Decree Closing St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Bayonne, NJ

After thorough consultation with parish leadership and following a comprehensive assessment of the pastoral and financial sustainability of the Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich Parish, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, has issued a decree to permanently close St. Andrew the Apostle Church, located at 10 West 4th Street in Bayonne.

Since September 22, 2024, St. Andrew’s Church has been closed for divine worship. A decree has been issued to close the church permanently, officially relegating it to “profane but not sordid use,” in accord with canon 1222, §2 of the Code of Canon Law. This means the building is no longer used for religious services.  The issuance of this decree follows a deliberate process that included consideration of legal proceedings and a respectful review of parishioner and community feedback regarding this closure decision.

Background and Rationale for Closure

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish and St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish merged in 2016 to form the Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich Parish.  Despite the merger, the combined parish continued to face financial struggles.

The decision to close St. Andrew the Apostle Church was made after careful consideration of several factors:

• Mass attendance has significantly declined, with a 35% drop since 2016.
• Financial challenges, including a 31% decrease in income post-COVID.
• The parish’s available funds fall considerably short of the parish’s needs. Substantial repairs are required to St. Andrew the Apostle Church and St. Mary, Star of the Sea Church, totaling more than $7 million, yet only $3.8 million is available to the parish.
• Public listening sessions with the church community to gather feedback and transparently share concerns prior to the final decision.

Final Mass and Transition

A final Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at St. Andrew’s Church on September 22, 2024, presided over by Cardinal Tobin and attended by hundreds of current and former parishioners and community members.

Moving forward, all worship services for the blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich Parish will continue at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Church, located at 326 Avenue C in Bayonne.  Parishioners are encouraged to join the community there as the parish continues its faith journey.

The Archdiocese acknowledges the historical and architectural significance of St. Andrew’s Church.  Efforts are underway to preserve aspects of the church and its sacred objects for veneration and memorialization.

The Archdiocese of Newark and the parish leadership team extend heartfelt gratitude to all who have been part of St. Andrew’s rich history and invite everyone to continue their spiritual journey at St. Mary’s.