The Church of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1856 as a mission of St. Peter's Church in Belleville, New Jersey, to meet the religious needs of the growing number of Catholics in the northerly part of Essex County. In 1864 it was established as a separate parish and became the mother-church for Catholic parishes in Bloomfield, Verona and Caldwell. The first church was a frame building on Elm Street, which served the parish until 1892, when construction of the present church began at the corner of North Fullerton Avenue and Munn Street. In 1907 the present church was completed; it was restored and renovated in 1995, with the aid of a grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust. 

An elementary school had been started in the original church in 1881, staffed by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, and in 1899 a new school building was erected on Munn Street, named Tegakwita Hall in honor of the young Mohawk girl, Kateri Tegakwita, the first Native North American to be beatified by the Catholic Church. Although the elementary school was closed in 1997, Tegakwita Hall, now a century old and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, continues to serve the parish.  In 1997, after the closing of Immaculate Conception Elementary School, its James A. Farrell Early Childhood Center was retained as Tegakwita Academy, a Pre-school program for 3-and 4-year olds. 

In 1925, Immaculate Conception High School was established on Cottage Place; today it serves a diverse student population from throughout Essex County, with an array of outstanding academic and athletic programs.  In 1895, Immaculate Conception Cemetery was established on Grove Street in Upper Montclair; a Mausoleum was added in 1987.  On the eve of the 150th anniversary of its founding, Immaculate Conception serves more than 1,000 Catholic families in Montclair and surrounding towns.

Although the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX only in 1854, it represents a belief held by Catholics since at least the sixth century. The dogma asserts that Mary, a young virgin from the town of Nazareth in Galilee  (Luke 1:26-27), in preparation for being chosen by God to be the mother of His eternally-begotten Son, was preserved free from original sin from the first moment of her existence. In 1846, the Catholic bishops of the United States adopted Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, as Patroness of the Church in our country. Devotion to Mary, the Immaculate Conception, grew following the 1854 definition of the dogma, encouraged by the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes in France in 1858,during which Mary presented herself to St. Bernadette Soubirous as "the Immaculate Conception". Under this title, Mary has been honored consistently in the Archdiocese of Newark since its establishment as a diocesan church in 1853: many parishes and institutions are dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, including the major seminary of the Archdiocese at Seton Hall University. In 1856, Fr. John Hogan was directed by         Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley, a nephew of St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton and the first Catholic Bishop of Newark, to establish a mission of St. Peter's Parish, Belleville,     in the village then known as West Bloomfield (later Montclair) to serve the northern part of Essex County. The mission was to be dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, under the title of the Immaculate Conception: it was incorporated as a separate parish in 1864. A treasured memento form the early days of Immaculate Conception Parish is a statue of Mary that originally stood over the entrance of our first church building on Elm Street and which now rests in a niche over the entrance to Madonna Hall, our church basement meeting hall.  Mary Immaculate, pray for us!

Pastor

MSGR. Msgr. Timothy J. Shugrue began his third 6-year term as Pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in June, 2003. A native of Elizabeth, NJ, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Newark in 1973, after studies at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Mahwah, NJ. He later received a MasterÕs degree in systematic theology from the Seminary. After assignments in parish ministry in Jersey City and as a high school chaplain in Newark and East Orange, Msgr. Shugrue was appointed Director of the Permanent Diaconate Preparation Program for the Archdiocese of Newark, and later became Director of the Archdiocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate. Following a sabbatical in 1990, he returned to parochial ministry in Bayonne before being appointed Pastor at Immaculate Conception in June, 1991. In 1996, Msgr. Shugrue was named a Chaplain of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.

In addition to his responsibilities as Pastor, Msgr. Shugrue has served in several Archdiocesan positions: he is presently coordinator of an Archdiocesan chapter of the ministry Courage, a spiritual support group for persons seeking to deal with homosexuality according to the teaching of the Catholic Church. His activities beyond the Archdiocese have included service as President of the National Association of Permanent Diaconate Directors and as a consultant to the U.S. BishopsÕ Committee on the Permanent Diaconate: in 1988 he authored a monograph study for the Committee, ÒThe Service Ministry of the DeaconÓ, published by the U.S.C.C.B. Office of Publications; from 1997 through 1999 he assisted in the revision of the National Guidelines for the Life and Ministry of Deacons in the U.S. Msgr. Shugrue has also served as a consultant to the U.S. BishopsÕ Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry. Locally, Msgr. Shugrue is a member and past president of the Montclair Clergy Association.

