Queen of Peace Church lights up for first time during its re-dedication ceremony

The 165-foot-tall steeple of Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington has recently been illuminated for the first time in years.

Steeple Lighting

The steeple lighting was held during a re-dedication ceremony on Nov. 26 as the most recent event in the parish's year-long celebration of its hundredth anniversary.

According to an article from the Jersey Catholic, the installation of the new lights in the steeple was part of a larger rehabilitation project performed on the tower.

The project also included the structural repointing and the structure of stained-glass windows.

The illumination was especially significant since it represented a return to the days when the steeple acted as an unofficial "beacon" of Bergen County.

According to the pastor of Queen of Peace, Fr. Anthony Di Stefano, airline passengers used to marvel over the luminous tower while flying over the night sky.

As a result, returning the steeple to its former splendor was a significant way to honor the parish's centennial.

Moreover, the Queen of Peace Church commemorated its jubilee on Jun. 17 with a gala concert that featured English and Spanish music to reflect the community's variety in advance of the re-dedication of the tower.

On Sept. 25, Fr. Di Stefano was formally installed as the parish's new pastor during its centennial celebration.

In addition, as the year progresses, Queen of Peace will continue to implement its parish re-engagement strategy in conjunction with celebrating its one-hundredth anniversary.

To date, the implementation of their strategy has led to the establishment of a children's choir, a youth ministry, and a revamping of the religious education program offered by the parish to make room for increased family participation.

Queen of Peace Church

According to its website, the Queen of Peace Grammar School opened its doors in September 1925, and it was staffed by the Srs. of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill.

As the parish's population grew, a larger church was required. Msgr. Peter B. O'Connor, the first pastor of Queen of Peace Church, was responsible for the most ambitious growth that the parish had ever accomplished.

Within just two years, the school's enrolment increased significantly. 1934 was the year that Queen of Peace High School celebrated its first graduating class.

The first church on the property was quickly repurposed as classrooms, and a second church was eventually established on the lower floor of the school building.

Moreover, the church spire is impressive since it climbs 165 feet to an aluminum cross containing a remnant of the genuine cross.

A bell weighing 5,000 lbs. hidden from view inside the bell tower by louvers on all four sides is located just below the spire.

The three tiers of the building bring to mind the Holy Trinity. The first tier, constructed out of the same Briar Hill stone as the rest of the church, alludes to the fact that Christ is the cornerstone of His faithful followers on Earth.

In addition, the Roman Catholic history of the New World is commemorated through the twelve main windows that can be found in the church's nave.

The windows are intended to serve as a gentle reminder of the significant contribution Catholics have made to the greatness of the country and hemisphere.