NJ Church Rebounds After Man Allegedly Set It Ablaze: Officials

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A church in Essex County is seeing major support from its congregation members in Verona and West Orange as it rebounds from a recent fire – which authorities are investigating as an arson.

According to the Archdiocese of Newark, Our Lady of the Lake Parish is hoping to reopen “before the end of April.” The house of worship is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Earlier this month, a fire took place at the church, which is located on Lakeside Avenue in Verona and also serves people in West Orange. An ensuing investigation determined that the April 4 blaze was deliberately set, authorities said.

The arson suspect – Elliot Bennett, 42, of Verona – has been accused of vandalizing the same church in the past. See Related: Arson At Verona Church; NJ Man Accused Of Setting Fire, Police Say

Bennett is currently in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. The case is pending presentation to the grand jury, a spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office told Patch on Wednesday.

Church leaders issued a statement in the wake of the fire:

“There was a fire in Our Lady of the Lake church during the early hours of the morning. We are grateful for the efforts of the police, firefighters and first responders who were on the scene to extinguish the flames. Fortunately, the structure appears to be sound, but the church is heavily damaged. The parish community is heartbroken. However, we are grateful that no one was injured, and we have faith that we will get through this difficult time and request the community to keep those affected in their prayers.”

“Cleaning crews are currently at work in the church and when they finish, we will be able to see when we can return to our beloved worship space,” church leaders added,

The fire put a temporary damper on a year-long celebration that has been taking place at Our Lady of the Lake.

The centennial festivities kicked off with a commemorative Mass on OLL’s actual anniversary date, September 16, 2023. A few months later, the parish community gathered for a Christmas celebration that culminated in a remarkable spectacle: the sight of the church, school, parish center, and rectory buildings illuminated with holiday lights.

In March, nearly 200 community members gathered for an evening of food and spiritual camaraderie for the church’s centennial gala, which was held at The Grove in Cedar Grove.

“It was good seeing old faces mingling with new parishioners,” said the Rev. Peter Wehrle, pastor at Our Lady of the Lake, who accepted a commendation acknowledging the church’s 100th anniversary from Verona Mayor Christopher Tamburro earlier this year.

Archdiocese spokespeople said the church is moving ahead with its centennial celebration plans in the wake of the fire. Next up on the schedule is a May 13 golf outing at West Orange’s Francis A. Byrne Golf Course. The centennial bash will conclude with a June 23 picnic on the parish grounds, with many of the church’s 2,800 registered families expected to attend.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.