Hamilton Park in Jersey City in Hudson County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 7, 2026

1. Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church Marker

Note that the Mass Schedule indicates that religious observations continue to be communicated in English and in Italian.

Inscription. Holy Rosary
Roman Catholic Church
Established in 1885
The first Italian parish in the State of New Jersey

Erected by Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 40° 43.559′ N, 74° 2.983′ W. Marker is in Jersey City, New Jersey, in Hudson County. It is in Hamilton Park. It is on 6th Street west of Monmouth Street, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 344 6th St, Jersey City NJ 07302, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s North Jersey,

in Greater Newark,

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Holy Rosary Church Bronze Bells (a few steps from this marker); Knights of Rizal (approx. ¼ mile away); Jose Protacio Rizal (approx. ¼ mile away); Tribute to the Soldiers of New Jersey (approx. 0.4 miles away); William Mercado (approx. 0.4 miles away); Van Vorst Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Van Vorst Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jersey City.

Also see . . . Our History page on Holy Rosary Church's site.

During the first few years of the early 1880’s, the Italian speaking population of Jersey City began to increase rapidly, but they had no church of their own. In the towns, villages, and cities of Italy, the local church had been to these people a spiritual and social force. By the end of 1884, Bishop Wigger directed Father De Concilio to organize the Italians of Jersey City into a parish and to build a church. Father James S. Hanly, the pastor of St. Bridget’s was assigned to guide the new parish through its embryonic years.

With
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 7, 2026

2. Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church Marker in front of the parish rectory
the money contributed by the congregation, two lots, 340 and 342 Sixth Street, between Monmouth and Brunswick Streets, were purchased for about two thousand dollars. A small frame structure already on the site was used as a temporary chapel. The first Mass celebrated was in February 1885.

(Submitted on February 8, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 43 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 8, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

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