St. Lucy's Church in Newark, New Jersey at Christmas

St. Lucy's Church in Newark, New Jersey has preserved many of the traditions of the Italian immigrants who founded the parish in 1891. Generations of families have worshipped here and have been strengthened by the teachings of Jesus Christ and by the examples of the lives of the saints. The third pastor, Msgr. Joseph Granato, has served the parish with his dedication and faith for 54 years. The traditions of St. Lucy's now continue under the leadership of Fr. Luigi Zanotto.

The parish namesake, Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia), martyred in Syacuse (Siracusa) in third-century Sicily, is the patron of those afflicted with diseases of the eyes.

The church is the National Shrine of Saint Gerard Maiella, who lived in eighteenth-century Italy. He has a special devotion from expectant mothers. In 1899, immigrants from Caposele, Italy introduced the annual October feast in honor of St. Gerard, which continues to be a highlight for the parish each year.

Another cherished tradition, depicted in this video, is that of the Christmas Presepio, an elaborate Neapolitan Nativity scene with "the Bambino" (the infant Jesus) surrounded by a multitude of figures including Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, and wise men, as well as, the people of the town of Bethlehem engaged in their everyday activities. (There is even a figure of a woman carrying a plate of pasta to the manger, symbolic of the wonderful hospitality of generations of St. Lucy's parishoners.)

These photos were all taken on January 6, 2008, the Feast of the Epiphany. The background music is Adeste Fideles, Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle, and Ave Maria.
Adeste fideles
Laeti triumphantes
Venite, venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte
Regem angelorum
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus
Dominum

En, grege relicto,
Humiles ad cunas,
Vocati pastores approperant;
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus
Dominum

Adeste fideles
Laeti triumphantes
Venite, venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte
Regem angelorum
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus
Dominum

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[HTVmedia1]

Nice job with the video.

[cathmomof32b]

What a lovely church. They don't make them like this anymore! Thanks for sharing.

[tito9599]

I love this church it is SO!!! big and really cool.... i love all the statues and all the murels..... it is an awesome church.... WOOT!

[Saccos1]

For more on Saint Lucy's Church in Newark,N.J. log on to Youtube and search:

Fr. Granato or Saint Lucy's Church

[frau4bzna]

thank you for this video. it brings back many comforting memories.

i used to attend st. lucy's catholic school in the 70's. i don't recall the st. lucy statue looking like that. what happened to the original statue?

[asgalia]

A beautiful video! Baptisim,Holy Communion,Confirmation,Marriag­e and Burial masses have been celebrated in four generations of my family here. My father played in the Drum Corp. I marched in processions as a child. May this parish continue to survive and echo the traditions of past generations.

The Sgalia Family

[jrzgirl56]

My parents were married in this church back on Sept. 2, 1948. My father was baptized, received his first communion, confirmation, and was married in this church.

[micscot]

perhaps you knew my brother Bill Reynolds He played the cymbals in St. Lucy's Drum & Bugle Corp. My dad used to run the bowling alleys at St. Lucy's, what seems like a million years ago. This video brings back sooooo many fond memories. I made my first communion hear and was confirmed there also.

[hunkyturkey]

Looks like a good OLD fashioned Catholic church...More churhes seem and look so non Catholic anymore.

[jerseybabe2378]

This pictures are awesome my son sammy was baptize there and will soon do his communion there as well i love this church. You doing a good job alex in keeping that church going take care.