Religion

The Rev. Douglas Haefner, center(File photo). The Rev. Douglas Haefner, the former pastor at St. Matthias Church on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, pleaded guilty on May 19 to one count of theft, admitting that he stole more than $500,000 in parish funds. Haefner entered the plea before Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober, sitting in Somerville. Haefner was released on …

A new state-local partnership to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to the state’s underrepresented population kicked off February 15 at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. A state-local partnership designed to vaccinate 15,000 residents kicked off February 15 at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. Under the program, about 1,500 local residents will be vaccinated at the church over the next …

The Rev. DeForest “Buster” Soaries told more than 400 people on an October 30 conference call that First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens would remain closed throughout 2021. (File photo.) First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens will remain virtual throughout 2021, the church’s senior pastor said during an October 30 telephone conference. Citing the recent surge in positive coronavirus tests …

Father Abraham Orapankal, who has served as interim Pastor at St. Matthias Church since 2018, has been named permanent Pastor. The announcement was made March 13 by Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. …

Masjid-e-Ali co-founder Alex Kharazi, center, is flanked by the Franklin Food Bank’s Kevin McGuinness, left, and Mike Rossi. A $7,000 donation to the Franklin Food bank highlighted the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr June 5 at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane. Eid-al-Fitr is the celebration marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims must fast …

Members of the Masjid-e-Ali mosque sit down for their Iftar on May 20. Members of the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque on Davidson Avenue are in the middle of celebrating their holy month of Ramadan and, as they do each year, they have issued an open invitation to the community to share their nightly meal, or Iftar. The Ramadan celebration this year began …

It was delayed three days by constant rain, but the 2019 edition of the St. Matthias Carnival opened May 17 in almost perfect weather. There was a little sprinkle at about 7 p.m., an hour into opening day, but that did not chase anyone away. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of …

Children performed four of the five scenes in the play. Life lessons told through a series of skits were presented May 5 at the Srivari Sri Balaji Temple on Elizabeth Avenue. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. We are the only truly …

Water is poured from a pot into a cup in a symbolic gesture to share good during an April 22 vigil for the Sri Lankan bombing victims. Nearly 200 people gathered at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane April 22 for a vigil to remember the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. Don’t Miss Out! No …

St. Matthias parishioners walk to another station of the cross during the April 19 event. About 200 parishioners participated in the annual Stations of the Cross walk held by St. Matthias Catholic Church on April 19. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. …