St Katharine Drexel Parish: OUR PARISH

OUR PARISH

Our Parish

St. Katharine Drexel Parish Community consisting of St. Paul Church and All Saints Church, and St. Paul School.

Parish Leadership

PARISH CLERGY

Rev. Jerome Guld, Pastor
Deacon Matthew Fung
Deacon Walter J. Karpecik, Jr.
Deacon Alexander Punchello
Email: JGuld - at - StKatharineDrexel-NJ.org

HISTORY

St. Paul Church

St. Paul Church has been serving Burlington for over 164 years. Its first Pastor, Rev. Daniel Margorien, performed his work in an old building that had once been a barracks used by the English during the Revolutionary War.

In 1845, a building was purchased on East Broad street along the banks of the Assiscunk Creek. The building was originally constructed in 1759 for the purpose of house British Troops during the French and Indian Wars.

The first Mass of St. Paul Church was held there in 1849. This building served as both the Church and Rectory. In 1864, the church was remodeled after a building along side was purchased to house the rectory. This became the first year of our incorporation.

The first catholic school in Burlington was opened in the basement of the church in 1870.

In 1904, Rev. Russi purchased and remodeled a building on East Broad Street. This new building became the new rectory for the Church. He also built the first St. Paul Parochial School on East Broad Street. The old St. Paul Church Building is now the residence of the Knights of Columbus. The old rectory is now a private residence and the first school was demolished in 1961.

In 1914, the church purchased a large house located on the corner of St. Mary Street and East Union Street. This house became the Santa Maria Academy and taught seventh and eighth grade students. Several years later, the building was moved to Barclay Street to make way for the new St. Paul Church. In 1916, Rev. Russi continued purchasing buildings on the corner of St. Mary St. and East Union St. Included in this purchase was a building known as the Budd Mansion. This large home became the new rectory for the parish. Across the street, the Binney Homestead was purchased and became the new convent for the Sisters of Mercy. The corner of St. Mary and East Union St. became the site of a new magnificent building, the present St. Paul Church. The new Church was completed and the first Mass was held in 1925.

In 1959, Rev. Miller broke ground for the building of a new school on James St. The new school was completed and dedicated in 1960.

All Saints Church

All Saints Church celebrated 100 years in our community in 2010. The parish was founded in 1910 by Rev. Andrew Szostakowski to serve Burlington City's polish community.

The first mass was held on Palm Sunday, April 19, 1910 at a rented Hicksite Quaker Meetinghouse. Nine months later the parish purchased the 1845 Meetinghouse. On November 29, 1911 the Meetinghouse was blessed and dedicated as a temporary chapel.

The Parish also purchased two houses on 500 and 502 High St. to serve as the rectory and convent. On the site of a nearby old Carriage works, the parish erected a school.

The parish had out grown its building and erected the existing church in 1959.

The current Rectory is a mid-1800's italianate style stucco and brick structure. The Convent is also stucco and brick and was built around the same time as the current rectory building.