200 MONMOUTH ROAD, ELIZABETH, NJ 07208   +  908-351-4444
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ST. GENEVIEVE’S CHURCH
200 MONMOUTH RD.
ELIZABETH, NJ 07208
908-351-4444 - www.stgensrcc.com.


March 29, 2021

Dear Friends of St. Genevieve’s,

I am writing to thank you for all the support you have given to St. Genevieve’s Church especially this past year in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic. Your prayers, words of encouragement and your generous financial support is so appreciated. I am hopeful that we are near the end of what has been a difficult time. 

Easter is here and there is much to celebrate. We can appreciate the new life that the Resurrection gives us more than ever. Jesus has taught us how to embrace the Cross, dying so that we may be one with Him and the Father. Life through the Cross gives us the hope and promise of eternal life. 

I would like to encourage you to come back to being present in Church at this time. Many of our parishioners have been vaccinated, including myself, and we are still practicing all the Covid requirements to keep you safe. The Eucharist is so central to who we are as Catholics. Easter Masses will be offered for our parishioners and all our family members and friends who died from Covid 19. 

As most of you know, I announced a few weeks ago that after much prayer and reflection I will retire as your Pastor on June 30. It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life because of the 27 years I have spent here as your priest and my love of you and this parish. In May I will turn 77 and will also celebrate 50 years of Priesthood. I believe it is a good time to step aside and let a younger priest get all the parish activities going again as the pandemic gets behind us. I hope in some way to be involved with the parish, but that is always the decision of a new pastor. Although I will be in my home in Brick, it’s not far away.
On May 23 we will celebrate in some way (depending on Covid restrictions) my 50th and Fr. Ronnie’s 25th Anniversaries to Priesthood. Last Spring, we were in lockdown so Fr. Ronnie could not celebrate with you. I am hoping for Mass in the Church and a picnic like celebration on the front lawn of Church. It would be a time to laugh, tell stories and be ourselves. We need a good party.

I would also like to ask you to get behind and support this year’s Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. We are off to a very slow start and I would love to be able to tell our new pastor in July that we have reached our $42,000 goal. I know we can do it. This year with the pandemic there are so many in need and Catholic Charities supported by the appeal is there for them. 

In conclusion, I wish for you the best, a happy and faith filled Easter, unity and love in your families and a real sense of the Risen Lord’s presence. Our Easter Masses are Saturday Vigil – 8:00PM, Sunday – 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 and 12 Noon.

You will always be in my thoughts and prayers.


Happy Easter,

Rev. George D. Gillen
Pastor – gdggens@optonline.net