Our Lady of Grace R.C. Church

Parish History:
1851 - Our Lady of Grace is founded. It is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the United States. Although Hoboken had its first pastor in 1844, a small frame church, Our Lady of Mercy, in West Hoboken (later Union City) wasn’t built until 1851. When it was completed, Fr. Cauvin moved to Hoboken to begin building a brick church and rectory on Willow Avenue.

1855 - Our Lady of Grace is dedicated on June 24, 1855.

1856 - The Society of the Living Rosary is established in December. One of the first Rosary Societies in the country, it is still active.

1859 - A small, select school opens and operates with one teacher from 1859 until 1964.

1864 - Our Lady of Grace is incorporated and the first Catholic Public School in Hoboken opens under the Sisters of Charity of Madison.

1866 - In August 1865, the Sisters of Charity start to build a hospital and asylum. St. Mary Hospital was blessed on May 6, 1866.

1873 - The parish owns the entire block along Church Square Park.

1915 - After completion of the church and chapel came a new convent for 30 Sisters of Charity running the school.

1941 - The interior of the church is renovated.

1958 - The school experiences a complete interior renovation.

1968 - The church interior is repainted.

1994 - The church in its present form begins to take shape.

1996 - After restoration, the church is placed on the New Jersey List of Historic Places.

1998 - The church is rededicated on December 7, 1998 following the interior and exterior renovation.

1999 - The parish school merges with other Catholic schools in Hoboken to form Hoboken Catholic Academy.

2001 - Our Lady of Grace marches into the new millennium at its 150th Anniversary Mass on October 7, 2001.

2008 - This year, we celebrate the merging of Our Lady of Grace with St. Joseph. It cements the longtime link between the two churches, and was recommended by the New Energies Initiatives of the Archdiocese of Newark and approved by Archbishop John Myers.