A Growing Catholic Parish on Whitebridge Road
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church sits on Whitebridge Road in Pittstown, New Jersey, at the corner of Route 513, where the parish community gathers from across Franklin Township and into Alexandria and Union Townships. The parish took root in 1992 as a mission church of Immaculate Conception in Clinton, grew into an independent parish in 1999, and was recently reshaped by a building campaign that more than tripled seating capacity. From its earliest days the parish has offered the full sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church, maintained daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, and reached outward into the surrounding community through a food pantry, the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Hunterdon County, and a vibrant Knights of Columbus council.
Catholic Roots in the Pittstown Area Since 1852
The earliest Catholic presence in the Pittstown area dates to a Mass celebrated in the summer of 1852 by Father Edward Brady. For more than a century the Catholic faithful in this corner of Hunterdon County worshipped as part of Immaculate Conception Parish in Clinton. As the local population grew, the Diocese of Metuchen acquired property on Whitebridge Road in 1990 with an eye toward a long-term Catholic presence. The following year, local residents John W. and Catherine Raymonds provided the gift that made the construction of a new church possible. Work began on October 21, 1991, and the cornerstone was laid on April 29, 1992. Bishop Edward T. Hughes solemnly consecrated the new church on October 13, 1992, giving it the patronage of St. Catherine of Siena.
The new parish was canonically erected by Bishop Hughes on September 25, 1992, still as a mission of Immaculate Conception. As members and ministries multiplied, Bishop Vincent DePaul Breen established St. Catherine of Siena as an independent parish in June 1999 and installed Rev. Peter G. Suhaka as its first resident pastor. The parish continued to expand, and in the spring of 2011 Fr. Chester Zalubski, SBD, of the Salesians of Don Bosco, arrived as parish administrator. He was installed as pastor in April 2012 during the church's twentieth anniversary celebration, with Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski presiding.
The 2017-2019 Building Expansion
By the time Father Chester marked his first decade as pastor, the parish had long outgrown the original structure, which seated only 96 people. A groundbreaking on June 25, 2017 launched a major expansion and renovation that added 3,500 square feet of new construction to the existing 2,130-square-foot church. The completed renovation raised seating capacity to 307 and gave the building a clear cross shape when viewed from above, as aerial photography captured the new transepts rising from the foundation. More than half of the parish families made financial pledges to make the project possible. The work was steered by five committees: Campaign, Communications, Design and Construction, Finance, and Legal and Liturgical Design. Six photo galleries followed the construction in close detail, from demolition to steel framing and the pouring of the main floor.
The first Mass in the expanded church was celebrated on Holy Thursday, April 18, 2019. Bishop James F. Checchio presided at the formal dedication of the building on April 28, 2019. Outside the construction itself, the campaign gave rise to a 50/50 raffle that raised more than $16,000 in a single season for the building fund.
The Welcoming Heart of Jesus Statue on the Grounds
On the church grounds, parishioners installed a statue of the Welcoming Heart of Jesus. Larry Remaly took up the idea of placing the statue on the property and organized a small building committee. Wayne Isbitski ordered the statue and saw it safely to the parish, and Dave Perna built the platform and mounted the figure. Donors to the project included Richard and Debbie Fass, Wayne and Cecilia Isbitski, Anthony and Jennifer Natalizio, David and Jennifer Perna, Robert Preston, Bernie and Larry Remaly, Margaret Rocca, Mark and Dawn Salerno, and Michael and Kelly Wojtal, with installation help from Richard Kopf, Salvadore Mauro, George Mehaffey, and Peter Walter. Father Chester marked the completed project with public thanks, recognizing the way parishioners consistently "show up with love and support."
The Patroness: St. Catherine of Siena
The church takes its name from one of the most celebrated women of the medieval Church. St. Catherine of Siena was a Dominican tertiary and mystic, the 23rd of 25 children of a wool dyer in northern Italy. She persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy to Rome, ending the so-called Babylonian Captivity, and her 400 letters to popes and to leaders of every rank testify to her influence. Pope Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church for her Dialogue with God the Father and her letters. Her body was found incorrupt in 1430. Father Chester has described her as a beautiful example of sacrifice for the sake of souls and the welfare of Christ's Church.
Mass and the Sacramental Rhythm of the Week
The weekly Mass schedule centers on three weekend celebrations and a daily weekday Mass. Saturday's Vigil Mass is celebrated at 4:30 p.m. Sunday Masses are offered at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. and by appointment throughout the week. Eucharistic Adoration - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament - is offered on the first Friday of each month from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., and the Rosary Society gathers to teach and pray the rosary on first Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The Seven Sacraments
The parish offers the full sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Baptism. Baptismal preparation classes meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., helping parents and godparents take up their responsibilities in raising a child in the Catholic faith.
