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“We want to try and raise $1 million to renovate the church, to upgrade it,” Fr. Joseph Astarita told Daily Voice.
The Hoboken Road church previously raised $1.2 million that was used for exterior renovations -- fixing all of the leaking roof holes in the 80+-year-old structure, for instance.
New work could include replacing the lighting and rug, updating and expanding the altar and repairing and polishing the marble organ.
A feasibility study that will determine what needs to be done is expected to be completed by the end of October.The church must then the go-ahead from the Archdiocese of Newark, after which work could begin in January.
“The renovations show there is life,” Astarita said. “The church is very beautiful and to restore it to its original beauty is always important."When the Pope came through, he said, ‘Through beauty and goodness is when we can see God.' ”
“The beauty of the church speaks to people in a certain way,” Astarita said.
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