Lives of Faith Monitor Supplement 7 28 2016

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ONITOR

ANNUAL SUPPLEMENT

JULY 28, 2016

Newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton

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iving and serving among the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Trenton has brought great joy and a sense of deep fulfillment for the clergy and religious who are marking special anniversaries of their ministry this year.

In turn, our parishes, schools, hospitals and ministries are forever changed by the presence of these faithful servants.

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In this annual tribute, The Monitor acknowledges the men and women who have dedicated their lives in service to the Gospel. We join with the many parishes and other groups included in this publication in expressing our love and gratitude, and we ask God to continue to bless these Lives of Faith.

INSIDE  RELIGIOUS … See PAGE S3  PRIESTS … See PAGE S9  DEACONS … See PAGE S49

T here’ s a l ot of l ov e in these pages

By RAYANNE BENNETT, Associate Publisher

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n the newspaper world, the importance of advertising cannot be overstated.

It is the lifeblood of any publishing business, helping to support the writing, photography, editing and graphic design that goes into producing each issue. Like our counterparts in the industry, The Monitor readily acknowledges the key role of advertising and we dedicate a good deal of effort to selling and publishing paid messaging within our print pages and online presence.

Still, it is rare for a newspaper to make advertising the “star feature” of a regular or even a special issue.

But this is one of those rare occasions.

Within this annual tribute to the religious women and men, priests and deacons of the Diocese who are celebrating special anniversaries this year are pages upon pages of congratulatory ads, all conveying warm wishes and love from parish communities and other individuals

and groups. And while we hope that you will read the many stories we have written and take note of the profiles and lists that have been compiled by our editorial staff, we especially want to call attention to this extraordinary paid messaging that comes flowing in for this issue each and every year.

The Monitor has published Lives of Faith for many consecutive years and admittedly, it is a very consuming project. It takes several months to pull all of the information together so that we can present it to our readers in this annual issue.

We do this knowing the importance that the tribute has within the communities we cover.

In fact, the phone calls and emails start to come in early in the new year inquiring when we will publish our anniversary issue, revealing early on just how intent our parish communities are about celebrating these ministry milestones for the clergy and religious who serve them. We also learned

that every community regards the “important anniversaries” differently – and so we have long committed to including anniversaries in five-year increments for clergy, and jubilee years as identified by the religious communities whose members are celebrating each year.

Because of the enthusiasm surrounding this tribute, we are pleased to introduce several enhancements this year that make this a keepsake in every sense. Lives of Faith is now published in a glossy magazine style, lending it long-lasting appeal. In addition, the many messages from parishes and others will be included in a commemorative slideshow that will be available in the coming weeks on TrentonMonitor.com and our social media sites.

I know the entire team of The Monitor has come to understand just how meaningful this annual tribute has become. We recognize that in agreeing to be featured, the subjects of this tribute are giving witness to the fact that their “lives of service” are worthy of acknowledgement and celebration – it is

FROM THE COVER The image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd has been depicted in many different ways throughout Church history. This mosaic of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, (as shown on page S1) is located in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. It serves as the central image for World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which marked its 53rd year in April. Source:

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations

their way of sharing the joy of their vocation in some small way with the people to whom they minister.

In turn, it is the people they serve who are saying through the pages of this publication: “We thank God for your presence here among us. We congratulate you for reaching this milestone. And we love you!”

B ishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and the staff of The Monitor

J oin the d iocesan commu nity in ex pressing ou r heartfelt appreciation to the men

and w omen featu red in this special anniv ersary tribu te w ho hav e serv ed the C atholi c commu nity across Bu rli ngton, M ercer, M onmou th and O cean C ou nties.

W e would especially like to recognize the ministry and faith-filled

ex ample of D eacon Frank W . W eber, T he M onitor’ s ad v ertising sale s representativ e, on the occasion of his 1 0 th anniv ersary of ord ination and ongoing serv ice in S t. R obert Bella rmine P arish, Freehold .

W e are d eeply gratefu l to D eacon W eber for his d ed ication to the pu bli shing mission of the d iocesan new spaper.

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ble ss you all w ith many more years of fru itfu l serv ice in G od ’ s name.

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R E L IG IO U S CHRISTIAN BROTHER PATRICK POWER

Christian Brother Patrick Power, who will celebrate his 104th birthday in December, was born in 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pa. He entered the novitiate June 21, 1931; received the habit Sept. 7, 1931; pronounced annual vows Sept. 8, 1932, and perpetual vows in 1937. He took Brother

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Gustin Patrick as his religious name.

From The Catholic University of America, Washington, Brother Patrick holds a bachelor of arts degree and a master of arts degree in Latin, and another master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University of Maryland.

A N N IV E R S A R Y Brother Patrick served as an educator, library assistant, staff member, director, and in residence in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Maryland. He currently lives in De La Salle Hall, Lincroft.

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SISTER OF ST. FRANCIS ANN JOSEPH HARTMAN

Sister of St. Francis Ann Joseph Hartman was born in Philadelphia, and was a member of All Saints Parish and a graduate of West Catholic High School.

She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in 1938 and professed her first vows in 1941.

In her early years of ministry, Sister Ann cared for the children in St. Francis Home, Orwigsburg, Pa., and taught in schools in Doylestown and Chester. In 1946, she began studying nursing in St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, where she worked until 1952. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing education from Villanova University, Pa. Sister Ann’s many years of ministry in healthcare brought her to St. Joseph Medical Center, Baltimore, as well as St. Joseph Hospital, Lancaster, Pa. In 1979, she returned to Trenton to serve as a volunteer in St. Francis until this summer.

She recently moved to Assisi House, Aston, Pa., where she serves in prayer ministry and hospitality.

Reflecting on her life as a Sister of St. Francis, she recalled first meeting the sisters in All Saints School, Bridesburg, and later in West Catholic HS. “I admired them so much,” she recalled.

“They were such a happy group. And my vocation? It is simply what was meant to be!”

MERCY SISTER JANE HIGGINS

Mercy Sister Jane Higgins, the former Sister Mary Eugene, is the youngest of six children of the late Margaret and John Higgins. Born in Palmyra in August 1923, Sister Jane attended Sacred Heart School, Riverton, and graduated from Camden Catholic High School in 1941.

She graduated with the intent to enter the Sisters of Mercy, whom she had come to know during her high school years.

She entered the Sisters of Mercy from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade, Sept. 21, 1941, and received the habit and her religious name May 14, 1942. Sister Jane professed temporary vows July 8, 1944 and perpetual vows July 8, 1947.

As a young sister, she began her teaching ministry while continuing her own education.

She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and a master’s degree in theology from Villanova University, Villanova, Pa. She holds state certification in elementary education.

Taking the motto “love serves,” Sister Jane has taught students in many schools. She began her service in St. Paul School, Burling-

ton, after which she was selected as one of the first faculty members in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville.

She taught there for six years before being named principal in St. Joseph School, Bound Brook. Following two terms as principal, she returned to the classroom – teaching second grade in St. James School, Red Bank, and then St. Francis Cathedral School, Metuchen.

In 1982, Sister Jane was assigned to St. Paul School, Princeton, holding the roles of teacher, vice principal and receptionist. According to her order, “she may be one of the best-known citizens in Princeton and will be sorely missed when she and the other sisters depart this summer.”

As a Sister of Mercy, she is also credited with overseeing service projects with students that have reached those in nursing homes, children in oncology units and those receiving assistance from the Family Guidance Center, Princeton.

Sister Jane will soon join the Gabriel Hall community at Mount Saint Mary, Watchung.

SISTER OF ST. FRANCIS KATHLEEN TOBIN

CHRISTIAN BROTHER JAMES PERRY Christian Brother James Perry was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He entered the novitiate July 1, 1940; received the habit Sept. 7, 1940; pronounced annual vows in 1941, and perpetual vows in 1947. He took Brother Calixtus James as his religious name. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from The Catholic University of America, Washington, and two master’s degrees in theology from Manhattan College.

Upon entering the Christian Brothers, Brother James first served in St. Peter Junior High School, Staten Island, from 1945-1949.

He then spent time in La Salle Military Academy, Oakdale; Bradley High School, Manchester, and Lincoln Hall, Lincolndale. From 1962-1969, Brother James taught in St. Joseph High School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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Brother James’ first visit to the Trenton Diocese came in 1969, when he served for one year in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft.

He then spent one year in Manhattan College, Bronx, N.Y., before returning to Ethiopia in 1971. He then served from 1976-1984 in St. Pius Seminary, Musoma, Tanzania.

After serving in La Salle Academy, New York, and Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, Brother James joined the staff of De La Salle Hall in 1994 and has continued to reside there since his retirement from active ministry in 2009.

Sister of St. Francis Kathleen Tobin, formerly Sister Oliveria Joseph, was born in Ballingarry, Ireland.

She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in 1938 and professed her first vows in 1941.

Sister Kathleen ministered for 57 years in the Diocese of Trenton, including teaching assignments in St. Anthony School; St. Michael Orphanage, Hopewell; St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold; and Immaculate Conception School. In 1985, she returned to St. Rose and ministered in both the school and parish there until 2011.

Her career also included teaching in Wilmington, Del., Columbia, Pa., Chickasha, Okl., and Baltimore.

In 2011, she moved to Assisi House, Aston, Pa., where she serves in the prayer ministry.

Sister Kathleen’s jubilee celebration brought together both family and friends. Reflecting on the gathering, she commented: “It is a memory that I will treasure for the rest of my life. My heart overflowed with love and gratitude. I thank God for his faithfulness to me during these 75 years as a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia.”

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CHRISTIAN BROTHER JOHN HERRON Christian Brother John Herron was born in Philadelphia.

He entered the juniorate March 5, 1943 and the novitiate June 11, 1946. He received the habit Sept. 7, 1946; pronounced annual vows Sept. 8, 1947, and perpetual vows Aug. 28, 1953. He took Brother Gratian Alician as his religious name. From La Salle College, Philadelphia, he holds a bachelor of arts degree in history and a master of arts degree in theology. He is retired and resides in De La Salle Hall, Lincroft.

FILIPPINI SISTER LAURA LONGO

Born in Red Bank, Sister Laura Longo spent the early years of her vocation as an elementary school teacher in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She later served as principal of St. Jerome School, West Long Branch; Holy Innocents School, Neptune, and Holy Family School, Lakewood. Sister Laura has also served as the Director of Siena New Hope Home for Children, an organization that provides short term emergency foster care for children ages 4-10.

In 1990, Sister Laura was appointed to the Fourth Synod of the Diocese of Trenton. She was later elected chapter delegate for the Religious Teachers Filippini in 2000, a position she held until 2013, when she was appointed provincial counselor for the Religious Teachers Filippini.

