Historic NJ church holds final mass: 'Today is a very sad day'

Parishioners sung their final song on Sunday, ringing through the Saint Andrews the Apostle Catholic Church in Bayonne. FOX 5 NY's Kendall Green has the story.

FOX 5 NY delivers breaking news, live events, investigations, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from New York City and across the nation.

Watch more FOX 5 NY on YouTube:

[smrk]

Where were these people this whole time? If the church meant so much to them, they could have been supporting it all along.

[earthlylynx]

This is going to continue to happen when you have low church attendance… unfortunately im not surprised

[branchtobranch]

Suddenly, the church has to close for poor attendance and Bam! Now they care. Please stop!

[RitaGatton]

I grieve for Saint Andrew’s Church in Bayonne, NJ. Comments are criticizing people who do not go to Mass or do anything for the church. My friends and I are extremely involved in our Catholic parish, Saint Catharine of Siena Church, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and all of its activities to keep it going. Just yesterday, we met to sew new altar linens. Some of us prepared a fundraiser for Pregnancy Center West during October - Respect Live Month. Our music is magnificent, with choral pieces such as “Ave Verum Corpus” by Mozart after Communion. If you live near Cincinnati and would like to attend Mass in a church that is as beautiful as Saint Andrew’s in Bayonne, NJ, and hear magnificent, sublime music EVERY Sunday, come to Saint Catharine’s! If you cannot come here, please get involved in your local parish and keep it alive. And, please everyone pray for vocations!

[AJMacDonaldJr]

Covid probably didn't help. The bishops never should have closed the parishes during 2020.

[robertjancart]

Catholics need to take control of their churches. They need to buy them as a group and manage them as a group. It's only done will they begin to understand the mechanics behind saving their Church building. Because when they buy their Church building, that means commitment on their part, that means savings spent on their Church.

It's a shame, because the Church was once built on faith, Catholics gave freely to support their Church to make sure that all are active members.

[jaxs]

A beautiful Catholic Church! Please save the Church!!!😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[MrJustynw]

It's heartbreaking to see churches close, but it's a reminder that we can't always leave the work of spreading the Gospel and supporting the Church to "someone else." If we don't take ownership of our faith, through active participation, volunteering, and support, the Church will suffer. It's ironic that so many attend the final Masses yet didn’t invest the time or effort to keep these parishes alive when it counted. If we want vibrant communities, we need to be part of the solution, not just mourn the loss.

[jfleming]

So many Catholic churches are being torn down and no new ones are being built. It is really a sad situation.

[VitoVeccia]

They always want the church to support them, but never support the church in return. This is what happens when we slowly turn away from God.

[michaelciccone]

Coptic Orthodox Churches are doing quite well. Most likely this RCC will become a Coptic Orthodox Egyptians are present in Bayonne and nearby Jersey City

[luciechapello]

Sadly, across the US, churches are being closed.😢

[Iceland]

Its weird how so many beautiful historical churches are closing. England’s Cathedrals don’t shut down. We don’t hear of other European churches closing.

[ronnycee]

No one said what was going to happen to the building???

[renabecerra-rasti]

What will happen to this historic building? They don’t build churches like that anymore.

[bikdav]

Watch a new church move into the building. Remember, the church IS THE PEOPLE, not the actual building.

[luciaantenucci]

¿Y donde están todos esos influencers que tienen canales católicos de USA que lo que hacen es criticar al Santo Padre? Con tonterías como la de cambiar a ritos antiguos etc.
Lo que pasa es que a la gente lo que le gusta es la misa show, tipo karaoke, que les regalen donuts y alabanzas con una taza de café en la mano. No les gusta la disciplina, critican cuando la liturgia no se ajusta a sus deseos y entonces es excusa para irse a la iglesia de al lado donde si les permiten hacer sus shows

[yvobalcer]

It is a beautiful building. Assumption Church was closed several years ago which was built to accommodate the handicapped.

[Mia-vmpl]

We are all to blame for not going to church

[kristinesmart]

That's depressing. Luckily, the people will retain their faith, and the love of God will continue to live in their hearts no matter where they choose to worship Him. God bless!