St. Joseph Parish History

“St. Joseph Church - High Bridge, New Jersey: Our Parish History, Our Genealogy”
A book by Parish Historian Greg Boyle describes how the St. Joseph Parish began during the late 19th century, and how it has evolved though early 2018. It also provides the “backstory” for our parish:
It explores what life was like in and around High Bridge and provides details about many of the parishioners and their priests who have supported the parish for more than 140 years.
Included is an Addendum listing the names of parishioners whose names have been memorialized in records and plaques since 1898 for their stewardship support. The Index includes a sub-section of “Parish Families” intended to assist anyone interested in the genealogical study of his or her family.
St. Joseph Church - High Bridge, New Jersey: Our Parish History, Our Genealogy is available from Amazon.com in Paperback ($18.98) or for Kindle devices ($9.98). (The $18.98 paperback price corresponds to the year our current church was built – 1898.)
Click the cover image, or go to www.Amazon.com and search for St. Joseph Church High Bridge.
A book by Parish Historian Greg Boyle describes how the St. Joseph Parish began during the late 19th century, and how it has evolved though early 2018. It also provides the “backstory” for our parish:
- Describing how and why Catholics came to America;
- Who they were;
- How the Catholic Church was organized in America (especially, in New Jersey);
- Why some Catholics ended up in High Bridge.
It explores what life was like in and around High Bridge and provides details about many of the parishioners and their priests who have supported the parish for more than 140 years.
Included is an Addendum listing the names of parishioners whose names have been memorialized in records and plaques since 1898 for their stewardship support. The Index includes a sub-section of “Parish Families” intended to assist anyone interested in the genealogical study of his or her family.
St. Joseph Church - High Bridge, New Jersey: Our Parish History, Our Genealogy is available from Amazon.com in Paperback ($18.98) or for Kindle devices ($9.98). (The $18.98 paperback price corresponds to the year our current church was built – 1898.)
Click the cover image, or go to www.Amazon.com and search for St. Joseph Church High Bridge.

The following 42-minute film covers the parish history of our host parish.
It includes information about the founding families of the parish and historical information that predates the establishment of a Catholic Church in High Bridge.
Begin by clicking the 'play' icon in the center of the screen. It can be viewed "full screen" once it begins to play by selecting the sizing tool at the lower right corner of the screen.
It includes information about the founding families of the parish and historical information that predates the establishment of a Catholic Church in High Bridge.
Begin by clicking the 'play' icon in the center of the screen. It can be viewed "full screen" once it begins to play by selecting the sizing tool at the lower right corner of the screen.
St. Joseph Church contains a unique feature. Its cornerstone is marked "St. Joseph Church 1879" and "Rebuilt 1898."
However, beneath that is another stone from the ruins of St. Brigid's Abbey near the River Bride in County Cork, Ireland. In 1874, that stone was shipped from Ireland to Junction by Dr. T. M. A' Heron whose ancestors (Aghern) were from County Cork. Before it left County Cork, Dr. A' Heron had the stone engraved with a Celtic Cross and the legend, "St. B. ABBEY 724" to commemorate its origin from one of the many abbeys established in Ireland during the 8th century and plundered by Viking raiders during the 9th and 10th centuries. In 1874, the land on which the abbey ruins stand was among the many properties under the control of the 5th Duke of Devonshire. Initially, he was miffed when he learned of "his" stone's removal but was later mollified when he learned of the intended use for the stone.
The purloined cornerstone and the subterfuge employed by Fr. O'Neil and the early parishioners to build a church "under the noses" of somewhat hostile neighbors are fine examples of Irish resourcefulness and anchor forever the Irish roots of our parish.
However, beneath that is another stone from the ruins of St. Brigid's Abbey near the River Bride in County Cork, Ireland. In 1874, that stone was shipped from Ireland to Junction by Dr. T. M. A' Heron whose ancestors (Aghern) were from County Cork. Before it left County Cork, Dr. A' Heron had the stone engraved with a Celtic Cross and the legend, "St. B. ABBEY 724" to commemorate its origin from one of the many abbeys established in Ireland during the 8th century and plundered by Viking raiders during the 9th and 10th centuries. In 1874, the land on which the abbey ruins stand was among the many properties under the control of the 5th Duke of Devonshire. Initially, he was miffed when he learned of "his" stone's removal but was later mollified when he learned of the intended use for the stone.
The purloined cornerstone and the subterfuge employed by Fr. O'Neil and the early parishioners to build a church "under the noses" of somewhat hostile neighbors are fine examples of Irish resourcefulness and anchor forever the Irish roots of our parish.