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FILIPPINI SISTER LUCY BATTISTUZ

A New Jersey native born in Passaic, Filippini Sister Lucy Battistuz served as a middle school teacher in her home state as well as New York and Pennsylvania. Later, she acted as the director of religious education in Holy Family Parish, Nutley.

In 1993, she was part of the steering committee for the Intercongregational Associate Meetings of the North East Division.

Since 1984, Sister Lucy has held the position of Director Associates of St. Lucy Filippini, working with the women of West Long Branch, Long Branch and Trenton. She also helps with Morning Star House of Prayer, a retreat facility located on the grounds of Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing.

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MERCY SISTER MARY FAITH MOORE

Mercy Sister Mary Faith Moore, the former Mary Lucille Moore, is one of nine children of the late Arch and Lillian Moore. She was born in Plainfield and attended St. Mary School, Plainfield, and Mount St. Mary Academy, North Plainfield.

Sister Mary Faith grew to love “the Mount,” the Sisters of Mercy and their way of life during her high school years, and she entered the community following her graduation, Sept. 15, 1946, from St. Mary Parish, Plainfield. She received the religious habit May 15, 1947, and professed temporary vows May 15, 1949. Sister Mary Faith’s perpetual profession of vows was on May 15, 1952. Her motto is, “I believe, I hope, I love.”

She continued her education as a young sister, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, in 1961, and a master’s degree in reading from Seton Hall University, South Orange, in 1969. She also holds a state certification in elementary education.

Sister Mary Faith began her educational ministry in St. Elizabeth School, Bernardsville, and in Cathedral Grammar School, Trenton. In 1966, she was appointed as the founding principal of St. Frances Cabrini School, Piscataway, where she served for two terms before returning to Bernardsville and then being assigned to St. Mary Academy, Lakewood. She also served as the elementary school education consultant for the schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy from 1978 to 1984.

In 1983, she became director of the St. Ann Child Care Center, Keansburg, which she launched in an old industrial building with a few grants.

According to her order, “the center was a godsend for working mothers whose children spent most of their waking hours there.”

Sister Faith held that position until her retirement in 2009. She continues to live in Keansburg, and in 2000, she was honored at the Sisters of Mercy annual benefit in Atlantic City.

MERCY SISTER MARY ROSETTA BUCKLEY

Mercy Sister Mary Rosetta Buckley, formerly Julia Sheila, was born in Trenton. The daughter of Jeremiah and Rosetta Buckley, she attended St. Mary Grammar School and Cathedral High School, both in Trenton, where her contact with the Sisters of Mercy played a strong role in influencing her vocation.

She entered the community after her high school graduation in 1956 from St. Joseph Parish, Trenton, and she chose her mother’s name at her reception.

Her motto is, “My God, I love Thee above all things.”

Sister Mary Rosetta earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and later earned certifications as an elementary school teacher and social worker.

She began her teaching ministry in Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Atlantic City, where she taught in the primary grades. She continued for the next 20

years in St. James School, Red Bank, St. Mary School, Bordentown, and St. Mary Academy, Lakewood. In 1978, she returned to her home parish to teach physical education and primary grades before moving back to Red Bank to teach physical education there.

In 1985, her love for the poor and awareness of their needs brought her to the Mount Carmel Guild of Trenton, a diocesan social services agency, where she began as a case worker.

In 1989, she was named a supervisor in the Emergency Assistance Program, and throughout her 18-year tenure at the agency, she also served as a volunteer coordinator and home visitor advocate. She now resides in Notre Dame Convent, Lawrenceville.

MERCY SISTER CAROL CREAMER

Mercy Sister Carol Creamer is a native of Sayreville, the daughter of James and Henrietta. She began her education at the parish school of her family’s home community, Our Lady of Victories Parish, followed by St. Peter High School, New Brunswick.

In 1956, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Watchung, and chose at her first profession the name Sister Mary Jacob and the motto “God is Love.” She earned a degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and later a master’s degree in speech pathology from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), Ewing. She also holds certifications in elementary education and as a See Sister Carol Creamer • S5

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speech correctionist and speech/language specialist.

From 1958 to 1979, she taught primary, intermediate and junior high school students in five parish elementary schools, including Immaculate Conception, Camden; St. John, Paulsboro; Holy Spirit, Atlantic City; St. Joseph, Trenton, and St. Mary, Perth Amboy. From 1975 to 1978, she served as principal in St. Nicholas School, Atlantic City, before returning to the classroom in St. Frances Cabrini School, Piscataway.

In 1979, with her degree and certifications in speech pathology, she was appointed the teacher and speech therapist in St. Mary Academy, Lakewood, and in 1999, she was hired as a speech language specialist with the Independent Child Study Team and assigned to St. Dominic School, Brick. She would later continue her work in Calvary Academy, Ocean Day School and Holy Family School, Lakewood. Today, she resides with members of her community in St. James Convent, Red Bank.

MERCY SISTER MARLENE CUNNINGHAM

Mercy Sister Marlene Cunningham was born in Perth Amboy and grew up in St. Mary Parish, Perth Amboy, attending both the grammar and high schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy.

Upon graduation, the principal of the high school, Sister Mary Kevin, invited her to serve as school secretary, an offer she accepted. The following year, she accepted a call to join the Sisters of Mercy and took the name Marlene and the motto “All my life, love.” She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood.

Sister Marlene served in schools including St. Matthew School, Edison; St. Joseph School, Keyport; Holy Spirit School, Perth Amboy, and St. Francis Cathedral School, Metuchen.

For the next decade, Sister Marlene served in Georgian Court University, evaluating junior student teachers and as a student teacher observer and supervisor. She also spent time as director in the Brielle Learning Center; assistant to the supervisor of Bay Head public schools; and assistant to the principal in St. Paul School, Princeton. Her ministry also brought her to Rider College (now University), Lawrenceville, where she served as a campus minister and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. She currently serves as the evening receptionist in St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft.

MERCY SISTER MARIE KEATING

Mercy Sister Marie Keating hails from Perth Amboy and is the second of five children born to Lawrence and Eleanor Keating. She grew up surrounded by a Catholic school, parish, teachers, friends and neighbors – among them, the Sisters of Mercy in St. James Parish, Woodbridge.

At her reception into the community, Sister Marie took the name Terence, and at her profession, the motto “Jesus, help me.” She continued her education at Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and earned both an undergraduate degree in elementary education and graduate degrees in administration and supervision. She holds New Jersey certifications as a teacher and principal/supervisor.

Sister Marie served in St. Mary School, Borden-

town; St. Charles Borromeo School, Cinnaminson, and St. Francis Cabrini School, Piscataway, before being named principal, a post she held for 11 years. She then served in St. Catherine School, Middletown; St. Dominic School, Brick; St. Ann School, Keansburg, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Asbury Park.

Sister Marie serves on the administrative team at Mercy By The Lake, which is situated on Lake Takanassee, Long Branch. The facility, which is a short distance from St. Michael Parish, is open yearround and is used for retreats, meetings, Sisters’ vacations and various other activities.

CHRISTIAN BROTHER MICHAEL KELLEHER

Christian Brother Michael Kelleher was born in New York. He entered the juniorate Sept. 9, 1984; the novitiate July 3, 1955; received the habit Sept. 7, 1955; pronounced annual vows Sept. 8, 1956, and perpetual vows in 1962. He took Brother Cassian Michael as his religious name. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from The Catholic University of America, Washington, where he majored in chemistry and minored in mathematics.

Brother Michael’s six decades in ministry have centered on education. His assignments as a teacher have brought him to institutions in Warren, Mich.; Yonkers, N.Y.; New York, N.Y.; Paramus; Bronx, N.Y., and North Arlington. From 2002 through 2008, he served as a math and science teacher in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft.

Brother Michael retired in 2008 and now resides in De La Salle Hall, Lincroft.

CHRISTIAN BROTHER WILLIAM MARTIN

Christian Brother William Martin was born in Glens Falls, N.Y. he entered the novitiate June 29, 1955; received the habit Sept. 7, 1955; pronounced annual vows Sept. 8, 1956, and perpetual vows in 1962. He took Christian William as his religious name.

Brother William holds a bachelor of arts degree in physics from The Catholic University of America, Washington, and a master of science degree in

chemistry from Kansas State College.

Brother William has dedicated his entire ministry to education. He was a teacher in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, from 1960 to 1970, before being assigned to an institution bearing the same name in Syracuse, N.Y., where he served as assistant principal for three years before serving as principal for eight.

He then spent roughly 12 years as principal in Christian Brothers Academy, Albany, N.Y., before returning to Lincroft in 1993 to serve as director of the St. La Salle Auxiliary for the District office based in Lincroft, a position he continues to hold today.

MERCY SISTER MARY MASON

Mercy Sister Mary Mason, known in her early years as a Sister of Mercy as Sister Mary Chrysostom, is one of five children born in Red Bank to John and Mary Mason.

She grew up as a member of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, but received her early education in St. James School, Red Bank, and Red Bank Catholic High School. Her order writes, “the Sisters of Mercy who taught her were role models for the woman she aspired to be….”

Upon her high school graduation, Sister Mary entered the Sisters of Mercy community in Watchung. She continued her education, earning degrees in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), Ewing.

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Her ministry included teaching in a series of seven elementary schools in the dioceses of Trenton, Metuchen and Camden. She taught intermediate grades in St. Mary School, Perth Amboy; St. Mary School, Bordentown; St. Nicholas School, Atlantic City; St. Matthias School, Somerset; Our Lady of Victories School, Sayreville; St. Francis Cabrini School, Piscataway, and St. Charles Borromeo School, Cinnaminson.

In 1989, she joined another sister in her dream of opening a house for women and children, and the pair founded Epiphany House, Asbury Park. Sister Mary served as child care coordinator, and enjoyed the opportunity to serve the poor and sick there.

The program welcomed women struggling with addiction, limited parenting skills, housekeeping and holding employment, many of whom were pregnant. Sister Mary would learn to become a birthing coach, managing and assisting in a broader range of ways than she had anticipated.

Her order writes, “Mary remembers each woman, her children and their journeys with joy and gratitude; grateful for the opportunity to walk with these women on the holy ground of pain and growth, and joyful for the miracles she witnessed over those years.”

Sister Mary today lives with the Mercy community in Bradley Beach.

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CHRISTIAN BROTHER TIMOTHY AHERN

Christian Brother Timothy Ahern was born in Philadelphia. He entered the novitiate June 18, 1966; received the habit Aug. 29, 1966; pronounced annual vows Aug. 30, 1967, and perpetual vows March 15, 1975. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in history/ education from LaSalle College, and a master of arts degree in American history from Notre Dame University.

