ALLELULIA! SUNDAY MASS at ST. MICHAEL'S on FATHER'S DAY

Welcome back St. Michael’s! The first regular Sunday Mass since September 2015 was held on Father’s Day at 10:00 am to the applause of many supporters including the local business owners. Follow the link below to read the special online story by Donna Weaver from the Press of Atlantic City. The online article includes images and video interviews of neighborhood small business owners that rely on St. Mikes as a focus of community life. A copy of the story is below. The future of St. Michael Church is in many ways part of the renewal spirit of Atlantic City. We must all do what we can by attending Mass each Sunday this Summer at 10:00 am. This surely will give you hope and provide some answers to life’s problems… by uplifting yourself, your family, and our city. Bobby V. Posted: Sunday, June 19, 2016 7:00 pm Atlantic City's St. Michael's welcomes back parishioners for summer DONNA WEAVER, Staff Writer ATLANTIC CITY — The sun streamed through the stained glass windows and pews were once again full inside St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church on Sunday morning. Dominic Alcaro opened his store early Sunday morning, and as the smell of bread baking at Rando’s wafted down the street, Alcaro waved at familiar faces walking to church. “It’s a beautiful day and site to see an icon like St. Mike’s open on Father’s Day Sunday. To see people walking to church with smiles this is the best Father’s Day gift I could ever get,” said Alcaro who is also a parishioner. The summer Mass season started Sunday and ends the weekend of the Miss America Pageant. On Sunday, the sidewalk of Mississippi Avenue in the Ducktown section of the city has not seen as much foot traffic since the final Sunday service held at the 113-year-old church Sept. 27. Frustration erupted in the community last June when St. Michael's and St. Monica's church were ordered closed by the Diocese of Camden. When announcing the closings the Diocese pointed to declining attendance and revenue difficulties. Since then, the city's two remaining Catholic churches — Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Nicholas of Tolentine — have continued to hold regular Sunday services. But for Kathie Brady, of Atlantic City, the other churches in the St. Monica’s Parish just aren’t St. Mike’s as it is affectionately called. “I tried to go to St. Nick’s, but it was scary down there and I had to walk. We tried Lady Star of the Sea, but it was just too crowded, so we ended up going to St. James in Ventnor, but it’s good to be home,” Brady said as she settled into a pew in the back of the church on Sunday. “It was so sad to see this place close. I am so happy to see it open again,” said Kathy Zmyewski, of Atlantic City. Inside the church, fresh white flowers were on the altar and retired Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Coyne took his place at the pulpit and spoke to the congregation. The sound of flip-flops on feet echoed through the church as parishioners hurried inside for the start of the service. Coyne said 60 years ago, the Catholic Church was growing by leaps and bounds and there was need for priests in south Jersey. Unfortunately today many of those churches in south Jersey are closing, he said. The city's Italian immigrant community founded St. Michael's in 1904, in the Ducktown section of the city. The church's construction was completed in December 1912. The church and property are assessed at $3.7 million, according to public records. “Celebrating mass here today is an honor. I see the congregation is all smiles so you’ve all either had breakfast in bed this morning or you’re looking forward to going out tonight,” said Coyne who was ordained 61 years ago Sunday. Contact: 609-513-6686 DWeaver@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressWeaver