St. Joachim’s celebrates church rededication

Outfitted with refinished pews, a new altar and a new pipe organ, St. Joachim’s Church in Cedarhurst was rededicated at a Mass last Sunday that included Bishop William F. Murphy, leader of the Rockville Centre Diocese.

The new altar of sacrifice, the shrine altars on the left and ride sides and the high altar against the back of the sanctuary came from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Philadelphia, which closed in 2012. The sanctuary, the front section of the church, holds the altar, the tabernacle, the pulpit and a chair for the priest or pastor.

Built between 1890 and 1896, St. Joachim’s was in need of much updating, according to parishioners. The renovations began in June and were completed in the second week of December, according to the Rev. Tom Moriarty, the church’s pastor. The work was done relatively quickly, and didn’t prevent church officiates and parishioners from celebrating Mass in the lower church during the reconstruction.

Moriarty works closely with the Rev. Eric Fasano, who helped him throughout the renovation process. Fasano is also a resident priest for the three Catholic churches, and serves as a judge for the diocese’s marriage tribunal.

A bishop must rededicate the church, Moriarty said, and most likely this was Murphy’s last church dedication, because he is set to retire at the end of the month. Bishop John Barres, formerly the bishop of Allentown, Pa., will assume leadership at a Mass of Installation at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre on Jan. 31.