Brother Timothy began his five decades in ministry in 1971 as a teacher in West Catholic High School, Philadelphia. He was then assigned to Hudson Catholic High School, Jersey City, first as a teacher and then as assistant principal. He then taught in Wyndmoor, Pa., before returning to Hudson Catholic as principal and later spending seven years as president of West Catholic.

In 2012, Brother Timothy joined the faculty of Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, where he continues to teach American history and he is also a coach for the baseball team.

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CHRISTIAN BROTHER JEROME SULLIVAN

Christian Brother Jerome Sullivan was born in New York. He entered the juniorate Sept.

1, 1951, and the novitiate June 29, 1955; received the habit Sept. 7, 1955; pronounced annual vows Sept. 8, 1956, and perpetual vows in 1961. He took Angelus Jerome as his religious name.

Brother Jerome holds a bachelor’s degree from The Catholic University of America, Washington, and a master’s degree in Spanish from Middlebury College, Vermont.

Brother Jerome’s life of ministry began with teaching assignments in Bronx, N.Y., and West New York. He later served as a professor in Colegio Los Maravillas, Madrid, Spain, before returning to the United States and serving as a school administrator in New York, N.Y. and Paramus. From 1984 until 1996, he served in the NY Provincialate, Lincroft, before spending a sabbatical in Africa.

Brother Jerome then spent six years as vice president for development in Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Israel, before returning to posts in Lincroft, including as director of Christian Brothers Academy. He has served as provincial and auxiliary provincial since 2014, has worked in the CBA Community, Lincroft, as sub-director for finances.

CHRISTIAN BROTHER THOMAS CARNEY Christian Brother Thomas Carney was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He entered the novitiate June 30, 1965; received the habit Sept. 1, 1965; pronounced annual vows Sept. 2, 1966, and perpetual vows June 11, 1973. He took Brother Thomas Clemans as his religious name. He holds a bachelor’s degree in American history from The Catholic University of America, Washington, and a master of education degree from St. John University in New York.

Brother Thomas has held a variety of assignments in his half-century of ministry. He served as a teacher in both Newport and Pawtucket, R.I., as well as Oakdale and Brooklyn, N.Y. He later returned to Rhode Island as a teacher, vice principal and alumni coordinator, serving in that capacity until 2009.

In 2009, Brother Thomas joined the faculty of Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, where he continues to teach history.

MERCY SISTER MAUREEN CONROY Mercy Sister Maureen Conroy was born in Shrewsbury, one of five daughters and two sons born to John and Florence Conroy. She attended St. James Grammar School and Red Bank Catholic High School, both in Red Bank, before responding to the call to join the Sisters of Mercy – who had taught her there.

She earned a degree in sociology from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, before earning a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore. She has also been certified in various holistic and wellness modalities.

Sister Maureen began teaching religious and sociology in Cathedral High School, Trenton, and Mount St. Mary Academy, Watchung. Shortly before taking her final vows in 1974, she experienced a call to serve as a spiritual director. In 1978, she co-founded the Upper Room Spiritual Center, Neptune, which focuses on spiritual ministry, including spiritual direction, retreat work, adult spiritual formation, holistic spiritual growth and educating spiritual directors. She also helped to develop a training program for spiritual directors in 1983, a program which teaches a contemplative approach to spiritual direction and supervision.

Sister Maureen has taught a summer Graduate Program for Christian Spirituality in Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., for more than 25 years. She has offered workshops on prayer and spiritual direction throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, and has authored numerous articles, teaching manuals and books on prayer and spiritual direction.

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MERCY SISTER CAROL ANN HENRY

Mercy Sister Carol Ann Henry is the oldest of four children born in South Amboy to Frederick and Ann Henry. She attended grade school and high school in St. Mary Parish, South Amboy, and entered the Sisters of Mercy community in Watchung in 1966.

In 1967, she was received into the community and given the name Sister Mary Diana. Her higher education included earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, as well as a master’s degree in music from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), Ewing, and a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

Her ministry in education began in St. Joseph School, Trenton, where she taught sixth grade, as well as in Sts. Philip and James School, Phillipsburg.

She later taught in St. Mary Academy, Lakewood, and in Cathedral Elementary School, Trenton. Towards the end of her teaching tenure, Sister Carol recognized the needs of those suffering from poverty, and she sought and was granted permission to create a social service agency.

In 1982, she founded the Mercy Center, Asbury Park, which continues to operate today as a comprehensive social service agency with programs that assist thousands throughout Monmouth County. Mercy Center operates an Emergency Services program, which provides a full-time food pantry and offers other crisis resources and referrals; a Family Resource Center, with everything from drug and alcohol counseling to parenting classes, and the Sisters Academy of New Jersey, a middle school for girls in grades five through eight.

CHRISTIAN BROTHER JULES KNIGHT Christian Brother Jules “Bud” Knight was born in Baltimore. He entered the novitiate June 15, 1996; received the habit Aug. 29, 1966; pronounced annual vows Aug. 30, 1967, and perpetual vows Aug. Dec. 25, 1973. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from La Salle College, Philadelphia, a master of arts degree in theology from Fordham University, New York, and a certificate in gerontology from Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd-Mercy, Pa. In his half century of ministry, Brother Jules held a number of assignments, including as a teacher in Radnor, Pa., and as a staff member and director for a retreat house in Adamstown, Md. He later served in Philadelphia as director of a scholasticate program and

later district director of aspirants in two locations. From 1988 through 1999, he served as director of novices in De La Salle Novitiate, Nairobi, Kenya, and after a brief sabbatical, he served as sector coordinator and later auxiliary visitor in the Lwanga District, first in Ethiopia and then in Nairobi.

Brother Jules later returned to a Philadelphia spiritual center to serve as administrator and then director, before joining De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, in 2010, where he currently serves as full-time director.

MERCY SISTER MARY LOUISE MILLER Mercy Sister Mary Louise Miller was born in Easton, Pa., and grew up in Phillipsburg as the only daughter of John and Laura Miller. She and her two brothers attended St. Phillip and James Elementary School, and she graduated from Phillipsburg Catholic High School in 1965.

After a year in college, she answered the call to religious life and entered the Sisters of Mercy in Watchung.

In 1967, she was received into the Mercy community and given the name Sister Mary Deborah. Her education continued at Newark State College (now Kean University), where she received a bachelor’s degree in special education. She also received a master’s degree from the same institution in educational administration and supervision, and last year received an honorary doctorate in educational administration from Georgian Court University, Lakewood.

She began her tenure in education as a special education teacher in St. Nicholas School, Atlantic City, before teaching in the McAuley School for Exceptional

Children, Watchung, where she began a vocational program. She later served as assistant administrator in St. Mary Academy, Lakewood; the principal of Center City Catholic School, Camden, and the principal of Cathedral Elementary School, Trenton.

In 1982, Sister Mary Lou was admitted to Seton Hall Law School, from which she graduated in 1985, and passed the bar exam shortly thereafter. Following her graduation, she clerked for the Superior Court in Ocean County, and in 1986 she became an associate in a Toms River law firm.

In 1992, Sister Mary Lou began her own firm focused exclusively on working with religious communities. She has lectured on legal issues associated with religious communities, and is a founding member of the Institute of Law and Religious Life in Misercordia University, Dallas, Pa., where she taught for many years.

When the Mercy Center, Asbury Park, social services agency needed a principal for the Sisters Academy of New Jersey, Sister Mary Lou stepped up – and has been serving in that capacity for 16 years now. There, she has lent her skills as an educational administrator and an attorney.

RESURRECTION SISTER VALERIE PACCONE Resurrection Sister Valerie Paccone was born in New York City, and grew up in the Archdiocese of New York.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Good Counsel College, White Plains, N.Y., and later earned her master’s degree from the College of St. Rose, Albany, N.Y. Sister Valerie taught English, science and religion in Maria Regina High School, Hartsdale, N.Y., where she became acquainted with the Sisters of the Resurrection.

She entered the congregation in 1964. Following her profession, Sister Valerie returned to Maria Regina High School to continue her teaching, from 1966 until 1974 – during which time she was also appointed editor of her order’s provincial newsletter. Sister Valerie was later assigned to serve in formation, as directress of postulants, and then of novices, a position she held until 1984. She then continued her own studies in Notre

Dame Institute, Middleburgh, Va. Sister Valerie then served as director of religious education in St. Veronica Parish, Howell, as well as a master catechist for the Diocese of Trenton. She held that position until 2004, when health issues resulted in her transfer to her order’s provincial home, Castleton, N.Y. For a time, Sister Valerie wrote articles focusing in the life and work of the Sisters of the Resurrection at a mission in Africa, and on occasion, she continues to write some poetry. She currently resides in Riverside Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Castleton, N.Y.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

Lives OF FAITH • S7

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A N N I V E R S A R Y

VINCENTIAN FATHER MARTIN F. MCGEOUGH

Vincentian Father Martin F. McGeough, who currently serves as coordinator of Jail and Prison Ministry in the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care, was born in Astoria, Queens, N.Y. He is one of four children born to Barney and Mary McGeough. He has a brother, Pat and a sister Mary. His sister Roseann is deceased.

Father McGeough graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, Astoria, and Plainsboro-based St. Joseph College Seminary, which at the time was part of the Trenton Diocese. Father McGeough went on to Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, Pa. where he received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1971; a master of divinity degree in 1975 and a master of theology degree in 1976.

As a member of the Congregation of the Mission community, Father McGeough professed temporary vows in 1969 and final vows in 1972. He was ordained a priest May 29, 1976 in the chapel of Mary Immaculate Seminary.

Throughout his 40 years of priesthood, Father McGeough has served as a teacher, a parish priest and was involved in mission development work. His assignments have included teaching in St. Joseph Seminary; serving for six years both as parochial vicar and then pastor of St. Michael Parish, Auburn, Ala.; for one year as parochial vicar of St. William Parish, Naples, Fla. and for 18 months in Immaculate Conception Parish, Philadelphia. He returned to Alabama where he spent 14 years, 10 of which as pastor of Holy Family Parish, Lanett, Ala., and the remaining four in mission development work in East Central Alabama. For five years he then served with the Vincentian Hispanic Ministry Team in Hamptons, N.Y., before arriving to the Diocese of Trenton in 2012 as coordinator of Jail and Prison Ministry.

Father McGeough proudly noted that he was the founding spiritual director for the Cursillo Movement for the Archdiocese of Mobile from 1978-1984.

CHRISTIAN BROTHER LAWRENCE HARTUNG

Christian Brother Lawrence Hartung was born in Joliet, Ill. He entered the novitiate Sept. 1, 1975; received the habit Sept. 1, 1975; pronounced annual vows Sept. 4, 1976, and perpetual vows in 1984. He earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University and master of social work from Fordham University in New York.