Parochial Vicar

REV. FRANK J. BURLA has served at Immaculate Conception Parish since 1966.   A native of Elizabeth, N.J. and later a resident of Rahway, N.J., Fr. Burla was educated in local public schools and received his B.A. from Seton Hall University.   After completing his theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah, N.J., Fr. Burla was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Newark in May, 1963, by Archbishop Thomas A Boland.   His first parochial assignment was as Assistant Pastor at St. Joseph's Church, Bayonne, N.J., followed by assignments as Assistant Pastor at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Franklin Lakes, N.J., and at St. Mary's Church, Rutherford, N.J..

At Immaculate Conception, Fr. Burla has been deeply involved in the life of Immaculate Conception High School, serving as a teacher, counselor, athletic director and as Moderator of the Blue Lion Club, which organizes programs for the financial support of the High School's athletic program.   Fr. Burla has also worked consistently with the parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and currently is moderator of a newly-formed Men's Ministry.

Parochial Vicar

REV. WILLIAM P. SHERIDAN joined the Parish Family at Immaculate Conception in July 2001.  A native of the Bronx (but a Mets fan nonetheless!), Fr. Bill was raised in Glen Rock, N.J. He is one of 6 children and has 6 nieces and 6 nephews.

Fr. Bill was ordained in 1989 for the Archdiocese of Newark and was assigned as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish, Nutley.   In 1995, he became Associate Director of the Archdiocesan Vocations Office and in 1996 he was assigned additional duties as Spiritual Director at St. Andrew's College Seminary at Seton Hall University.   In 1997 he was appointed Campus Minister at Seton Hall. 

Most recently, here at Immaculate Conception, Fr. Bill works to coordinate the Youth Group, liturgical ministries, and Coffee and Catechesis.  He also is one of the initiators of Theology on Tap, a popular and enlightening program for young adults.

Priest in Residence

REV. LOUIS M. PAMBELLO was assigned to residence at Immaculate Conception Parish in July, 1995.   He is presently assigned as Chaplain at the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute in West Orange, N.J., and at the Archdiocesan AIDS Shelter sponsored by Catholic Community Services at St. Bridget's in Newark.

Pastoral Associate

SISTER CORA MARIE McGUIRE, M.S.B.T., has been a pastoral team member and director of Catechesis at Immaculate Conception since 1995, and recently observed her Golden Jubilee as a member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity.   Sister has served at missions in Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and New York, as well as at Christ the King Parish, Jersey City, N.J..   Preservation of the Faith is a strong goal of the Missionary Servants, as is the desire of their Founder, Father Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M., to help all to realize that every Catholic should be a missionary.  

A New Yorker by birth into a large and supportive family, Sr. Cora's elementary and high school education were in New York. She also studied at Seton Hall University and received her B.A. in Sociology from St. John's University; she also received a Master's degree in Education from Boston College.   A prayer of Sr. Cora's congregation each day is: "May our lives give daily witness to the joy of serving you."

Director of Music & Organist

Preston Dibble was appointed Organist and Director of Music of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in September of 2005. A native of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Preston is a 2001 graduate of Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA and a 2004 graduate of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. At Westminster, Preston earned a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in Music Education with a primary performance area of organ, studying organ with Dr. John Walker, Mr. Raymond Ocock and Dr. Elizabeth Harrison. At Duquesne, Preston earned the Master of Music degree majoring in Sacred Music and organ, studying with Dr. John Walker. He has most recently served as Director of Music at St. Aloysius Parish, Caldwell, NJ. While in the Pittsburgh area, Preston served as Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Ferdinand Parish; a suburban parish of over 10,000 members. Preston has also served as Director of Music Ministries at the Mary, Mother of Hope Parish, New Castle, PA and St. Andrews Episcopal Church, New Kensington, PA.

Preston’s previous recital appearances include Mount Assisi Chapel, Bellevue, PA, Heinz Memorial Chapel, University of Pittsburgh, First Presbyterian Church, Sharon, PA, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA and on the famed von Beckerath organ of St. Paul Roman Catholic Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA. A member of the National Pastoral Musicians, Preston has recently been appointed to the Standing Committee for Organists. Preston has also served on the Organ Artists Series Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh AGO Chapter.

The complete music ministry of Immaculate Conception involves an Adult Choir, a graded Children’s Choir program including classes in recorder playing and handbells and cantor training. Preston is eager to begin his ministry within the parish.

Office Staff

Mrs. Bette Kuczek, Secretary

Mrs. Michele Van Morrelgem, Bookkeeper

Maintenance Staff

Mr. Joseph P. Mulford, Plant Maintenance