Parish History
In the year 1880, the Rev. Samuel Corrigan, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Newton, endeavoring to provide for the spiritual needs of the Catholics scattered in the eastern section of Sussex County, decided to build a church in Deckertown. A famous convert who lived in the section, Major General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, who had attained renown in the Civil War, aided him in this project.
On May 4, 1881, the cornerstone of the new Church of St. Monica was blessed and installed by Archbishop Michael Corrigan of New York, the brother of Father Corrigan. The first Mass in the new Church as said in the late summer of 1881. Before this, Mass had been celebrated occasionally at the home of John Dorien on East Main Street.
Archibishop Michael Augustine Corrigan named the Church "St. Monica" after the mother of his own patron Saint. He gave, on the occasion of the cornerstone laying, a chalice that is currently on display at the Church.
Mass continued to be said monthly from Newton until 1900, when the Pastor of Franklin took charge of Sussex. The original church structure was destroyed by a windstorm in 1888 but was quickly rebuilt.
In 1925, the Rev. Michael Corr, Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Franklin, enlarged the Church. On January 1, 1942, Sussex was made an independent parish, with the Rev. Joseph M. Hewetson of Franklin as Administrator.
May 1, 1942, Rev. Henry Zolzer came to Sussex as the first resident pastor, making his rectory at 2 Grant Street. He remained pastor until December 1, 1945, when he transferred to Immaculate Conception Church, Franklin. The Rev. Thomas Molloy, who had to resign because of poor health on June 25, 1948, succeeded him as pastor. On that day, Rev. Christian D. Haag of Madison was appointed Administrator.
The chapel of Our Lady of the Scapular was started at Unionville, New York, from St. Monica's Church on December 1, 1948. Later it was placed under the charge of the Carmelite Fathers of Middletown, New York.
On February 2, 1949, four Sisters of Charity under Sr. Ellen Marie came to teach Catechism to the children of the Parish. They made the weekly trip from St. Elizabeth's College, Convent Station, New Jersey. Currently the laity of the Parish teaches Catechism.
May 13, 1949, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima was solemnly blessed and installed in St. Monica's Church by Bishop Boland of Paterson in the presence of forty priests and a vast concourse of laity.
On July 1, 1949, Rev. Stephen Patch became the first assistant at St. Monica. He was transferred from his summer assignment on October 1, 1949 to St. Vincent Martyr, Madison.
Pentecost Sunday, May 29, 1950, Mass was permanently instituted at the Highland Lakes Mission, which had previously been opened for summer seasons.
July 11, 1950, Rev. Joseph E. Yuresko was appointed Assistant to Father Haag. He was succeeded by Rev. Walter A. Mis, who was later transferred to Holy Rosary Church, Passaic, on October 1, 1952.
On Low Sunday, April 21, 1952, ground was broken for a new Church, the old one having become inadequate to take care of the growing parish. The last Mass celebrated in the old St. Monica's Church was on April 28, 1952 at 7:00 AM by the Pastor, Rev. Christian D. Haag. The Church was dismantled and razed shortly thereafter. In the interim, Sunday Mass was offered in the auditorium of the Sussex High School, currently the Sussex/Wantage Middle School, through the courtesy of the Board of Education. Daily Mass and other devotions were held in the rectory chapel.
Rev. Christian D. Haag, previously Administrator of St. Monica's Church, was appointed Pastor on July 3, 1952. Rev. Aloysius J. Busch served as Assistant Pastor; his assignment began on October 1, 1952.
Rev. Christian D. Haag continued as Pastor of St. Monica's until 1965. Subsequent Pastors included Rev. Martin C. Connelly, 1965 - 1967; Rev. Robert J. Morriss, 1967-1971; Monsignor Brendan P. Madden, 1971 - 1985; Rev. Joseph Ryan, 1985 - 1990; and Rev. Charles A. Perricone, 1990 - Present.