Brother Lawrence held teaching positions in New York City, Albany, Jamaica and Staten Island, all in New York. In 1989, he taught in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, before assignments in West Warwick, R.I., Chicago, Albany, N.Y., and Toronto, Canada. He also taught in Porto Alegre, Brazil, before holding positions in the La Salle Provincialate, Lincroft, and as an ESL teacher in Keyport. In 2006, he began a six-year tenure working on finances in the CBA Community, Lincroft, before joining the staff of Sangre de Cristo, Santa Fe, N.M. He is retired and currently resides in Lincroft where he is an ESL teacher in Neptune and Asbury Park.

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VINCENTIAN FATHER FRANCIS CHERUPARAMPIL

Vincentian Father Francis Cheruparampil, V.C., has ministered as parochial vicar in Holy Family Parish, Hazlet, for the past 23 years.

He was born in 1952 in his native Kerala, India, and is the son of John and Helen Cheruparampil. He currently has two sisters, both of whom are religious serving in India, and three brothers, the youngest of whom is a priest in India.

Father Cheruparampil attended St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Kerala, where he received two bachelor’s degrees in theology and philosophy. He was ordained a priest in 1981.

Upon his arrival to the United States, Father Cheruparampil served for two years in the Philadelphia Archdiocese from 1990-1991.

He came to the Trenton Diocese in 1992 and has ministered in Holy Family Parish. In addition to his parish duties, he also ministers in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. He also holds a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Holy Family Parish, Hazlet, from Seton Hall University, South Orange, which he received in 2002.

Father Cheruparampil noted that the Vincentian community of which he is a member was founded in India and encompasses three provinces with more than 600 priests. In the United States, his community has two houses, one in Florida and one in Washington, N.J.

TRINITARIAN FATHER THOMAS MORRIS

For Trinitarian Father Thomas A. Morris, serving as pastor of Incarnation-St. James, Ewing, is somewhat of a homecoming for the priest who is celebrating the 35th anniversary of his ordination priesthood in December.

Born in Malone, N.Y., to Augustus and Shirley, Father Morris and his siblings Carol, John and Jeffrey, were parishioners of Notre Dame Parish in their hometown. He graduated from St. Joseph Ursuline Academy High School, Malone, N.Y., in 1971, after which he entered Wadham Hall Seminary, Ogdensburg, N.Y. He then went on to Le Moyne College, Syracuse, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a major in philosophy. In 1975, he entered St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, where he encountered the Trinitarians and was drawn to their fraternity, communal life and prayer life. He left the seminary in 1976 and joined the Trinitarian Order the following year as a novice and professed his first vows in 1978. From 1978 to 1981, he resided in St. John DeMatha Monastery, Hyattsville, Md., and pursued studies at the Washington Theological Union, Silver Springs, Md. He completed theology studies in 1981 and professed his solemn vows as a Trinitarian Sept. 11, 1981. He was ordained a a priest Dec. 12, 1981, in St. Jerome Parish, Hyattsville. His first assignment was

MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016

in New Orleans as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, and was also a part-time hospital chaplain at Hotel Dieu, sponsored by the Daughters of Charity. After one year, he became a full-time chaplain until 1987, when he was transferred to the provincial headquarters in Baltimore and served as secretary provincial until 1993. He was also novice master for the community and director of temporary professed before being transferred to St. Ann Parish, Bristol, Pa., where he was parochial vicar from 1993-1996.

Later in 1996, he was transferred to St. John DeMatha Monastery, Hyattsville, where he ws director of postulants until 1999.

From 1999-2003, he resided at the provincial headquarters and was re-elected secretary provincial. From 2000-2003, he was director of the Holy Trinity Spiritual Center, Baltimore. Father Morris was reassigned to St. Ann Parish, Bristol, in 2003 as a parochial vicar until July 2011 when he was named pastor. In April, 2007, he made a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and was asked to be a team priest. He later served as a member of an ecclesial team for Philadelphia from 2012-2014. He continues to serve as a team priest for WWME. When St. Ann Parish was merged with nearby St. Mark Parish, Father Morris was transferred to serve as parochial vicar of Sacred Heart of St. Mary-St. Rita Parish, Dundalk, Md., in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

He remained there until the spring of 2016, when he was named to his latest assignment in the Diocese of Trenton at Incarnation-St. James Parish.

Blessed with a Mission

S ocial j u stice w as priority of priesthood Story by LOIS ROGERS, Correspondent

T

o hear his flock tell it June 26, Father Ronald J. Cioffi’s final Mass in Keyport’s St. Joseph Church was much the same as those he celebrated throughout his 35 years of service

there.

The message in his homily – like the reflections he has written for the weekly bulletin over the decades – focused on following Jesus in all he asks the faithful to do.

The emphasis on Catholic social teaching, a hallmark of his 47-year ministry, was clearly heard as Father Cioffi told the parishioners that the Father Ronald J. common good must take priority when Cioffi pursuing the “Kingdom of God.” Father Cioffi asked everyone to reflect on the ways in which they pick up the cross and walk with Jesus, who “shows us what it means to be a human being – to live from the heart.”

“This is what we have celebrated for 35 years with each other, you and I,” he said. “And God – who does not force us” to take up this cross, “has been with us every step of the journey.”

Deacon Donald Policastro observed that “Father Ron took the road less traveled and brought us along with him.”

“That,” Deacon Policastro said, “has made all the difference.”

ON THE ROAD

Born in Long Branch in 1941 to Harry R. and Jean Cioffi, Father Cioffi was the second of three sons – Henry, longtime councilman and multi-term mayor of the resort town, and Robert, a professor at Morris County Community College, composer and pianist.

In an interview, Henry’s daughter Gina spoke of how fortunate she always felt to have “these three intelligent, interesting and accomplished men” in her life, crediting them with sparking her interest in the arts, politics and, centrally, faith.

“Uncle Ron had a huge impact because of his commitment to social justice,” said his niece, who said she took inspiration from him in her own educational and career choices, attending Catholic college and law school and focusing on working for non-profits.

“When you are questioning your role in the world, it is so important to know there is someone in your life living out his faith. … He was my person for all of that. … Every family should have someone blessed with a mission,” she shared.

In his own reflections, Father Cioffi pointed to the Catholic culture into which he was born as a catalyst to how faith and social activism would meld throughout his life.

He recalled Father Gerald Celentana was pastor of Holy Trinity Parish and Father James Cammisa was associate pastor

when Father Cioffi was an altar boy there, both contributing greatly to his growing interest in a priestly vocation.

Also positive, he said, was the awareness of the “work of the Church” gleaned from reading papal biographies, including those on Pius XII, the pope of his boyhood, and other books on Catholic subjects. Especially captivating, he said, was the background these works provided on the Church’s social teaching.

His formative years as a Red Bank Catholic High School student, set against the background of the civil rights and Catholic peace movements, were a particularly inspiring time.

“Growing up, I was always aware of the challenge of being a citizen in a democratic country and taught to see the responsibility to the common good and participate in the work of the community,” he said.

P R I E S T ANSWERING THE CALL As his call to serve the Church intensified, he prepared for the priesthood in St. Charles Seminary, Catonsville, Md., and St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore.

Ordained a priest May 31, 1969, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr, Father Cioffi earned a master’s degree in pastoral counseling at Iona College, New Rochelle, and a second master’s in ecumenics from Princeton Technological Seminary while serving as a parochial vicar in St. Joachim Parish, Trenton; St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, and St. Mary Parish, South Amboy.

In 1977, he became a faculty member of St. Mary Seminary, Roland Park, Md., and upon return to the Trenton Diocese in 1981, he was named parochial vicar of the Keyport parish, where he also served as temporary administrator until 1989

John Blaine photos

Retired

See Father Cioffi • S12

For more photos, go to

TrentonMonitor.com

Prior to beginning his retirement, Father Cioffi celebrated a Mass that was attended by family members, friends and parishioners of St. Joseph Parish, Keyport .  JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

 A St. Joseph parishioner signs a guest book wishing Father Ronald J. Cioffi well on his retirement.

Lives OF FAITH • S9

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MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016

Msgr. Ralph W. Stansley, center, celebrates his final Mass in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, West Trenton, bidding farewell to the parish he served since 2001. On left is Deacon Steve Szmutko, and Msgr. John K. Dermond, right, concelebrates.

Joe Moore photos



Part of the Family M sgr. R al ph W . S tansl ey w as ord ained for the peopl e Story by CHRISTINA LESLIE, Correspondent

E

“

ach time I go to a new church, I go into town and get lost on purpose,” admitted Msgr. Ralph W. Stansley, newly retired from Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton. “You learn your way around more easily that way.”

Having served the people of the Diocese of Trenton for more than 43 years in six parishes and in a number of diocesan roles, Msgr. Stansley may have been a bit challenged geographically, but his inner compass has always pointed straight toward service to God and his people.

Born in 1946 in Somerville, young Msgr. Ralph W. Ralph began his priestly journey as Stansley a Jesuit noviate, but soon realized he was better suited to life as a diocesan priest. He studied in St. Francis College, Loretto, Pa., and Our Lady of the Angels Seminary, Albany, N.Y., then entered Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. Msgr. Stansley was ordained by Bishop George W. Ahr May 19, 1973, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

BEING PRESENT

One of the new priest’s greatest challenges arose during his very first assignment as parochial vicar in Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton.

“I got a call from the police to come to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge [which carries Route 73 over the Delaware River] to talk down a jumper,” Msgr. Stansley remembered. “On my way to the bridge, I prayed and prayed to God to say the right thing. I don’t even know what I said, but the police got him down. I knew I needed to learn how to help, and that’s why I went to Iona College for my [master’s in] counselling degree.”

Over the course of his ministry, Msgr. Stansley served in parishes in all four counties of the Diocese. Following seven years in Sacred Heart Parish, he was parochial vicar in St. Paul Parish, Princeton, and St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, and later served as temporary administrator in St. Pius X, Forked River.

As a pastor, he was assigned to St. Gabriel Parish, Marl-

boro; Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, P R I E S T Mercerville (now part of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton); St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, and his most recent assignment, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton.

In 1995, Msgr. Stansley was appointed director of the diocesan Office of Permanent Deacons. Over the course of his 16 years of service, he estimates having contributed to the development of between 200 and 250 men in the program.

“You can’t help but be inspired by those guys,” he said.

“They have families and jobs, and still do. We held discernment nights where I, a deacon and a deacon’s wife all spoke to prospects, for it was important that they all knew what was going on, what would be expected.”

Msgr. Stansley looked for three key traits in each prospective deacon.

