The Future of Little Flower and Our Lady of Peace

Over the past decade, our once quaint, tree-lined suburban oasis has been steadily transforming into a disjointed, flood-prone community. Concerns about overdevelopment have become a constant topic not only in Berkeley Heights but across the state. While performative projects like the Peppertown Revitalization push forward at lightning speed, critical needs such as sidewalk repairs, especially near schools, continue to be neglected, creating serious safety concerns.

A recent email from Little Flower Church has raised new worries about the future of one of Berkeley Heights’ most recognizable institutions. The Archdiocese of Newark is reportedly exploring a merger between Little Flower and Our Lady of Peace (OLP) in New Providence, part of a broader restructuring driven by a nationwide shortage of priests.

Although planning remains in its early stages, the only option currently being discussed for Little Flower is a merger with OLP. Details remain unclear, but parishioners are already asking what this could mean for daily operations, programming, and whether services would move entirely to New Providence. The Archdiocese expects to release formal plans in February 2026, with priest assignments announced on June 12, 2026.

Through parishioner feedback, several concerns have surfaced:

• The status of the capital campaign for the new priest residence
• The future of partnerships with the Mt. Carmel Society and the broader Berkeley Heights community
• The cultural differences between the two parishes
• The distance to OLP and whether it will discourage local residents from attending Mass or participating in parish programs

These questions come alongside renewed scrutiny of the physical property and the nearly $3 million that the Township provided to Little Flower as part of “The Swap,” finalized in December 2017.

That agreement followed years of negotiations (and conflicts of interest) in which the Township transferred the former library property and approximately $3 million to Little Flower in exchange for its Roosevelt Avenue property, now the site of a townhouse development.

Whatever the Archdiocese decides, the fate of Little Flower is not just a parish matter but a community one. The outcome will have lasting implications for Berkeley Heights and New Providence. Will Berkeley Heights lose its only Catholic Church? And if so, will the land eventually be sold back to the Township and converted into more housing developments? Will Our Lady of Peace be influenced and governed by the same political interests that created so many issues in Berkeley Heights?

These are questions both communities can ask now, before the decisions are made.