Church restored, priest moves on to new mission

The Rev. Joseph Capella has gotten to know the people of Lindenwold during the last 13 years - and many of them aren't even part of his church.

"I go to the diner, Wawa, I hang out at the Dunkin' Donuts - that's where I do so much ministry," said Capella, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Shrine at St. Lawrence Church in Lindenwold. "Some days I'll park my car and just walk. That's where you meet a lot of people."

He's heard confession in parking lots, has baptized people he has met, and goes to Little League games in addition to serving at his church.

But on July 1, Capella, 55, will leave his flock behind. He has been assigned to Camden Catholic High School as director of Catholic identity, and will lead catechism classes, teach theology, and occasionally offer Mass. The Rev. Vincent Guest, pastor of the Parish of the Holy Cross in Bridgeton, N.J. will take over at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The moves come about a month after St. Lawrence's church underwent renovations to mend vandalism damage from earlier this year.

Someone used candle holders to smash several interior and exterior glass windows before noon Jan. 6. New stained glass windows have been installed, as well as a security system with surveillance cameras.

"We're thankful no one was hurt. As we said since the beginning, we pray for the person or people who did that," Capella said. "I'm assuming there was something going on in their life that caused them to do that."

Parishioners, other community members, and even people in other states who had heard of the vandalism contributed to the church to fix the damage, raising almost $50,000.

Police have been trying to find the perpetrator, but have not made any arrests, Capella said. The case is ongoing, but for right now, "it's all fixed," he said.

Capella will say his last Mass at the parish this weekend for a community he said has been close to him through good times and bad, including illness.

He contracted hepatitis while on a mission trip years ago. He has had three liver transplants, and as a result of the medications and treatment, developed post-transplant lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma in 2013.

Capella has been battling the diseases for years and is still on treatments, but said he uses the situation as a pastoral tool. He's open about his illnesses to parishioners and keeps them informed of his treatment. Some at the parish make him meals and call to check in, he said.

"In many respects, this is one of the best things that's ever happened to me," Capella said. "It's helped me become very understanding of people who are having any sort of distress or suffering."

When his bishop requested that Capella consider the move to Camden Catholic this year, given the need there and his background, he said, he thought it would be a good match.

Capella said he anticipates a tight-knit community at Camden Catholic, too, since the students are at school five days a week. "It's very hard to leave. I didn't think it would be this difficult," he said.

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