“I made sure they have the desire to be open to God’s will for themselves and everyone, that they were kind and that they were caring,” he revealed. “If they had those three traits, they would be the best deacon they could be.”

For more photos, go to TrentonMonitor.com Msgr. Stansley also served on the tribunal as Prosynodal Judge and Defender of the Bond; on the Expansion and Development  Msgr. Stansley shares a joyful Commission and Liturgical Commission, and as a member exchange with a of the ad hoc committee on ministry in non-correctional and parishioner.

The priest healthcare institutions. The priest also served as a chaplain to is retiring after 43 local chapters of the Columbiettes, and was a spiritual director years of service to in AIDS ministry. parishes throughout Msgr. Stansley was named chaplain to His Holiness with the Diocese of the title of Reverend Monsignor Oct. 15, 2008, by Pope EmerTrenton. itus Benedict XVI.

Retired

SHARING THE FAITH WITH OTHERS

During a pre-retirement interview in his spare office in the rectory of Our Lady of Good Counsel, he sat beneath a gold See Diaconate • S12 JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

Lives OF FAITH • S11

Father Cioffi worked with poor, elderly Continued from • S9

when he was appointed pastor.

LIVING FROM THE HEART

Parish work dovetailed with the call to Catholic social teaching, said Father Cioffi, who was part-time director for a number of years of the diocesan Office of Social Concerns, where he helped to focus the faithful on bringing an end to the death penalty and other critical issues such as the need for affordable housing.

Along with nourishing the spiritual needs of the parish community, he said the long tenure in St. Joseph allowed him to build commitment to Catholic social teaching there.

“The stability was good – the roots grew deeply,” said Father Cioffi. “Every parish has certain resources they can offer people who live in the neighborhood and beyond. Helping people to share those resources for the benefit of others is an important part of being a pastor.”

Many ministries developed over time, including a vital and active St. Joseph’s Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society – which met 1,500 calls for assistance in 2015 alone – a thriving health ministry and the long-running work of the Haiti Committee to improve lives in that struggling nation.

Personally, he traveled monthly to two Catholic Worker sites in New York to celebrate Mass and deliver clothing and other needed items collected by parishioners for those in need. (The goal of Catholic Worker

ministry is to reflect Catholic social teaching.) Father Cioffi was also active with the international Catholic peace organization Pax Christi, and was a founding member of Pax Christi in Monmouth County.

On the last week of his tenure in St. Joseph, he shared that his long standing dream of bringing affordable housing to the parish neighborhood is poised to become a reality.

With the support of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., an agreement has been reached for the Domus Corporation, an affiliate of Catholic Charities in the Newark Archdiocese, to facilitate the construction of 50 units of housing for low income seniors and the disabled on the St. Joseph campus.

John Westervelt, executive director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese, cited Father Cioffi’s dedication to the project as key to its progress.

“We just received the contract signed by the Bishop and Father Cioffi, and we are moving ahead,” said Westervelt. The plans call for the housing to replace the convent and first school building, both of which will be demolished.

“Father Cioffi is a great guy who worked tirelessly to make sure the contract was signed before he retired,” Westervelt said. “He pushed hard to get it done.”

Overall, the housing project and the programs represent the strong commitment to those who rely on the Church, spiritually and socially, Father Cioffi said.

“It’s all about community,” said Father Cioffi. “We are all part of the household of God.”

Diaconate duties Continued from • S11 leaf picture depicting Mary and Elizabeth cradling their infant sons Jesus and John the Baptist and asserted his decades of simple parish ministry had been the most fulfilling.

“It is my favorite thing about the priesthood,” Msgr.

Stansley said. “The weddings, the Baptisms, the funerals, all of these help you become part of the family.”

During his retirement, Msgr. Stansley will reside in Villa Vianney retirement home for priests, Lawrenceville, and assist his friend, Msgr. Michael J. Walsh, pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington, St. George Parish, Titusville, and St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell.

The priest is not one to hold to the past, easily divesting himself of years of possessions accumulated over the course of his 43 years of ministry.

“I’ve gotten rid of a lot of photographs or given them to family,” Msgr. Stansley explained. “I gave some of my books to the St. James library, and others to the Morris Hall gift shop. I came over from St. Alphonsus 15 years ago and still haven’t unpacked some of those boxes. I’d rather deal with people face to face.”

Life as a priest is much more than accumulating possessions, he realized, but, rather, putting them aside to walk with the people of God during all their joys and sorrows.

“You wake up, and no two days are the same,” Msgr. Stansley said joyfully. “There’s always daily Mass, but the rest of the day can be anything under the sun. Your day is not your own, and it’s not meant to be: you are ordained for the people.”

Oh What a Gift!

Congratulations on your Golden Jubilee Oh What a Gift!

50 Years a Priest Congratulations on your Golden Jubilee Msgr.

Ronald J. Bacovin 50 Years a Priest Msgr. Ronald J. Bacovin

From the GoodofPeople of the St. King David the King Parish From the Good People St. David Parish, Princeton Junction Very Very Rev.Rev. Timothy V.F., Pastor TimothyJ.J. Capewell, Capewell, V.F., Pastor

From the Good People of St. David the King Parish S12 • Lives OF FAITH • T MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016 Very Rev. Timothy J. Capewell, V.F., Pastor HE

Building the Kingdom M sgr. Bacov in brings message of G od ’ s u ncond itional l ov e to al l he encou nters Story by MARY STADNYK, Associate Editor

T

he word “fear” typically conjures up thoughts of being afraid, scared.

For Msgr. Ronald J. Bacovin, however, “fear” triggers a memory from his high school days when he learned a different meaning – about what it means to have “fear in the Lord.”

“It’s not about being afraid of the Lord,” he said. Fear of the Lord means to stand in awe of the Lord – to be amazed by his unconditional love for us.

One of the hallmarks of Msgr.

Bacovin’s 50 years of priesthood has been teaching and preaching about God’s unconditional love. He’s shared that message with the people he has served in his various parish assignments, Msgr. Ronald John Bacovin diocesan appointments and even now in retirement, during which he has enjoyed the company and energy of the young people of Holy Cross Academy, Delran, as their chaplain, and in parishes where he assists with Masses.

“I’ve had my grand moments and times of excitement,” Msgr. Bacovin said, looking back to when he was ordained a priest May 28, 1966, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

ENCOUNTERING MANY GOOD PEOPLE

For this native son of Trenton, who was born in May, 1940, to John and Helen Bacovin, thoughts of the priesthood surfaced as an eighth-grader in Sacred Heart School, Trenton. It was an environment where there were “very good priests,” he said, mentioning two in particular, Father John C. Reiss, who went on to become the eighth bishop of Trenton, and Father Edward Dougherty. After his graduation from Trenton Catholic High School for Boys however, Msgr. Bacovin went in another

direction and began liberal arts studies in Villanova University.

By the end of his sophomore year, he was thinking about the priesthood again. He withdrew from Villanova and enrolled in St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore.

Following his ordination, Msgr. Bacovin served in Christ the King Parish, Manville, where he “met the first of thousands of good people who would come in and out of my life.”

In Manville, he was also moderator of the Somerset County Catholic Young Adult Club and the Somerset County Catholic Youth Organization. In 1970, he was appointed a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and named associate pastor of St. James P R I E S T Parish, Jamesburg. On Sept. 8, 1972, he was assigned to St. John Vianney Parish, A N Colonia, where he remained for six years, before returning to his home parish, Sacred Heart, Trenton, as parochial vicar in 1978. In 1980, he took a sabbatical year to study in the Institute for Spirituality and Worship in the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkley, Calif. Upon returning to the Diocese, he served in what he called “super years” in three parishes as pastor – eight years in St. Joseph, Keyport; 10 years in St. John, Lakehurst, and 13 years in St. James, Pennington.

It was in the parishes where Msgr. Bacovin developed a greater appreciation for the laity and the contributions they offered to their faith communities. In St. Joseph Parish, he enjoyed involvement with the school, providing direction that ensured the children would receive a well-rounded, faithbased education. It was there where he helped to develop a children’s liturgy, working with a committee of people who “taught me a lot” on how to convey the faith to children.

A high point in Lakehurst, a community with a significant senior population, was “taking on a building project” with the construction of a parish center. The parishioners appreciated the need for the parish center in order to hold more events activities so much that they showed their support as volunteers as well as financially he said, noting that the building was paid off in four years.

In St. James Parish, where he was appointed pastor in 1999, Msgr. Bacovin focused on furthering the parish’s long-standing tradition of social concerns efforts and outreach. He encouraged the development of a number of ministries that would “help others,” such as support groups for the separated and See Reaching • S45

 Msgr. Bacovin celebrates Mass in St. David the King Church, Princeton Junction, as a weekend assistant. John Blaine photo

50

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N IV E R S A R Y

“I’ve had my grand moments and times of excitement.”

For more photos, go to

TrentonMonitor.com

Msgr. Bacovin observed his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination with a Mass of Thanksgiving June 5 in St. James Church, Pennington, where he served as pastor for 13 years. Here, he is congratulated by a parishioner. Photo courtesy of Theresa Hank JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

Lives OF FAITH • S13

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A Designated Holy Door Site for the 2016 Year of Mercy

Asks for God’s continued blessings on

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Thank Thank you, you, Fr. Fr. Brian Brian McCormick McCormick

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For all done for us You You made made it it happen! happen!

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802 609-989-0271 802 East East State State Street Street 609-989-0271 www.BCHTrenton.org www.BCHTrenton.org You made it happen!

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Executive Director Barbara Thompson

Executive Director Pearleen Waters HE MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016

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609-396-5579

BCHT Thrift Store: Gloria Phillips: President, Sheila BCHT Thrift Store: Gloria Phillips: President, Sheila Conway, Vera Werts, and many volunteers.

Conway, BCHT Vera Werts, many volunteers.

Thriftand Store: Gloria Phillips: President, Sheila Warehouse: Annie Hodges Warehouse: Annie Hodges Conway, Vera Werts, and many volunteers.