St. Monica's Parish embraces the faithful scattered in an area of 140 square miles. This area consists of the Boro of Sussex, Wantage Township, and some sections of Vernon, Lafayette and Branchville. In all, some 1300 families are registered parishioners of St. Monica's Church.
On May 4, 1881, the cornerstone of the new Church of St. Monica was blessed and installed by Archbishop Michael Corrigan of New York, the brother of Father Corrigan. The first Mass in the new Church as said in the late summer of 1881. Before this, Mass had been celebrated occasionally at the home of John Dorien on East Main Street.
Archibishop Michael Augustine Corrigan named the Church "St. Monica" after the mother of his own patron Saint. He gave, on the occasion of the cornerstone laying, a chalice that is currently on display at the Church.
Mass continued to be said monthly from Newton until 1900, when the Pastor of Franklin took charge of Sussex. The original church structure was destroyed by a windstorm in 1888 but was quickly rebuilt.
In 1925, the Rev. Michael Corr, Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Franklin, enlarged the Church. On January 1, 1942, Sussex was made an independent parish, with the Rev. Joseph M. Hewetson of Franklin as Administrator.
May 1, 1942, Rev. Henry Zolzer came to Sussex as the first resident pastor, making his rectory at 2 Grant Street. He remained pastor until December 1, 1945, when he transferred to Immaculate Conception Church, Franklin. The Rev. Thomas Molloy, who had to resign because of poor health on June 25, 1948, succeeded him as pastor. On that day, Rev. Christian D. Haag of Madison was appointed Administrator.
The chapel of Our Lady of the Scapular was started at Unionville, New York, from St. Monica's Church on December 1, 1948. Later it was placed under the charge of the Carmelite Fathers of Middletown, New York.
On February 2, 1949, four Sisters of Charity under Sr. Ellen Marie came to teach Catechism to the children of the Parish. They made the weekly trip from St. Elizabeth's College, Convent Station, New Jersey. Currently the laity of the Parish teaches Catechism.
May 13, 1949, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima was solemnly blessed and installed in St. Monica's Church by Bishop Boland of Paterson in the presence of forty priests and a vast concourse of laity.
On July 1, 1949, Rev. Stephen Patch became the first assistant at St. Monica. He was transferred from his summer assignment on October 1, 1949 to St. Vincent Martyr, Madison.
Pentecost Sunday, May 29, 1950, Mass was permanently instituted at the Highland Lakes Mission, which had previously been opened for summer seasons.
July 11, 1950, Rev. Joseph E. Yuresko was appointed Assistant to Father Haag. He was succeeded by Rev. Walter A. Mis, who was later transferred to Holy Rosary Church, Passaic, on October 1, 1952.
On Low Sunday, April 21, 1952, ground was broken for a new Church, the old one having become inadequate to take care of the growing parish. The last Mass celebrated in the old St. Monica's Church was on April 28, 1952 at 7:00 AM by the Pastor, Rev. Christian D. Haag. The Church was dismantled and razed shortly thereafter. In the interim, Sunday Mass was offered in the auditorium of the Sussex High School, currently the Sussex/Wantage Middle School, through the courtesy of the Board of Education. Daily Mass and other devotions were held in the rectory chapel.
Rev. Christian D. Haag, previously Administrator of St. Monica's Church, was appointed Pastor on July 3, 1952. Rev. Aloysius J. Busch served as Assistant Pastor; his assignment began on October 1, 1952.
Rev. Christian D. Haag continued as Pastor of St. Monica's until 1965. Subsequent Pastors included Rev. Martin C. Connelly, 1965 - 1967; Rev. Robert J. Morriss, 1967-1971; Monsignor Brendan P. Madden, 1971 - 1985; Rev. Joseph Ryan, 1985 - 1990; and Rev. Charles A. Perricone, 1990 - Present.
St. Monica's Parish embraces the faithful scattered in an area of 140 square miles. This area consists of the Boro of Sussex, Wantage Township, and some sections of Vernon, Lafayette and Branchville. In all, some 1300 families are registered parishioners of St. Monica's Church.
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