generations, serving the community by loving God and neighbor. Its mission is to strengthen faith, celebrate the sacraments, provide for the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, educate across the life span, heal the spiritually broken, and respect the dignity of human life. The parish lives the Gospel and seeks Christ in all people, and it does so from two distinct houses of worship, Saint Thomas More Church at 186 Gordons Corner Road in Manalapan and Our Lady of Mercy Church at 58 Main Street in Englishtown, both within Monmouth County, New Jersey, and under the care of the Diocese of Trenton.
From a Noce Living Room to a Manalapan Campus
Catholics in the Englishtown and Manalapan area were first served from St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold, with a mission group formed in 1872 under Rev. Fr. Kivelitz. The mission in Englishtown grew slowly through the early twentieth century until it was canonically erected as a parish on December 14, 1947 by Bishop William Griffin. The first pastor, Father Thomas Nolan, celebrated the first Mass on November 15, 1947 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Noce at 49 Main Street, with about 115 parishioners present. As the congregation grew, services moved to the historic firehouse in the center of town, and land for a permanent church was donated by James Rooney. The new church was built by Daly Construction Company of Trenton and formally opened on July 15, 1948, with Bishop Griffin presiding at the formal dedication on October 3, 1948.
Under the leadership of Father Albert A. Tomaszewski, who became pastor in 1950, a rectory was added next to the church in 1952. Father John C. Petri took over in 1960 and steered a decade of rapid growth that pushed enrollment to roughly 1,300 families. The growing community needed a second worship site, and in 1970 the Corporation of St. Thomas More Church was formed. The new parish was canonically erected in 1971, with Father Petri as its founding pastor. In 1971 Bishop Ahr appointed Father Charles R. Valentine the fourth pastor of Our Lady of Mercy. Under his leadership the wall between the parish hall and the church was removed to add worship space, and a new parish center was built at 8 Pine Street, half of which became a catechetical center and the other half a parish hall. Bishop John C. Reiss dedicated the new building on May 15, 1998, and it was named the Rev. Charles R. Valentine Hall in honor of the longtime pastor.
The Manalapan campus grew through the same decades. In 1962 the Holiday North development along Route 9 brought the first major wave of new residents, and when Hovnanian Enterprises announced the Yorktowne development, a second church became a necessity. In 1964, Hovnanian donated ten acres on Gordons Corner Road, and in 1967 Father Petri began the formal process of building. An ambitious plan for a church, parish center, classrooms, and rectory was scaled back to a multipurpose building at a cost of $700,000 when the lowest bid came in at $1.2 million. Construction of the St. Thomas More Parish Center began in February 1970, and the first Mass was celebrated on March 7, 1971. Bishop George W. Ahr formally dedicated the building on October 3, 1971. By 1974 an addition added seven permanent classrooms, and in 1976 the parish voted to build a true church rather than continue to set up for Mass around parish events. Construction began in October 1976 and was completed in July 1977 at a cost of $526,000, with the blessing and dedication taking place on December 4, 1977. On October 1, 2006 Father John P. Bambrick was named pastor of both Our Lady of Mercy and St. Thomas More, and on July 1, 2007 the two corporations merged into a single parish, the Parish of St. Thomas More, encompassing the churches in Manalapan and Englishtown.
Mass and Confession at Both Churches
Mass at Saint Thomas More Church is offered on Saturday evening at 4:30 pm as the Vigil Mass, and on Sunday morning at 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 11:30 am. Our Lady of Mercy Church hosts a single Sunday Mass at 7:30 am, and serves as the home of the daily Mass schedule, with Mass on Monday through Friday at 8:30 am, followed by the Rosary. A Novena is held at 7:00 pm on the third Monday of every month in the chapel. The sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated on Saturday from 3:30 pm to 4:20 pm in the church. Both church grounds are smoke-free facilities.
Sunday Mass is livestreamed on YouTube, and recordings are also made available through the parish's online presence. The chapel at the Manalapan campus is open for private prayer daily from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm; visitors are asked to use the prayer garden entrance.
A Pastor and a Monsignor in Residence
Father Daniel Peirano serves as Pastor. The parish is also blessed with the continuing presence of Rev. Monsignor Peter Kochery, Parochial Vicar Emeritus, who resides at St. Thomas More Parish after retiring from active ministry on July 1, 2021. Born in India to a traditional Christian family, Monsignor Kochery entered the seminary in 1960, was ordained in 1971, served as pastor in India, came to the United States in 1997, and was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Trenton. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named him a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. He brings decades of pastoral and formation experience, including nine years as Parochial Vicar at St. Veronica in Howell, and special interests in spiritual direction, directing retreats, RCIA, ecumenism, and Lonergan studies. The parish also counts Deacon Michael Lee Foster among its active deacons.
The Sacraments in Full
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, and the sacramental life is organized across the two church locations. Parents preparing for Baptism must be registered parishioners and attend an instructional session, usually held on the first Wednesday of every month. Baptisms are scheduled during the 4:30 pm Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Thomas More the first two weekends of the month and at a 1:00 pm service the third and fourth weekends. The Catholic Church requires two sponsors, commonly called godparents, with at least one Catholic who has received Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist and is at least 16 years of age.
First Eucharist is a two-year catechetical program in first and second grade, with First Reconciliation and First Eucharist typically received in second grade and celebrated in the spring. Confirmation is also a two-year program, beginning in seventh grade and continuing through eighth grade. Older teens and adults seeking full initiation into the Church are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, directed by Linda Andrew, which serves anyone not yet baptized, members of other Christian traditions seeking to enter into full communion, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Eucharist and Confirmation.