DTH Board of Trustees: DTH Board of Trustees: Michael Howard, President; Marie Bennett, Vice Warehouse: Annie Hodges BCHT Board of Trustees: Dorothy Holmes, Michael Howard, President; Marie Bennett, Vice BCHT Board of Trustees: Dorothy Holmes, President; Taneshia Holman, Secretary; Jerome DTH Board of Trustees: President, Jacqueline Meyers, Secretary, Kellie President; Taneshia Holman, Secretary; Jerome President, Jacqueline Meyers, Secretary, Kellie Wakefield, Treasurer; Gail Tolson; Malloy Foerter, Chris Mazauskas, Michael Howard, President; MarieMichael Bennett, Vice BCHT Annie BoardHodges, of Trustees: Dorothy Holmes, Wakefield, Treasurer; Gail Tolson; Michael Malloy Foerter, Annie Hodges, Chris Mazauskas, Boyle; PatriciaTaneshia Jordan-Granville; Lillian Cremedy;Jerome Bruce M. President, Sattin, Esq., Tamika Young,Meyers, LSW President; Holman, Secretary; Jacqueline Secretary, Kellie Boyle; Patricia Jordan-Granville; Lillian Cremedy; Bruce M. Sattin, Esq., Tamika Young, LSW Willis Robinson Advisory Board: James Brady, Kieanna ChildsWillis Robinson Treasurer; Gail Tolson; Michael Wakefield, Advisory Malloy Board: Foerter, James Brady, AnnieKieanna Hodges,ChildsChris Mazauskas, Alexander, Catherine Dey, Fr. Brian McCormick, Alexander, Catherine Dey, Esq., Fr. Brian McCormick, Boyle; Patricia Jordan-Granville; Lillian Cremedy; Bruce M. Sattin, Tamika Young, LSW Shoshana Pierce, Linda Smythe Oliaro Executive Director ShoshanaAdvisory Pierce, Linda SmytheJames Oliaro Brady, Kieanna ChildsExecutive Director Barbara Barbara Thompson Thompson Willis Robinson Board:

Executive Executive Director Director Pearleen Pearleen Waters Waters 802 East State Street 609-989-0271 www.BCHTrenton.org

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609-396-5579 609-396-5579

Alexander, Catherine Dey, Fr. Brian McCormick, Shoshana Pierce, Linda Smythe Oliaro

Community Builder

Father M cC ormick has priestl y heart for changing the w orl d Story by MARY STADNYK, Associate Editor

W

hen Father Brian J. McCormick set out on his journey to the priesthood some 50 years ago, he did so with one particular vision in mind.

“I wanted to change the world with Jesus Christ,” he said.

“Changing the world is about helping other people, and that’s what I wanted to do as a priest,” he said.

For more than 42 years, Trenton’s Wilbur section had been the part of the world where Father McCormick had tirelessly devoted his priestly life to bringing Christ’s love, compassion and mercy to all he encountered. It Father Brian J. was through his ministry as director of McCormick the charitable Martin House that he championed thousands of poor adults and children by helping them to improve their lives through education and housing opportunities.

Father McCormick retired from the Martin House in 2012 and currently resides in Villa Vianney, the diocesan facility for retired priests in Lawrenceville. Recalling milestones in his vocation to people in need, he first offers credit to his father, Kenneth McCormick, for instilling in him and his four siblings the passion for social “I was from outreach work. a family “I was from a family who not only who did give said we should give back to the community, but did give back to the community. back to the We walked the talk. We lived it out,” he community.” said.

Father McCormick said that while growing up in Somerville, he and his siblings would work with their father in the family owned hotel, often encountering guests who had fallen on difficult times.

Regardless of how the guests arrived at the hotel or their particular circumstances, one thing was certain – they were provided with a safe haven and surrounded by the McCormick family, who treated them with dignity and respect.

WHO, ME? A PRIEST?

A smile crosses Father McCormick’s face when he recalls how being a priest “was really not my idea.”

As a student in St. Peter High School, New Brunswick, thoughts of the priesthood were the furthest from his mind. He

was more interested in playing sports – football and baseball – and dating girls.

However, it was after he graduated from high school and was about ready to go to college that he went to confession in his home church, Immaculate Conception, Somerville, where the seed for his vocation was planted. When the priest, Father Donald Reilly, suggested he might have a vocation to the priesthood, the young Brian was “open to the idea.”

Father McCormick pursued studies in St. Jerome College, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and then Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. He was ordained a priest May 28, 1966,

by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. Father McCormick’s first assignment was as parochial vicar of St. James Parish, Woodbridge, where he worked in youth P R I E S T and young adult ministry, including heading up the Catholic Youth Organization. Through his CYO affiliation, A N he put his passion for social justice into practice when he founded the Bunns Lane Youth Association, which provided outreach to youth tending to delinquency. He was also heavily involved in the Catholic Family Movement.

 Father Brian J. McCormick celebrates his 50th priestly anniversary at a Mass in St. James the Less Church, Jamesburg, June 12. Seated to his left is Deacon Bill Wilson of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square.

Photo courtesy of Linda Oliaro

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FROM WOODBRIDGE TO TRENTON

In 1970, Bishop Ahr asked Father McCormick to relocate to Trenton and work in the Diocese’s Martin House ministry.

Martin House, which had been named after St. Martin de Porres, was founded in 1968 in the wake of the racial riots occurring in cities throughout the country, including Trenton. Three diocesan priests had initially been assigned to live and work in the city’s Wilbur section, but within a few years had left the ministry, leaving Martin House in dire need of new leadership.

Father Joseph Procaccini, head of diocesan clergy personnel, asked Father McCormick to fill the position.

“I prayed about that and decided I should go there.”

Initially, Father McCormick dealt with youth and led a Boy Scout troop, but as he learned about the community, he realized he was being called to address one of the neighborhood’s most dire needs – providing decent and affordable family housing. Those in need should be able to have housing that they can both pay for and maintain, he asserted.

Though he encountered municipal and financial See Work • S19

At the October 2012 Eucharistic Congress, Father McCormick was presented with a diocesan Gaudium et Spes Award from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., recognizing Father McCormick’for his more than 42 years of service with Martin House. Jeff Metzner photo  JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

Lives OF FAITH • S15

Congratulations Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith, J.C.D., D.D. Rev. Edward M. Jawidzik Deacon Francis J. Weber, Jr.

Thank you for your many years of service and God bless you.

Congratulations on your ordination anniversary!

Father Chris Piccolo, 5 years

Pastor, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington

Father Adam Midor, 25 years

Pastor, St. Francis & St. Clare, Roebling

The Parish Family of St. Robert Bellarmine Freehold Rev. Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni, V.F., Pastor

Rev. Vincent Euk, 30 years • Pastor & Rev. Vicente Magdarog, 20 years • Parochial Vicar • St. Veronica, Howell Rev. John Bambrick, 25 years • Pastor • St. Aloysius, Jackson Rev. Philip Ruggiero, 35 years • Parochial Vicar • St. Maximilian Kolbe, Toms River Deacon Raymond Shea, 30 years • St. Maximilian Kolbe, Toms River Deacon John Hanna, 20 years • St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Lavallette Deacon Robert Cunningham, 15 years • St. Francis of Assisi, Brant Beach Deacon Uku Mannikus, 15 years • St. Aloysius, Jackson Deacon George Swanson, 10 years • St. Barnabas, Bayville Deacons James Campbell, 10 years & James Gillepsie, 5 years • St. Justin the Martyr, Toms River

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MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016

Variety and Perspective ather eiser re ects on lessons learned in years of priesthood Story by JENNIFER MAURO, Associate Editor

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ooking back on 50 years as a priest, Father Charles B. Weiser isn’t shy to admit that he’s learned a few life lessons along the way.

“I learned a lot about humility and that the more I could face my weaknesses, the better pastor I became,” said Father Weiser, who retired as pastor of St. Michael Parish, West End, in 2014 and currently assists with Masses in St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake.

“I don’t feel like I’m th P R I E S T responsible for that,” he said “In too many cases, it was me A N N IV E R S A R Y getting out of my own way.

The more truthful I could be about myself, the better things seemed to go. I think that’s the Holy Spirit.”

But getting out of his own way, he admits, wasn’t always his strong suit.

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FAITH INFLUENCES

Born in 1939 in Newark to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Weiser, Sr., Father Weiser attended St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md., and Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. He grew up in a household typically frequented by people of faith.

Father Charles B. His mother came from an Irish Catholic backWeiser ground where family and religious leaders were often friends. As such, priests, missionaries, professors and those whom he called “outstanding men” became part of his family’s life.

“I saw them as having interesting lives,” he said, adding that he started considering the vocation as early as grade school.

Ordained to the priesthood by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, May 28, 1966, Father Weiser had a quick succession of prestigious assignments, including as parochial vicar of Incarnation Parish, Trenton, and “…the more St. Matthias Parish, Somerset; chaplain at Camp Columbus, Bamber Lake, and member of the I could face Education Committee of the Council my weaknesses, Continuing of Priests. the better In 1969, he was named assistant pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, while also working part time pastor at Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1970, he was I became.” named a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and also completed a master’s of theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.

It was only four years after his ordination when he threw his name into the ring to head the Aquinas Institute, Princeton, to serve as chaplain to Princeton University’s Catholic undergraduate students.

While at the Aquinas Institute, Father Weiser took on a variety of diocesan roles, including two terms as pro-synodal judge of the tribunal and Continuing Education Committee chairman. He was also a co-founder of the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

For more photos, go to TrentonMonitor.com  Father Charles B. Weiser shakes hands with parishioners July 17 in Spring Lake.

Noting the importance of preaching, Father Weiser says, “We have a strong message to convey… Presenting that message for the times is a challenge.” John Batkowski photo

In 1981, Father Weiser was appointed to the Emmaus Core Planning Group, going on to serve as executive coordinator of the Emmaus Program, a spirituality program for priests of the Diocese.

LOVE OF LEADERSHIP

He said he liked administration because he could “enable people to do more than they thought they could do.”

He took a year’s sabbatical in 1988, during which he served in St. Agnes Parish, New York City. He said there were about 10 priests there, all of whom were focused on working on their preaching.

“We have a strong message to convey,” he said of priests in general.

“Presenting that message for the times is a challenge.”

When Father Weiser returned to the Diocese of Trenton once again in 1989, he briefly served as administrator of Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, and then as parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, before being named pastor of St. Michael Parish July 7, 1989. He continued to serve as a judge of the diocesan tribunal and also served as director of the Office of Ecumenism.

In 1997, Father Weiser was awarded the title of Fellow in Pastoral Leadership Development and was chosen the same year for the papal honor of being a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. In addition, he See Father • S19

In this September 2011 photo, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and then-pastor Father Charles B. Weiser, ride in a horse-drawn carriage to commemorate the West End parish’s 125th anniversary.

Photo courtesy of St. Michael Parish 

Lives OF FAITH • S17

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MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016

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W ork w ith T renton poor a highli ght of Father M cC ormick’ s ministry Continued from • S15 stumbling blocks as he pursued his goal, a determined Father McCormick forged ahead by establishing Martin House’s Better Community Housing of Trenton, which allowed the diocesan ministry to build homes and offer interest-free mortgages. The BCHT, in its more than 40-year history, has built or rehabilitated about 167 homes as well as multiple townhomes, units of housing for homeless families and rental units.

