West Milford On November 19,, the clergy, staff and many of the parishioners of Saint Joseph Church, West Milford, arrived at the one-hundred year old church on Germantown Road to celebrate together at a special Mass, closing their 100th anniversary year. The Mass was celebrated by the Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson. Rev. Sigmund Peplowski, pastor of Saint Joseph’s, Rev. Boniface Hanley, O.F.M., former pastor and Rev. John Alderson, O.F.M., a former pastoral associate, concelebrated the Mass. Since January there have been many activities and events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the current church building. While the church itself is 100 years old, the community of Saint Joseph’s dates back to 1765, making it the oldest, continuous Catholic community in the State of New Jersey. The present church building is the third structure built by the people of Saint Joseph’s. The first church was built in 1829. In 1904 the second church, which was erected in 1886, was destroyed by fire. A third Church was built and dedicated in 1905 and it is this structure that has been the focal point of the celebration this year. While the year brought a wide variety of special events and a raised consciousness of the value of the history of the Church, the anniversary gala that followed the Mass was considered the grand finale. The gala was held at the Brownstone House in Paterson.