A Polish-American Parish in Bloomfield
St. Valentine Parish Church sits on North Spring Street in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where it has served the surrounding communities of western Essex County for more than a century. The parish was founded in 1898 by a small colony of Polish families who had settled in Bloomfield, Franklin (now Nutley), and the nearby Oranges. In those days the few miles that separated them from the larger Polish centers in Newark and Passaic were vast distances, and parishioners often walked the Morris Canal towpath to reach St. Stanislaus Church in Newark. By 1898 there were over ninety Polish families in the area and two mutual-benefit societies. On July 14, 1898, St. Valentine's Mutual Benefit Society purchased a former Presbyterian chapel on Hoover Avenue for $1,875 and began adapting it for Catholic worship. The parish was officially incorporated on February 16, 1899.
The first resident pastor, Rev. Alexius Iwanow, arrived in 1900 and immediately set the parish on a steady course of growth. A rectory was built in 1901, the present church was erected on the corner site in 1905 for $15,000, and a school staffed by lay teachers and, from 1918, by Felician Sisters was added. The cornerstone for a modern school building was laid in 1924, and a complete renovation of the church followed in 1930. Through two world wars, the Great Depression, and the post-war boom, St. Valentine's grew into a parish of 900 families. The parish marked its 125th anniversary in 2024 and continues to serve a diverse community while honoring the Polish roots of its founders.
Worship at St. Valentine's
Weekend Masses are offered on Saturday at 5:30 PM and on Sunday at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 12:00 PM Noon. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 12:00 PM in the Rectory Chapel, with the Rosary prayed before each weekday Mass. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays at 12:45 PM in the church, immediately after the noon Mass in the rectory, and by appointment. Holy Day and holiday schedules are announced in the parish bulletin.
Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel, with replays available afterward, and a livestreamed bulletin is posted for each weekend. The parish uses the music of the Catholic tradition, sung by the long-established St. Valentine's Choir and accompanied by the parish's celebrated pipe organ.
The Mission of St. Valentine's
The parish's stated mission is to be a visible sign of God's presence in the world. Through the celebration of the sacraments - especially reconciliation and the Eucharist - the community is sent out to proclaim and witness to the Gospel by its life. The parish is dedicated to serving others within the church, in local communities, and throughout the world, deepening its response to the Lord and announcing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Sacraments of the Church
St. Valentine's celebrates all seven sacraments. Infant Baptism is arranged through the Parish Office and includes a preparation process. Children of catechetical age (Grades 1-8) prepare for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation through the parish's faith formation programs. Adults 18 and older who have not yet been baptized or who need Eucharist or Confirmation are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
The Sacrament of the Sick (Holy Anointing) is available to parishioners who are ill or preparing for surgery; arrangements are made through the Parish Office. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact a priest at least one year in advance.
The Pipe Organ of St. Valentine's
Among the parish's most prized possessions is its pipe organ, built by the Peragallo Organ Company of Paterson, New Jersey in 1976. The instrument is voiced in the classic French tradition and is divided between the West Gallery and the right transept, with a detached three-manual console located in the right transept. It comprises five divisions, thirty-eight ranks of pipes, and over 2,000 speaking pipes ranging in size from sixteen feet to less than one inch. The ensemble is crowned by a Trompette en chamade, a set of horizontal pipes displayed under the rose window in the gallery. The tonal design was created by Rev. Joseph Wozniak in collaboration with the Peragallo firm. In 2016, the switching system connecting the console to the pipe work was renewed with a solid-state system, adding MIDI capability and silent movement of stops. The organ remains one of the finest installations in the Archdiocese of Newark.
Saints in the Stained Glass
The church building is filled with stained glass windows depicting a wide roster of saints, many of them Polish or otherwise Eastern European. The transepts feature Saint Valentine, Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów, Saint Stanislaus Kostka, Saint Adalbert of Prague (Wojciech), Saint Casimir, Saint Andrew Bobola, Saint Jadwiga, Saint Kunegunda, Saint Jacenty (Hyacinth of Poland), Saint Methodius, and Saint John of the Cross. The lower windows along the nave depict the apostles, the four evangelists, and saints popular in Catholic devotion - including Saint Patrick, Saint Helena, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Saint John Vianney, and Saint Bernadette Soubirous. The upper windows and statues round out the collection with Saint Anne, Saint Dominic, Saint Joseph, the Blessed Virgin, Saint Gabriel, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and many others. A statue of Saint Valentine stands in the vestibule of the church, and the parish's two mosaics, rose window, and Ambry containing the holy oils are points of devotional focus in the sanctuary.
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish's faith formation programs serve children in Grades 1-8 through the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), with preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Parents are reminded that they are the first teachers of the faith, and the parish invites their active participation in the life of the church with their children. Adult formation is offered through the RCIA process and through the Neo-Catechumenal Community, which provides comprehensive catechesis for baptized Catholics and non-baptized adults seeking Christian formation.
Liturgical Ministries
St. Valentine's offers a full range of liturgical ministries. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist at Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound; they must be at least 18 years old and have received First Communion. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass and are provided with a workbook of the Sunday readings for preparation. Ushers and the Ministry of Hospitality welcome parishioners, assist with collections, and help maintain good order at the liturgies. Altar Servers assist the priest at Mass; the ministry is open to men, women, and children in at least the third grade who have received First Communion, with a particular need for adults to serve at funerals. The Director of Music, Iris Prcic, leads the parish's musical life, supported by the long-established St. Valentine's Choir.
Parish Groups and Devotional Life
The parish community gathers around a wide circle of devotional and social groups. The Altar Rosary Sodality promotes devotion to the Rosary, and the Prayer Group meets every Friday at 8:00 PM in the Rectory Chapel or on Zoom for an hour of shared prayer. The Young Adult Ministry brings together Catholics in their twenties and thirties who want to be more active in parish life. The Athletic Club, organized in the early 1920s, continues to offer a social outlet for the men of the parish. The Martha Ministry gathers twice a month - on the first Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM and the third Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM - to help keep the church building clean. The Special Events and Fundraising Committee supports the parish and partners with charitable efforts such as the Valerie Fund, which assists children with cancer and blood disorders.
The Parish Campus and the Building
St. Valentine's occupies a generous corner of North Spring Street and Hoover Avenue in Bloomfield, with the church, rectory, former convent, and parish grounds clustered together. The Family Festival takes over the parish parking lots and a section of East Passaic Avenue; the parish has worked with Franklin School on Curtis Street and Pulaski Park to provide additional parking during the festival. Throughout the year, the church hosts a summer parish picnic, a Santo Nino celebration, a fish fry, paint-and-sip evenings, and other events that draw the parish family together.
Giving, Online Resources, and Contact
Online giving is available through Vanco at secure.myvanco.com/L-YVYY, and the parish accepts gifts of cash, stock, bequests, and life insurance. Planned giving arrangements may be made through the Parish Office. The parish keeps an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) and publishes a weekly bulletin with the Sunday readings, announcements, and the monthly liturgical minister schedule. An online prayer request form, a parishioner registration form, a ministry sign-up form, and an RCIA inquiry form are available from the parish office.
The Parish Office is open at 125 North Spring Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003. The office can be reached by phone at (973) 743-0220, by fax at (973) 743-2041, or by email at [email protected]. The pastor is Rev. Fr. Nnaemeka Andrew Onyemaobi, assisted by Rev. Fr. Andrew Njoku in residence. Iris Prcic serves as Director of Music. Judy Giuliano is the Parish Secretary, and Mr. Robert Bulkowski is responsible for parish maintenance.