Along with housing, Father McCormick spearheaded the opening of the Martin House Clothing Store in 1980, which operates under the direction of neighborhood residents and sells quality secondhand goods. In 1988,

he created the Martin House Family of Programs, which spawned additional outreach programs including Doorway to Hope, a Martin House Learning Center and Youth and Adult Men of Trenton Initiative.

Doorway to Hope, the transitional housing program for homeless families that began in 1991, evolved into helping families seek self-sufficiency. The Martin House Learning Center is a 28,000-square-foot structure that housed a preschool program, classrooms for after-school tutoring, high school equivalency programs, literacy classes and a professional-sized gymnasium, computer, exercise and conference rooms. In 2003, Father McCormick launched

Father W eiser v al u ed good l ead ership Continued from • S17

was dean of the Central Monmouth Deanery for several years.

Father Weiser said it was interesting going from the secular environment of Princeton to a parish environment.

“I’ve enjoyed the variety in my life,” he said. “Going from education to parish work helped give me a new set of perspectives.”

For example, over the years he spent a lot of time with evangelical groups, going to national gatherings and retreats for pastors, applying the lessons he learned to his own ministry.

“They don’t have the Eucharistic focus we have, but they have a sense of urgency we don’t – a confidence in recruitment.”

One of the things he learned from the evangelicals, he said, was the importance to meet parishioners where they are at – not just by maintaining the parish, but by inspiring its people, too. “You have to connect the pulpit and the altar with the life of the parish. Sometimes, it’s like they are very different things.”

One of the first items on his to-do list at St. Michael’s, for example, was to start a St. Vincent de Paul conference because, he said, it helps when parishioners see concretely where their money and good works are being directed.

Another innovative idea he put into practice was to play music in the parking lot before and after Mass to ensure parishioners’ church-going experience was calming from beginning to end.

“I find the priesthood a fascinating and engaging profession,” he said. “People in nonprofits seem to be the happiest workers. What gives it its cache is we are engaged in the business to help people change.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK

Though he’s retired, Father Weiser continues to use the lessons he’s learned, especially when it comes to the relationship between pastor and parish office members. He hopes newly ordained priests won’t have the same view he had when he was young.

“It’s all about them not having the same attitude as I had – as a lone ranger here to pacify the badlands,” he said pragmatically. “Really, it’s all about the team.

Our people should be happy at their work, and we should be offering a healthy environment because our staffs are essential.”

And Father Weiser knows firsthand how true that is. He’s spent the past year and a half battling cancer. Though on the road to recovery, he says the parishioners, associate pastor and pastor of St. Catharine, Father Harold F. Cullen, took great pains to see he was looked after.

“I owe them a debt of gratitude,” he said. “The positive, thoughtful and careful environment these excellent people create all the time in this rectory I am certain had very much to do with my recovering.”

“Serving at Martin House fulfilled my aspiration and vision of priesthood.”

a $3 million campaign to build 100 homes for 100 families. His vision was that if the number of renovated homes increased, the neighborhood would become more stable and attractive to potential urban dwellers.

Another project included the Young Adult Men of Trenton Initiative, a program designed for men ages 17 to 25 to learn carpentry, electrical work and computer skills. They were also encouraged to pursue their education.

With Father McCormick’s retirement in 2012, Martin House has since undergone operational changes and is no longer a dioce-

san-sponsored agency. While the Learning Center has become an operation of the Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County and is now known as the CYO East State Street Center, the Martin House Foundation focuses its mission on providing affordable housing and operating the thrift store and Doorway to Hope programs. Though retired, Father McCormick continues to serve the foundation’s staff and board in an advisory capacity and continues to speak about the Church’s need to be involved in addressing society’s unjust response to the poor.

“Serving at Martin House fulfilled my aspiration and vision of priesthood,” he said. “If nothing else, my time at Martin House taught me how to understand real problems and bring Christian values to help resolve those problems.

It was also about being able to look at the community and see the gifts that exist within that community.

Then once you recognize and nurture those gifts, you are able to create something much bigger.”

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church Hainesport

Bishop John M. Smith on the 5 Anniversary of your Priesthood

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

Lives OF FAITH • S19

The clergy, staff, and parishioners of

St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton give thanks to almighty God for the priesthood of the Reverend Robert J. Schecker (ordained December 11, 1971), associate pastor of then-Holy Angels Parish, and the Reverend Monsignor R. Vincent Gartland (ordained May 23, 1981), associate pastor of then-St. Raphael Parish, and the diaconate of Deacon Robert L. Tharp, Sr. (ordained May 16, 1981, for then-Holy Angels Parish), Deacon Salvatore F. Marcello, Jr. (ordained May 10, 1986, for then-Holy Angels Parish), and Deacon Thomas J. Lavelle, Jr. (ordained May 12, 2001, for then-Holy Angels Parish), on the occasion of the forty-fifth, thirty-fifth, thirtieth, and fifteenth anniversaries, respectively, of their ordination to the priesthood or diaconate for the Church of Trenton, and for the priesthood of the Most Reverend John M. Smith, D.D., J.C.D. (ordained May 27, 1961), ninth bishop of the Diocese of Trenton (1997-2010), on the occasion of the fifty-fifth and twentieth anniversaries, respectively, of his ordination to the priesthood for the Church of Newark and his welcome on February 22, 1996, as coadjutor bishop of the Church of Trenton.

Ad multos annos.

Cathedral Square SENIOR CITIZEN’S HOUSING

Congratulates Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith ON CELEBRATING FIFTY FIVE YEARS IN THE PRIESTHOOD AND ALL THE PRIESTS DEACONS AND RELIGIOUS BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALSO CELEBRATING THEIR ANNIVERSARIES

We salute your dedication to your parish and to the Diocese

26 WEST HANOVER PLACE, TRENTON, NJ 08608

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A N N IV E R S A R Y

 Father John P. Bambrick blesses his parents, John and Carol Bambrick, during the 2013 Anniversary Blessing Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. His parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Joe Moore photo

A Ministry of Presence Father Bambrick’ s ‘ interesting, enriching’ 2 5 years Story by LOIS ROGERS, Correspondent

T

o hear Father John P. Bambrick tell it as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his ordination, what he likes most about being a priest is the “God-given” difference each day brings.

In a rare quiet moment in his office in St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, where he has been pastor since October 2013, he reflected that the “past 25 years have been very interesting and enriching.” By way of current example, he shared that the parish of 5,700 families hums with activity that often translates to the campus and his office.

He cited parish demographics that blend a large senior population with many young families, St. Aloysius School with its enrollment of 326, a religious education program for 1,700 youngsters and custody of five nursing homes, in making the case for “every day being a new day.”

“From blessings to anointings, to people who want to speak to a priest, it’s a very busy place,” said Father Bambrick. So, he focuses on being available Father John P. when parishioners and would-be parishioners Bambrick spontaneously drop by the office.

This “ministry of presence” is especially important when people “open their homes to you, share their life stories” and in times when words fail – the “huge void left by the death of a child or the suicide of a loved one.”

At such times, he said, the ability to be present is a great grace.

CALLED TO SERVE

It’s a grace he first witnessed as a five-year-old and, as he recalls it, kindled in him the desire to become a priest.

The example imprinted on him was given by Father John Dzema, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, where the Bambrick family worshiped.

Especially memorable for Father Bambrick was witnessing Father Dzema’s compassion as he ministered to families in the large, vibrant parish and interacted with the children of the parish school.

Father Bambrick preaches the homily during the Mass of Thanksgiving he celebrated marking the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination on Pentecost Sunday, May 15. Photo courtesy of St. Aloysius Parish 

For more photos, go to TrentonMonitor.com

Father Bambrick’s sense of compassion for others also inspired his efforts in childhood advocacy, which included his work with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Child Protection Office and serving as the first state director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP). He also was active with the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault and is a member of the board of trustees of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center.

Growing up in Matawan, Father Bambrick was further inspired in this quest by his family – parents John and Carol and sister, Susan – and his experience in St. Joseph School, Keyport, and Red Bank Catholic High School.

He received a bachelor’s degree in Christian Tradition from the University of Scranton, Scranton, “I didn’t do Pa., and a master’s degree in Church Management anything from the Bartley School of Business at Villanova extraordinary.

University. He said he “could have gone after a law degree,” which would have prepared him to advocate I just did for immigrants, “always an interest of mine.” what I should But he opted instead to prepare for the priesthood. have done.”

He attended St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton, Pa., and Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange, where he received a master of divinity degree in 1990.

During the summer of 1989, he served as a seminarian in St. Clement Parish, Matawan, and spent his diaconate year in Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle.

Following his ordination by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, May 18, 1991, he was assigned as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade. In 1996, he was named parochial vicar of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan.

On June 1, 1999, he was named temporary administrator of St. Thomas More and was appointed pastor three months later.

He would also become pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Englishtown, which has since merged with St. Thomas More.

REACHING OUT

While at St. Thomas More, he immersed himself in efforts to help the greater Manalapan community heal in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The parish lost seven residents in the attacks; the overall community lost 11 in the World Trade Center and on United Airlines Flight 93.

Newspapers of the day reported that Father Bambrick took a leading role, going door-to-door to offer condolences to the families who suffered losses.

He also devoted himself to creating memorials to those who perished.

When his efforts were recognized with medals and awards, local See Being • S24

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

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Bishop Emeritus, John M. Smith With sincere thanks and gratitude for your dedicated ministry to your parish and community, we offer our congratulations & best wishes to: Fr. Brian Woodrow, 10 yrs.

Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown

congratulations on your 55th year of priestly service.

We would also like to extend our happiness to all the Priests, Deacons and Religious brothers & sisters who will be celebrating milestone anniversaries

Deacon Gary Richardson, 20 yrs. of St. Mary Parish, Bordentown

Many blessings to Deacon Frank Weber

on the occasion of your ordination anniversary.

May God grant you his many blessings!

celebrating his 10th year anniversary with the ministry

Congratulations to our Fr. Ed Jawidzik from St. Robert’s celebrating his 35th anniversary as a priest.

Route 9 South • Old Bridge • www.allamericansubaru.com

15 Years of Service

25 Years of Service

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The Parish of Saint Aloysius Church, Jackson congratulates

Fr. John Bambrick

celebrating 25 years of priesthood & Deacon Uku Mannikus celebrating 15 years of service as a deacon May God continue to bless you both and your ministry

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MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016

In God’s Time

A cal l ing to prayer, serv ice key theme in K eyport priest’ s l ife Story by JENNIFER MAURO, Associate Editor

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ong before Kenneth W. Ekdahl became Father Ekdahl, pastor of Jesus the Lord Parish, Keyport, he was just a small boy asking God for a big prayer.