- First Eucharist and First Reconciliation. Preparation begins in first grade and runs as a two-year program. First Reconciliation is traditionally celebrated in January and First Eucharist in May.
- Confirmation. Preparation begins in sixth grade with a preparation meeting and a service-hour component. Formation continues through seventh and eighth grade, and the sacrament is celebrated in the spring of eighth grade as the bishop's schedule permits.
- Matrimony. Engaged couples are asked to contact Father Chester at least one year in advance for marriage preparation.
- Anointing of the Sick. Available to those who are ill or homebound; parishioners are asked to notify the parish office so priests can visit.
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Walks inquirers through inquiry, catechumenate, enlightenment, and mystagogia, beginning in September and culminating at the Easter Vigil.
Religious Education and the Catechetical Year
The parish's religious education program gathers its catechists around a Faith Formation Parent Handbook and a Code of Pastoral Conduct. Children in kindergarten through eighth grade meet in monthly Religious Education sessions, and the Director of Religious Education oversees sacramental preparation, teacher recruitment, and family handbooks. The annual registration fee is $150 per family, but no child is denied religious instruction for financial reasons. Parents moving into the parish from another area are asked to provide sacramental certificates and prior attendance records. Father Chester publicly blesses each year's catechetical team on Catechetical Sunday, the third weekend of September, when the whole parish pauses to honor those who share the Catholic faith with its youngest members. Parents are recognized in the rite itself as the primary catechists of their children.
First Communicants are celebrated each May, with the parish marking the day as a family celebration that acknowledges the role of parents, catechists, and assistants in preparing the children. Confirmation candidates are presented to the bishop at the parish Confirmation Mass in the spring.
Family Mass, Altar Servers, and the Choir
The Family Mass is celebrated on the last Sunday of each month at the 9:30 liturgy. Youth parishioners are encouraged to take visible roles as readers, altar servers, gift bearers, and refreshment servers, and the Youth Choir provides music. Father Chester's annual installation of new altar servers continues to be one of the parish's liveliest liturgical moments, drawing on the teaching of Pope St. John Paul II that altar servers are "far more than mere 'helpers of the priest'" and calling them "servants of Jesus Christ" and "young friends of Jesus."
The Music Ministry welcomes anyone with a choral or instrumental voice. The Adult Choir leads the congregation in song at selected Sunday Masses and at key liturgical and sacramental services throughout the year. The Youth Choir, made up of students in third through eighth grade, sings at the Family Mass and other children's liturgies. Instrumentalists add to solemn liturgies, weddings, and key sacramental celebrations. Other liturgical roles include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, appointed by the Bishop; Lectors who proclaim the readings; Sacristans who prepare the altar and sacristy; and Ushers who greet and seat attendees before Mass.
The Parish Center Story
To serve a growing parish, St. Catherine's purchased a building on Perryville Road in Hampton in August 2008. The first Mass in the new Parish Center was offered the weekend of September 18-19, 2010, and Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving and blessing there on October 31, 2010. Over the next decade the Parish Center housed classrooms, meeting space, and a chapel for weekend overflow Masses. When the building was sold in 2019, the parish announced plans for a new Parish Center on the Whitebridge Road property to provide classrooms for religious education, dedicated meeting space for ministries, and room for youth and young adult programming.
An Active Ministry Roster
The ministries of the parish are organized for liturgy, formation, service, and stewardship, and they are open to anyone willing to share time and talent.
The Liturgical roster includes Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Music, Lectors, Sacristan, Ushers, and a ministry to the homebound. Sacramental ministries include Baptism Preparation and RCIA. Devotional ministries include Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary Society, which organizes the monthly rosary and parish activities such as the Giving Tree and bake sales.
Faith Formation ministries include the Adult Friendship group, a monthly gathering for mature members with prayer, education, fellowship, and occasional day trips; the Bereavement Ministry, walking with families after a loss; the Book Club, which gathers during Advent and Lent to discuss a chosen work; Catechist volunteers for the parish school of religion; the Men's Scripture Group, meeting for prayer, fellowship, and Bible study; Respect for Life, the parish's pro-life arm; and Youth Ministry. Children's faith and community life are supported by Kids' Club, a monthly gathering for grades 3 through 7 with Bible readings, games, plays, and snacks, and by Little Sprouts, which supports families with children from birth to age five.
