Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Highlands, New Jersey

Parish History

     In 1863, Rev. Thomas M. Killeen, pastor of St. James in Red Bank, celebrated Highland’s first mass in a private home.  Priests from Red Bank continued to administer to the community until 1879, when Rev. John J. O’Connor took up residence in Highlands.  Father O’Connor assumed the pastorate of St. Mary’s Parish, which then consisted of New Monmouth and Highlands.  In 1883, when Father O’Connor moved nearer to St. Mary’s Church in New Monmouth, Rev. John H. Fox, pastor of Holy Cross in Rumson, took responsibility for the Catholics of Highlands.  In 1888 Father Fox built Highland’s first church. Rev. Thomas Roche, pastor of St. Agnes in Atlantic Highlands, took charge of Highlands in 1891.

     Our Lady of Perpetual Help’s first pastor, Rev. John T. Sweeney, arrived in 1898, thus establishing an independent parish.  Father Sweeney constructed a parish hall and the present rectory in 1901.  Rev. Thomas Kearns completed a larger church by 1932.  In 1951, Rev. Joseph J. Donnelly started a school in the basement of the church.  A building for the Sisters of St. Francis from Stella Niagara, New York, was purchased in 1951.  The present, more convenient convent was purchased and renovated in 1957.  Rev. James A. Thompson constructed a school building in 1963, and about 1978, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus from Woodbury assumed the teaching duties of the school.

     In 1997 Rev. John M. Dobrosky purchased the house on the corner of Miller and Navesink Avenue, which is now known as the St. Jude Thrift Shop.  The Thrift Shop is staffed by volunteers of the parish. 

Pastors and Administrators:

Rev. John T. Sweeney 1898-1906
Rev. Joseph A. Rigney 1906-14
Rev. Thomas Kearns 1914-33
Rev. John J. Henry 1933-34
Rev. James A. Bulfin 1934-35
Rev. John C. Farrell 1935-38
Rev. Neil Mooney 1938-42
Rev. Thomas A. Griffin 1942-46
Rev. Eugene Kelly 1946-47
Rev. Joseph J. Donnelly 1947-62
Rev. James A. Thompson 1962-68
Rev. Raymond L. Szulecki 1968
Rev. David G. Delzell 1968-94
Rev. Edward M. Jawidzik 1994-95
Rev. John M. Dobrosky 1995-99
Rev. David A. Adams, Administrator 1999-01
Rev. Daniel F. Gowen, Administrator 2001-02
Rev. Daniel F. Gowen 2002-06
Rev. Robert M. Tynski 2006-present

 Excerpt from Faith in Action in the Diocese of Trenton