Couples preparing for Marriage are asked to contact the pastor at least one year in advance. Either the bride or groom must be a registered member of the parish, and the parish follows the Common Policy for Marriage for the Province of New Jersey. Pre-Cana instruction or Engaged Encounter is required, Sunday weddings are not permitted, and the church is not rented out to non-parishioners. Couples are asked to provide recently issued Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation certificates, and the parish will supply copies for any sacrament administered at St. Thomas More or Our Lady of Mercy.
The Anointing of the Sick is available to Christians facing serious illness or old age. Arrangements are made through the parish office, and a priest can also be called to anoint a person before surgery. The sacrament of Holy Orders is encouraged through the Diocese of Trenton, where men discerning the permanent diaconate or priesthood can find formation programs, including a four-year diaconate program and a House of Formation for those considering seminary.
Sacred Music at the Heart of Worship
Music ministry at St. Thomas More Parish is led by Anna Gugliotta, Director of Sacred Music. The Adult Choir rehearses on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm and provides music primarily for the 10:00 am Mass at St. Thomas More Church, with a season that runs from late September through the Feast of Corpus Christi in June. The Youth Choir, open to singers in second through eighth grade, rehearses on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm and sings at the 11:30 am Mass about twice a month, with additional special liturgies throughout the year. The Handbell Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 7:15 pm and adds festivity to a range of liturgies, with a particular emphasis on the Christmas season. Cantors and accompanists round out the music team. The parish offers guidance for families planning a funeral liturgy, with a curated list of approved hymns and four designated places for music in the Mass.
Religious Education from First Grade Through Confirmation
The Religious Education Program serves children across the parish and beyond, preparing them for First Eucharist, Confirmation, and a lifelong practice of the faith. Registration is completed online through the parish's religious education registration system, and families already enrolled in the program communicate directly with the Religious Education Office. Children entering first grade must submit a copy of their baptismal certificate, and new students are asked to provide copies of all sacramental certificates along with a transcript letter from their previous religious education program. The parish also provides catechist and volunteer opportunities for adults who would like to teach.
For the youngest members of the parish, Bridges Nursery School operates at the parish and offers a preschool program for the wider community.
A Network of Lay Ministries and Liturgical Service
The parish has long understood that the work of the Church belongs to the whole community. At the altar, young parishioners in grades four through twelve serve as Altar Servers, carrying the thurible, bearing the cross and candles, assisting with holy water, and helping with sacred books. Servers attend a training session before being scheduled and are expected to arrive at least ten minutes before Mass dressed neatly. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are parishioners at least 18 years of age, fully initiated into the Church, who distribute the Eucharist at Mass and bring it to the homebound. Lectors proclaim the readings of Sacred Scripture, and Ushers greet parishioners, help with seating, assist with collections, and supervise the safety of the congregation.
Beyond the sanctuary, Holy Communion for the Sick and Homebound pairs trained extraordinary ministers with parishioners who can no longer attend Sunday Mass. The Hospital and Nursing Home Ministry brings the Eucharist to CentraState Hospital and to the Pinebrook, Brandywine, Chelsea, and Applewood Manor nursing homes, embodying the corporal work of mercy to visit the sick.
The parish also has a strong tradition of spiritual fraternities and service organizations. The Knights of Columbus Council 5903, the Prince of Peace Council, meets at the John F. Carroll Columbian Club and donates close to $15,000 a year to local charities including the Samaritan Center, Coats for Kids, ARC of Monmouth, and the Manalapan Exceptional Children and Young Adult Committee. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society offers material and spiritual assistance through person-to-person contact, meeting on the third Wednesday of every month in the Adult Education Room. The Holy Name Society, a spiritual fraternity of laymen dedicated to the praise and veneration of the Holy Name of Jesus, is open to every practicing Catholic in the parish. The Legion of Mary meets on Fridays at 9:30 am in the Adult Education Room, with active members taking on a weekly work assignment and auxiliary members praying in support. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 16 Monmouth County - St. Oliver Plunkett, brings together Irish Catholic men from across several area parishes for fellowship, charity, and support of Catholic causes, including programs for the children of Northern Ireland.
For families with children, the parish hosts Cub Pack 157 and Boy Scout Troop 157, both chartered at St. Thomas More for more than thirty and forty years respectively, offering young men a path through the ranks of scouting that emphasizes character, leadership, and service.
Faith Formation for Adults
Adults who want to grow in their faith or explore the Catholic tradition are supported through the RCIA, the ongoing work of the parish's prayer and study groups, and the parish's subscription to Formed, a Catholic digital library of video, audio, and reading resources available with the parish's zip code. The parish also hosts days of discernment with the Bishop for men considering the priesthood, and the chapel at the Manalapan campus is open for private prayer from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm every day.
Joining the Parish, Giving, and Practical Details
Registration as a parishioner is open to those living within the parish boundaries set by the Diocese of Trenton. New families can register online, and those who live outside the boundaries will be notified and assisted in finding a nearby parish. Online giving is available through the parish's giving partner, and the parish office accepts inquiries by phone at (732) 446-6661 or by email at info@moremercy.org. The Religious Education Office can be reached at (732) 446-3232 or at re@moremercy.org, and the Director of Sacred Music, Anna Gugliotta, can be reached at music@moremercy.org.
Parish office hours at the Manalapan campus are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Our Lady of Mercy Church does not maintain a parish office, and all inquiries are directed to the Manalapan campus.
Across its two historic churches, its choirs, its schools, its service organizations, and its sacramental life, the Parish of St. Thomas More continues to live out the same mission it has carried since the days when Father Nolan celebrated the first Mass in the Noce living room: to be a Roman Catholic family of faith that worships God, serves its neighbors, and walks together toward Christ.