On Nov. 24, the Feast of Christ the King, St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Clifton welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated the noon Mass. During his visit, he blessed the recently refurbished pews and kneelers in the parish church and other improvements.
Father David Monteleone, St. Philip’s pastor, and Father Emerson R.P. Francisco, the parish’s parochial vicar, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. Father Jared Brogan, director of the Worship Office of the Paterson Diocese, was master of ceremonies.
Parishioners’ generous contributions to a capital campaign enabled St. Philips to undertake the pew renovations and other improvements.
In additional improvements, the carpet in the sanctuary was replaced with a soft, muted gold carpet that allows the white Carrera marble altar to stand out. The Blessed Sacrament’s Altar of Repose was rebuilt, bringing it more to scale and matching the Altar of Sacrifice.
Also, the baptismal font was relocated close to the church entrance to be more symbolic “since that is the first sacrament we receive,” Father Monteleone said. The parish also renovated a bathroom and made it handicap accessible.
Colette Liddy, a Beacon correspondent, wrote a story on the renovation of St. Philip’s pews in the Nov. 14 edition. Please read it here:
https://beaconnj.org/clifton-parishioners-do-something-beautiful-for-god-and-community-with-pew-renovations/
— Michael Wojcik
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
