Religion

Several hundred people gathered at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane May 31 for the annual Ramadan Iftar meal. Observant Muslims are about halfway through the month of Ramadan, which is marked by fasting between sunrise and sunset. May 31 is also the birthday of Imam al-Hasan, the second Imam of Islam and first grandson of the Islamic prophet …

By PJ Parker. For more than 40 years, the first Saturday in May has marked the annual spring flea market at Somerset Presbyterian Church, on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. According to Barbara Nicol, chairperson of the event, “over 70 vendors from Franklin Township as well as surrounding communities and as far as New York and Pennsylvania set up their tables, …

Members of the Franklin Township Interfaith Coalition gathered May 3 in the Veterans Memorial Park, in front of teh municipal building on DeMott Lane, to observe the National Day of Prayer. Attending the observance were the Rev. George Montanari from Middlebush Reformed Church, Rabbi Eli Garfinkel from Temple Beth El, Alex Kharazi, president of the Interfaith Coalition, Imam Rizwan Rizvi …

Somerset Presbyterian Church will hold its annual Spring Flea Market from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 5 on the church’s front lawn, 100 John F. Kennedy Blvd. There is no rain date. Spaces are available at $20 each, and are assigned on a “first-paid” basis. If needed, table rentals are available at $10 each. The flea markets, held twice …

True 2 Life Ministries, based out of 121 Victor Street, has started a fund-raising drive to help it continue its good works in the community. The Franklin Reporter & Advocate sat down with the ministry’s founder, Pastor Thomas Lewis, for a live-streamed interview about the project, which is called the Circle of Life. We also found out a few things …

March 31 was the 1,419th birthday of the man Shia Muslims consider to be the divinely appointed successor to their prophet Muhammad. To mark the occasion, members of the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane held a celebration, punctuated by a lecture, prayers and, as is usual with an Islamic celebration, dinner. The person at the center of attention was …

The Franklin Reporter & Advocate was among the guests March 25 at the home of Dr. Ron Poustchi and his family. Poustchi is chairman of the Baha’i Group of Franklin Township. The event was the celebration of Nowruz, the traditional Persian and Baha’i New Year. Nowruz, which translated means “New Day,” is marked by the presentation of the “Table of …

By PJ Parker. Feb. 14 marked not only the traditional Valentine’s Day this year, but also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Christian holy season of Lent. This Ash Wed, St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, under the direction of Fr. Doug Haefner, joined many Catholic parishes in offering “drive thru ashes,” whereby parishioners could receive …

The Catholic Community of St. Matthias, 168 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, will offer “Drive-thru Ashes” from 4-5 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14. The church will also celebrate Mass at 7 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 7:30 p.m., and hold a prayer service at 5:30 p.m., according to a press release from the church. The masses will be held inside the church …

Continuing and adding to a tradition begun two Thanksgivings ago, members of a Victor Street church have chosen seven local families to whom they will bring some Christmas joy. True-2-Life Ministries will serve the seven families a traditional Christmas dinner, and distribute gifts to their children, said the church’s Pastor Thomas Lewis. The party will be held Dec. 22 at …