St Rose of Lima Church

Specialties

We are a Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Paterson. We welcome you to join our parish family. We are right across the street from Gates of Heaven cemetery and our pastor frequently visits the sick both in hospitals and at home. May God bless you and protect you.

History

Established in 1957.

In the early 1950’s the Catholic residents of East Hanover traveled to Whippany or Florham Park for church services. However, the post World War II population boom resulted in more and more people moving out of the cities and into the suburbs, and it soon became evident that there was a need for a Catholic church in the Township of East Hanover.

Two and a half acres of land on Ridgedale Avenue were acquired from the Vanacore family in October 1955 when Our Lady of Mercy Parish of Whippany anticipated a Mission Church in East Hanover. However, it was not until June 1957 that Bishop James A. McNulty assigned Rev. Alphonse Tuozzo (then a curate at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Paterson) to explore the possibility of establishing a new parish for the faithful in that area. During this period, Father Tuozzo resided at the rectory of Holy Family Church in Florham Park.

The first Mass of the independent mission of St. Rose of Lima was celebrated by Father Tuozzo in the East Hanover firehouse