#USA #NJ – Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph Parish in Hoboken will hold its eighth annual “Pride Mass” on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the 10:30 a.m. liturgy, drawing both support from some local Catholics and sharp criticism from other Catholic Christians who view the event as contrary to Church teaching.
The parish, one of the oldest Roman Catholic communities in the United States with roots dating to 1851, promoted the Mass on its website as an expression of “accompaniment” in the ‘spirit of Pope Francis’ and with the support of Archbishop Joseph Cardinal Tobin. Church leaders described it as a celebration welcoming homosexual individuals, their families, and allies, stating that “all are children of God and deserve to be able to worship in community.”
In previous years, these Masses featured rainbow flags and banners adorning the church interior, rainbow vestments on the altar, and reflections from homosexual parishioners. Similar elements appeared this year, consistent with the parish’s ongoing “LGBTQ@Grace” ministry.
Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, oversees the parish. The event took place under his jurisdiction, continuing a pattern seen in prior years when the cardinal faced scrutiny for his approach to outreach on these issues.
Alexander M. Santora, pastor and dean of the Hoboken/Weehawken Catholic churches, led the liturgy. The parish positioned the Mass as a continuation of its inclusive outreach, noting its history of merging two historic churches and serving a diverse community. Fr. Santora is known for his personal interpretation of Pope Francis’ Fiducia Supplicans to bless same-sex unions and ‘irregular’ romantic partnerships despite the document not explicitly allowing such action and receiving recent clarification from Pope Leo that the Church does not condone or permit such blessings.
The announcement sparked immediate backlash from faithful Catholic groups. The American Society for the Defence of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) launched a petition urging Fr. Santora to cancel the event, arguing that it promoted the sin of pride in the context of the Holy Mass. By early June 2026, the petition had gathered thousands of signatures, with reports citing nearly 17,000 at one point.
Critics described the Mass as “blasphemous” and “sacrilegious,” citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which teaches that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.” They emphasized that the Church calls for respect, compassion, and sensitivity toward persons with same-sex attraction while upholding traditional doctrine on sexuality and marriage. Fr. Santora has been described as “heterodox” and a “heretic” by critics online for his deviation from Church teaching.
The parish maintained its stance, highlighting its 175th anniversary celebrations in 2026 and framing the Pride Mass as part of broader efforts to foster inclusion without reducing individuals to labels.
Image: Our Lady of Grace during the 2024 “Pride Mass”.
