Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco, was formed in 2010 from the merger of Assumption, Atco; St. Lucy, Blue Anchor and Sacred Heart, Cedar Brook—previously merged into Bd. John XXIII—and St. Anthony, Waterford.
Located in the Atco section of Waterford Township, is the merged parish of Christ the Redeemer. It has nearly 2,650 parishioners.
In 2008 Bishop Joseph Galante, faced with the shortage of parish priests coupled with declining church attendance, ordered a reduction in the number of parishes within the diocese through consolidation.
Following the bishop’s plan, the small parish of Blessed John XXIII (which comprised St. Lucy’s Church and Sacred Heart Church in Winslow), St. Anthony’s Parish in Waterford and Assumption Parish in Atco merged into the single new parish of Christ the Redeemer, Atco.
Under the leadership of Fr. Thomas Barcellona, the convener of the new parish, representatives from each parish met for two years to work out a host of issues. All four churches, of course, fought hard to maintain its identity. Through much prayer and perseverance, the new parish of Christ the Redeemer was born on November 10, 2010.
On November 7, 2010 St. Lucy closed after a final Mass.
The inaugural Mass for the opening of Christ the Redeemer Parish was held November 13, 2010, with everyone from the parishes of St. Lucy, Sacred Heart, St. Anthony and Assumption being welcomed into the new parish.
The parish worked to preserve the heritage of the four former communities. Elements of the former churches were incorporated into the new parish home, including St. Lucy's Chapel inside Assumption Church, stained-glass windows in the Faith Formation Center, and a Unity Garden featuring relocated statues and the former church bell.
Effective July 1, 2021 Bishop Dennis Sullivan appointed Father Joseph Wallace as the pastor of Christ the Redeemer, Atco.
The parish campus centers around the former Church of the Assumption at 318 Carl Hasselhan Drive. The building now serves as the parish's principal worship space and also houses the parish office, St. Lucy's Chapel, and the Pastoral Center.
Across from the church is the Unity Garden, an outdoor memorial featuring statues from the former parishes and the relocated church bell.
The former Assumption grade school, which closed in 2012, has been repurposed as the Faith Formation Center. It houses classrooms, banners from the former parishes, and stained-glass windows from the closed churches.
Christ the Redeemer Parish is truly blessed with a community of Christ’s faithful who truly love their parish. We look forward to continued growth and prospering!
