Annunciation BVM
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in Bellmawr in 1951 as a mission of Saint Anne, Westville. First meeting in the borough Community Building from 1946-1951, as attendance at Mass grew the Diocese gave permission for a new parish to be established. On September 8, 1951 the church was dedicated by Bishop Bartholomew Eustace. The first church only held 264 and often in the 50's and 60's Standing Room Only signs were posted as the parish rapidly grew. There was also a need for a school as Saint Anne and Saint Mary (Gloucester) could no longer accommodate the rising number of children from Bellmawr. In 1956 the new school and convent were built. The first class was admitted in September, 1957.
Twelve years after the dedication of the church, the parish population had quadrupled. In 1963 Archbishop Damiano advised the pastor to proceed with plans for construction of a larger church. A Church Building Fund Committee was formed and by the power of the Holy Spirit and the generosity of the parishioners, a larger church was built - one of the first in the Camden Diocese to be built under the directives of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican II. The new church was dedicated on April 24, 1966.
In the late 1960's, another parish was established in Bellmawr, Mary Mother of the Church. The children of the new parish attended the school at Saint Frances de Sales in Barrington. With this development and the Baby-Boomer generation ending in the 70's, enrollment at the Annunciation School declined. The school combined with Sacred Heart School in Mount Ephraim in 1997, but eventually closed in 2008.
Twelve years after the dedication of the church, the parish population had quadrupled. In 1963 Archbishop Damiano advised the pastor to proceed with plans for construction of a larger church. A Church Building Fund Committee was formed and by the power of the Holy Spirit and the generosity of the parishioners, a larger church was built - one of the first in the Camden Diocese to be built under the directives of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican II. The new church was dedicated on April 24, 1966.
In the late 1960's, another parish was established in Bellmawr, Mary Mother of the Church. The children of the new parish attended the school at Saint Frances de Sales in Barrington. With this development and the Baby-Boomer generation ending in the 70's, enrollment at the Annunciation School declined. The school combined with Sacred Heart School in Mount Ephraim in 1997, but eventually closed in 2008.
Saint Anne
Saint Anne Church was founded in 1921. Westville was a recently formed borough, having incorporated in 1914, but the Catholic people of Westville had to leave town to worship. As the number of Catholic families increased, some enlightened townspeople began discussion on the practicality of forming a Catholic parish in Westville. The first recorded Mass in the Borough was celebrated at the Hassenforder home, where it was then held regularly except during the influenza epidemic of 1918. It soon became obvious that the Catholic population of Westville had outgrown the big house on River Drive and Mass was moved to the Embassy Theatre on Pine Street. The new parish was designed as a mission of Saint Patrick's, Woodbury. Plans continued for the establishment of a permanent church building in Westville which were realized when Martin Maloney donated a plot of land on Highland Avenue to the mission parish. Fundraising began in earnest to raise the $10,000 necessary to begin building and groundbreaking was held on February 24, 1921. The first Mass was celebrated in the new Saint Anne Church building on June 5, 1921, dedicated by Bishop Thomas Walsh of the Trenton Diocese.
In 1935, Saint Anne Parish included the church on Highland Ave., Saint Matthew's Mission Church and Hall in National Park, and Most Holy Redeemer Mission Church in Westville Grove as well as the rectory on Summit Avenue in Westville. Near the end of World War II, pastor Rev. William J. Fahey possessed the foresight to realize that the postwar years would be years of growth for the borough and that such growth could not help but extend to the parish. With that in mind, Father Fahey began to encourage the development of plans to accommodate this envisioned growth and the eventual need for a larger church. Fund-raising activities commenced again, and on April 11, 1949, Father Fahey officiated at the ground breaking ceremonies for a new church at the church on a site adjacent to the mission church at the corner of Gateway Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Dedication of the new church was at a grand ceremony on September 10, 1950 with Msgr. Augustine T. Mozier, the Vicar General of the Camden Diocese presiding.
In the 1950's the Men's Guild began formulating plans and fundraising for a parish school with the support of then pastor Rev. Martin Killeen. The effort continued with the next pastor, Rev. James L. Schad who worked tirelessly inspiring parishioners to do the same. The groundbreaking of the school was held May 1, 1955. The first class graduated in June, 1959. Due to declining enrollment, the school was closed in 1975.
In 1935, Saint Anne Parish included the church on Highland Ave., Saint Matthew's Mission Church and Hall in National Park, and Most Holy Redeemer Mission Church in Westville Grove as well as the rectory on Summit Avenue in Westville. Near the end of World War II, pastor Rev. William J. Fahey possessed the foresight to realize that the postwar years would be years of growth for the borough and that such growth could not help but extend to the parish. With that in mind, Father Fahey began to encourage the development of plans to accommodate this envisioned growth and the eventual need for a larger church. Fund-raising activities commenced again, and on April 11, 1949, Father Fahey officiated at the ground breaking ceremonies for a new church at the church on a site adjacent to the mission church at the corner of Gateway Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Dedication of the new church was at a grand ceremony on September 10, 1950 with Msgr. Augustine T. Mozier, the Vicar General of the Camden Diocese presiding.
In the 1950's the Men's Guild began formulating plans and fundraising for a parish school with the support of then pastor Rev. Martin Killeen. The effort continued with the next pastor, Rev. James L. Schad who worked tirelessly inspiring parishioners to do the same. The groundbreaking of the school was held May 1, 1955. The first class graduated in June, 1959. Due to declining enrollment, the school was closed in 1975.
Saint Maurice
Saint Maurice was founded in 1955 beginning as a mission of Saint Mary in Gloucester. Mass was first celebrated in Brooklawn in October, 1949. Bishop Bartholomew Eustace broke ground for the church on July 25, 1954 and the church was dedicated on November 14, 1954. On January 29, 1955 the Diocese of Camden declared that the boundaries of Brooklawn defined a new parish named Saint Maurice. The rectory was completed in 1960.
In the 60's and 70's there were three Masses each Sunday and two daily Masses. This was made possible since there were one or more priests in residence at the Saint Maurice Rectory who worked nearby at the Diocesan Offices or the local Catholic schools. The parish thrived and there were many family activities offered, including the annual church picnic in Pine Hill. Each pastor who served Saint Maurice added his own special touch whether it be renovations, tree planting or the installation of chimes in the bell tower.
In June, 2004 Saint Maurice became "twinned" with Saint Anne - it still acted as a stand alone parish but shared its pastor with Saint Anne in Westville. Mass times at both churches changed so that one priest could celebrate all of the Masses for both churches. Then, in 2011, Saint Maurice, together with Saint Anne, merged with Annunciation BVM to become Saint Joachim Parish.
In the 60's and 70's there were three Masses each Sunday and two daily Masses. This was made possible since there were one or more priests in residence at the Saint Maurice Rectory who worked nearby at the Diocesan Offices or the local Catholic schools. The parish thrived and there were many family activities offered, including the annual church picnic in Pine Hill. Each pastor who served Saint Maurice added his own special touch whether it be renovations, tree planting or the installation of chimes in the bell tower.
In June, 2004 Saint Maurice became "twinned" with Saint Anne - it still acted as a stand alone parish but shared its pastor with Saint Anne in Westville. Mass times at both churches changed so that one priest could celebrate all of the Masses for both churches. Then, in 2011, Saint Maurice, together with Saint Anne, merged with Annunciation BVM to become Saint Joachim Parish.