Church Environment groups keep the parish functioning week to week: Audio/Visual teams set up, break down, and operate audio and visual equipment; Building Maintenance volunteers bring their trades to special projects; the Decorating Committee plans seasonal décor for Christmas, Easter, and sacramental celebrations; the Landscaping Committee maintains the "knot garden" outside the entrance, Mary's Garden, and St. Francis Garden; and the Sanctuary Guild handles weekly cleaning.
Parish Development ministries include the Financial Council, which reviews diocesan financial and parish audit reports; the Parish Pastoral Council, which serves as a consultative sounding board for the pastor; the Parish Historian, who keeps the parish record; the Stewardship Committee, which promotes time, talent, and treasure; the Scrip/Gift Card Program; and a team that designs and maintains a parish digital presence.
Service Beyond the Parish Walls
St. Catherine's is also a hub of service to the wider Hunterdon County community. The Food Pantry ministry collects non-perishable items in marked containers in the undercroft and delivers them to the Flemington Food Pantry and the Phillipsburg Catholic Charities Food Pantry, with donors coordinating with local merchants including Shoprite. The Family Promise Program partners with the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Hunterdon County to provide temporary housing, meals, and case management for low-income and homeless women and families, advocating for affordable housing, transportation, and living-wage employment.
Knights of Columbus Council #15217 organizes the parish's fraternal Catholic men's work around Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, with active support for Food for Families, Coats for Kids, mothers who choose life, Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission, and Habitat for Humanity. Cub Scout Pack 119 brings Scouting to boys in the first through fifth grades, with its own active program of character building and citizenship training.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry combines needlework with prayer, producing shawls, baptism blankets, and other items for those facing medical procedures, the loss of a loved one, illness, or recovery. The Social Ministries team visits the sick, the homebound, the elderly, and those enduring hardship with shopping, meals, and companionship. Respect for Life keeps the parish connected to diocesan pro-life work, and the Veteran Military Apostolate offers prayer, letter-writing, and outreach to active-duty service members and veterans.
The Word of God Project
One of the most distinctive ministries at St. Catherine's is the Word of God Project. The program was created by Eagle Scout and parishioner Alex La Tournous of Troop 200 as his Eagle Scout Service Project. He and his fellow Scouts recorded thirty-one Scripture readings so that homebound parishioners could continue to hear the Word of God when they could no longer attend Mass. The readings cover favorites like "Love Is" (1 Corinthians 13), "Life Is Christ" (Philippians 1), "The Lord's Prayer" (Luke 11), "United in Heart" (Philippians 2), and many more. They can be streamed from the parish's online archive or downloaded as MP3 files, or borrowed on CD with a player and headset. The parish office can provide more information to families who would like to receive a CD set.
Welcoming New Parishioners and the Parish Picnic
The Welcome Committee visits and welcomes new members, compiles and distributes Welcome Packets, and helps orient newcomers to parish life, ministries, and the rhythms of the Catholic year. Registration forms are available from the parish office and may be handed back in person at any weekend Mass; emailed and mailed forms are not accepted. Each September the Parish Picnic Committee organizes the parish's signature outdoor gathering, with planning meetings on the second Wednesday evening of each month from June through September that welcome theme ideas from all ages.
Office, Help Resources, and Pastoral Care
The parish office at 2 Whitebridge Road is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., later by appointment. The parish phone number is 908-735-4024 and the fax is 908-735-0355. Parishioners needing urgent pastoral care on a night, weekend, or holiday may call the main number and follow the recorded directions to reach a priest. The parish's Help Resources lay out a wide range of support: pastoral care and spiritual direction from Father Chester and Deacon Mike Meyer; hospital and home visits for the sick and homebound; bereavement support through the St. Catherine's Bereavement Group; diocesan programs for separated and divorced Catholics through the Family Life Office of the Diocese of Metuchen; financial assistance through Catholic Charities; recovery programs including Project Rachel for those affected by abortion; pregnancy and family support through Life Choices in Phillipsburg; and infertility resources through the diocesan Office of Family Life.
Joining, Giving, and Staying Connected
Parish registration begins by completing the registration form and returning it in person at a weekend Mass. Online giving is available, allowing parishioners to set up recurring gifts by debit card, credit card, or direct bank draft; every contribution is recorded on the giver's bank statement with a date of settlement, and there is no extra cost for using the service. The weekly bulletin is published in PDF form. The parish maintains a Facebook presence for announcements and community life. The parish calendar and the Religious Education calendar are both available online and remain a steady source of information for special Mass times, devotions, and family events.