Clifton Milestones
From Botany to St. Brendan’s The 50 Year Priestly Journey of Frank Weber Continues By Tom Hawrylko
“I said my first mass in Latin, with my back to the people,” recalled Father Frank Weber. “That’s where I started from.” That starting point was a fine May day in 1962 at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church when a young man began his journey from parishioner to priest. Located on the corner of Hope Ave. and Harrison St. in Passaic, Holy Trinity was Father Weber’s home parish, and the center of the community for many Botany folks. Holy Trinity was where he was baptized, received First Holy Communion and likely the house of worship where he will make his earthly exit. Indeed, much has changed since he began that journey. The Tridentine Mass—the Roman Catholic Liturgy celebrated in Latin in which the priest turned only to the faithful when he offered Communion—is history. Old Clifton neighborhoods such as Botany where he grew up or Lakeview where he has lived for nearly 30 years have changed too. “What really remains the same?” he asked. “Memories, perhaps.” Father Weber’s memories and his priestly journey of 50 years will be celebrated on May 20 at the Brownstone in Paterson by his parishioners at St. Brendan’s RC Church. For tickets and info, call Roseanne Schultz at 973-449-4862 or Peggy Quinn at 973-772-1115. 72 March 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Father Weber in a current photo and as a young priest.
The 77 year old was born and raised in Clifton, attending the long gone School 7 which was on Parker Ave in Botany. Following his 1952 graduation from CHS, Weber focused his ambitions on the burgeoning industry of electronics. “It was a new and exciting field. They still had tubes, not even transistors yet,” he recalled of his studies at a school in Paterson. “It was what interested me at the time and I followed my dreams.” He studied there for two years. During that time, he also worked as an usher at the Hyway Theater on Broadway in Fair Lawn. At 20 years of age, he was socially active and began dating his coworker. “Her name was Betty, and we had slowly started forming some plans,” recalled Weber.
Pretty average stuff. Like most of his generation, Weber was a practicing Christian. He’d attend services at Holy Rosary, stayed active in spiritual and social events offered by the parish. And while he does not recall a specific epiphany, he does cite the steady influence of his two priests, Father John Morris and Father McGinley. “The more we talked, little by little I got more focused on the decision to become a priest,” said Father Weber. “Then one day, bam, I just jumped on it.” Weber entered Seton Hall University in South Orange for three years and attended Darlington Seminary in Ramsey for six years. He took his vow in 1962 at St. John’s Cathedral in Paterson by Bishop McNulty.