St. Catharine's Church in Spring Lake

Spring Lake was becoming an increasingly popular resort for many wealthy families from Philadelphia and New York. One of those families, the Maloneys, was so fond of the beautiful town by the sea that, in 1892, Martin Maloney (1847 – 1929) built his first summer cottage on Morris and First Avenues. Mr. Maloney had come from Ireland in 1854 as a boy and worked along with his father in the coal mines in Scranton, PA. He gained business acumen in other jobs. When he was not quite 20 years old, Martin used his work experiences to establish a plumbing business. He was well on his way to becoming a leading figure in gas, water, oil, and electric interests. As Maloney’s wealth increased so too did his sense of responsibility to those less fortunate than he. He devoted his life and tremendous wealth to good works and to the welfare of his beloved Catholic Church. On May 20, 1900, Mr. Maloney’s beloved seventeen-year-old daughter, Catharine, (Kitty as she was known) died from a prolonged illness. The family began to plan an impressive and enduring monument as a magnificent place of eternal rest for their beloved daughter. Maloney petitioned Bishop James A. McFaul, the Bishop of Trenton, his desire to donate a church after purchasing five lots of land overlooking the Lake. He requested, in return for his gift, the parish name be changed from St. Ann to St. Catharine. And so St. Catharine's Church was built.