Memorial of the old St. Michael's Church
As a result of a directive by the Bishop of Camden, Nicholas DiMarzio, the parish communities of Our Lady of Victories and St. Michael have been consolidated as of July 1, 2001.
We have been a mixed community made up of people of different nationalities with the sole purpose of worshipping God together. Approximately 100 years ago, immigrants not having a church of their own, availed themselves of the religious services at St. Mary's Church of East Vineland and Sacred Heart Church of Vineland.
Under the direction of Father Nicholas Coscia, Pastor of St. Mary's Church of East Vineland, permission to open a parish church, St. Michael in Minotola, was granted by the Diocese of Trenton on April 9, 1902. Father Michael Dilesi was considered the first Pastor of St. Michael Church in Minotola and St. Mary's Mission Church of Landisville which was built in the same year. In the years that followed, a rectory was built in Minotola and ground for a cemetery was dedicated. Parishioners of Landisville, Minotola and Forest Grove rejoiced, mourned, and prayed together. These communities were served by only one priest traveling from town to town. With the purpose pf blessing homes, Father Mazzolini, who began his tenure in 1930, visited each home throughout the parish in the districts of Landisville, Minotola, Forest Grove, and Buena. The people fraternized together with a real determination to nurture the future development of their parish. They were indeed of one heart and mind. |
During that time, land was purchased to build a centralized church, school, and convent. However, in 1952, the Bishop made a surprising decision to split the parish. Our Lady of Victories in Landisville and St. Michael in Minotola were formed. Father Dennis Rigney was assigned as the first Pastor of Our Lady of Victories Church. Father Christopher Mazzolini was assigned to St. Michael in Minotola. In 1960, Our Lady of Victories grammar school and convent were built. The school became regionalized in the early 1980's and in 1995, merged with St. Rose in Newfield. The merged school is now called Notre Dame Regional School. In 1963, ground was blessed for construction of the new St. Michael Church in Minotola and was completed in 1965. As a result of the growth in farming and the influx of migrant workers, Our Lady of Victories Church has had several Spanish priests to serve the needs of the parishioners. Today, a Spanish Mass is celebrated each Sunday at Our Lady of Victories Church in Landisville. It is good to remember and to think about the long journey that all our parish families have traveled as we now look into the future as Queen of Angles Parish. |