“When I made my First Communion, we were asked to pray for something that would come true in our lifetime,” he said, thinking back to the 1950s and how he and his fellow young communicants weren’t supposed to reveal the prayer until it was answered. “I prayed for my father to become Catholic before he died.”

Father Ekdahl was born in October 1947, to an Irish mother who was a devout Catholic. His father was of German descent, and though not Catholic, he recognized the good work of the Church and pledged to raise his children in the faith.

“He was very respectful of the Church, raising his children Catholic, and being that his wife was Catholic,” said Father Ekdahl, who has two brothers and a sister. “He never went to church, but he would never eat meat on Good Friday, either. In his own way, my father was a religious man.”

ALL ABOUT PRAYER

More than 25 years later, Father Ekdahl remembered that childhood prayer as his father was dying. Concerned, he confessed his prayer to a local priest he knew, asking him to visit his father. After his father passed, the priest told him, “You have nothing to worry about. I can honestly tell you that your father died catholic.”

“I never told anyone about that prayer until (then),” Father Ekdahl said. “And when he told me that, I thought, ‘God works in mysterious ways.’”

“When we go to Mass, we say ‘One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church,’ Those are simple words, but trying to crack them is not so simple,” he continued. “But to be told some 40, 50 years after he met my mother, to realize my father was catholic, told me he was listening.”

And apparently, Father Ekdahl was listening all those years growing up in a Catholic household, too, because he is celebrating 25 years as a priest this year.

Though born in East Orange, Father Ekdahl spent his early years in Florida in St.Paul School, Jacksonville Beach, before returning to New Jersey and attending Holy Cross School, Rumson. He graduated from Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, in 1965.

After high school, he moved on to Mount St. Mary College, Emmitsburg, Md., and spent one year studying at Loyola University, Rome. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1969 in English literature with a minor in philosophy. From 1969 to 1986, he embarked on a career in the insurance business, working for several different companies until answering a call from God to enter the priesthood - a call he most likely had been hearing since childhood.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

For more photos, go to TrentonMonitor.com

Father Kenneth W. Ekdahl

When he was in eighth grade, for example, Father Ekdahl used to “celebrate Mass,” donning a cape as his vestments, facing a mirror and raising “the host” as his younger brother and sister kneeled beside

him as altar servers.

“That was in the 1960s,” he said, “and having girls on the altar didn’t come around until the mid-1990s. So, if you think about it, I was ahead of the curve,” he said with a smile.

Also by the eighth grade, he had written to numerous seminaries about going to seminary in high school. But his parents wanted him to P R I E S T attend Christian Brothers Academy.

BEFORE THE PRIESTHOOD

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It wasn’t until working in the insurance industry in Manhattan that he again heard the call. He found himself drawn to noontime Mass at a nearby church - a routine that once again had him considering a vocation.

One weekend, he and his mother happened to attend Mass in Nativity Church, Fair Haven, for Vocation Sunday. Father Ekdahl waited to speak with the priest after Mass.

“Certainly, I was thinking about it (becoming a priest), but that homily spurred me to action,” he said, adding that the priest agreed to meet with him a few days later and advised him to start teaching religious education and become a reader.

“My mother was waiting for me in the car,” Father Ekdahl recalled. “And she said, ‘You were complimenting his homily?’”

So after 17 years in the insurance business, he gave his notice of resignation, entering the Pope John XXIII National Seminary, Weston, Mass., in late August 1986. He received a See Father Ekdahl • S24

Father Ekdahl elevates the Book of the Gospels. The priest recalls pretending to celebrate Mass with his siblings while in eighth grade. John Blaine photos 

 Parishioners in Jesus the Lord Parish, Keyport, present their pastor, Father Kenneth W. Ekdahl, with bread and wine during a recent Sunday Mass. Father Ekdahl is marking a quarter-century of priestly life this year.

“God works in mysterious ways.”

Being present is a top priority for Father Bambrick Continued from • S21

newspapers quoted his response: “I didn’t do anything extraordinary. I just did what I should have done.”

Taking his inspiration from St. Thomas More who it was said “had a conscience that could not be compromised,” Father Bambrick says the same can be said of his ongoing efforts in childhood advocacy including a wide range of advocacy work from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Child Protection Office on a national level, to serving as the first state director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused

by Priests (SNAP) as well as the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault and locally on the board of trustees of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center, among others.

SHARING THE JOY

For Father Bambrick, the weekend of Pentecost is always personally special, as it brings back memories of his priestly ordination on the Eve of Pentecost in 1991. But this year, the weekend also marked milestones with the 25th anniversaries of that

life-changing occasion and the celebration of his first Mass on Pentecost Sunday, a day later. And this fact was not lost on those Father Bambrick has served since then.

Seated alongside family, friends and faithful in St. Aloysius Church, Jackson, where he is pastor, were members of parishes from around the Diocese he has encountered throughout his priestly journey.

“Folks came from all of the parishes I served in,” to celebrate, Father Bambrick recalled. The memories evoked by their presence were an affirmation, he said, of his decision to become a priest.

After a recent Mass in St. Aloysius Church, parishioners shared their sentiments on what his ministry means to them.

Helen Ludowig spoke of how he recognized her heartfelt desire to start the “Bread from Heaven” soup kitchen now operating on Fridays in the Knights of Columbus Hall on Bartley Road in Jackson.

“I really appreciate the fact that he is a willing listener,” said Linda Buchalski, a member of St. Aloysius

for 10 years.

“I really look forward to his sermons,” she said. “He brings the Gospel home.”

Linda Rose, who heads the parish

nursing program, spoke of his “kind, loving and outgoing” nature.

“You can depend on him to support you,” she said.

“He is always there.”

Father Ekdahl marks 25 years of service Continued from • S23

master of divinity degree in 1990 and was ordained a priest by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, on May 18, 1991.

He was 43.

His first assignment as a priest was in Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Mercerville, where he served as parochial vicar from 1991 to 1996. During this time, Father Ekdahl was also spiritual moderator of the Mercer County Federation of Holy Name Societies.

On June 14, 1996, Father Ekdahl was named parochial vicar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade, and chaplain of Holy Cross High School, Delran. Two years later, he was assigned to St. Ann Parish, Keansburg.

He was appointed as administrator of Jesus the Lord Parish on July 12, 2002, and has served as pastor since Jan. 3, 2004.

“Everyone has a vocation, not just those who serve on the altar,” he said. “I think sometimes we tend to blur occupation with the word vocation, which can be, but doesn’t have to, be the same.”

He said he believes coming to the priesthood later in life has helped his vocation by allowing him to better relate to his parishioners. “I worked in the outside world for 17 years. I owned cars, paid bills, dated,” he said.

“Being an older vocation worked for me,” he said. “God works things in his own way and in his own time.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO BISHOP EMERITUS JOHN M.SMITH Congratulations to all the priests deacons and religious brothers and sisters celebrating their anniversaries and for their dedicated service

Kingsbury Twin Towers A View From Above

1 Kingsbury Square Trenton, NJ 08611 609-599-1111

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Meant to Be a Priest

Father M u orah d ed icated to pastoral ou treach, ev angeli z ation Story by GEORGIANA FRANCISCO, Correspondent

D

uring his 25 years as a priest, Father Charles C. Muorah’s ministry has spanned at least two continents and touched thousands of lives. But those who know him may be surprised to learn that his is a ministry that almost never th P R I E S T was.

“There was a time I wanted to leave the semiA N N IV E R S A R Y nary,” Father Muorah says.

“But I know now that it is a calling.” Now associate pastor in St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton, Father Muorah shared, “I was meant to be a priest, and my vocation means everything to me. Did I pay some high prices? Yes. But they were worth it, because I know God has called me to a prophetic role to speak out against injustice and proclaim the Gospel.”

TOUGH TIME

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Born in Nigeria in April 1964, Father Muorah comes from a large Catholic family – four boys, Father Charles C. three girls and two half-brothers. At the age of Muorah seven, when he sensed his mother was seriously ill and would soon die, he quit school to be with her. But his father, Chief Francis O. Muorah (Eze Omodi, King of the Akala Community in Umuoji, Nigeria) being protective of Charles, put the mother in hospice care. Never able to see his mother again, Father Muorah hid under a cloud of anger and grief that lasted throughout his youth.

“In the end,” he says, “having no one to turn to, I turned to God. I gave my anger to God, and I found peace.”

What he didn’t know until years later is that his mother’s last words

 Father Charles C. Muorah dons native African attire during a presentation he gave on Nigeria during a 2010 diocesan Mission Reachout celebration for high school students. Craig Pittelli photo

were also to God: “I give you one of my sons to be a priest.”

No one, least of all his father, thought it would be Charles.

In 1976, he enrolled in Merchant of Light, an Anglican high school in Oba, Nigeria. There he became so adept at all things priestly – Prefect of Catholic students, Catholic choir director, and chief sacristan in the local parish – that the pastor nicknamed him “The Little Priest,” not only because he was smaller than the others, but also because wherever there were priests, Father Muorah followed, “... having no offering to help.

He also took a stand against the school’s marone to turn ginalization of Catholic students by introducing to, I turned to Catholic spirituality programs, setting the stage for God. I gave my his longstanding love for the marginalized and for promoting the Catholic faith, two of the pillars of his anger to God, religious life. and I found His formal seminary training began in 1981 in peace.”

All Hallows Seminary. Although his father thought Father Muorah’s anger might interfere with his training, after six months, he made a surprise visit to his son, saying, “If they haven’t expelled you by now, I guess you’re going to be a holy priest,” and hugged him with a pride that lasted until his death in 2007.

FINDING GOD

However, doubts plagued his time in the seminary, pushing him to leave. One night, he was in a deep sleep when, he says, his mother appeared to him. Having first chided him for not saying his prayers, she told him to go home, pack his things, and return to the seminary, which, being awed by this experience, he did.

See Finding • S43

Staff and faithful from St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, attended the Mass of Thanksgiving that Father Muorah celebrated for his 25th anniversary June 25 in St. Isaac Jogues Church, Marlton. Photo courtesy of Georgiana Francisco

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Congratulations to

Deacon Patrick Martin 20 year Anniversary

Thank you for your continuous dedication and faithful service to our Parish, Community and the Catholic Church!

God Bless you Always!

Rev. Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu Rev. Nestor Chavenia • Rev. Marcin Kania

St. Mary’s Parish

St. Mary’s Church Barnegat

St. Mary of the Pines Church Manahawkin

St. Mary’s Parish extends heartfelt congratulations to Bishop Emeritus John Smith 55 year Anniversary of the Priesthood Reverend Vicente Magdaraog 20 year Anniversary of the Priesthood

Congratulations to

Fr. John Testa

on his 5th Anniversary!

We miss you, Fr. John!

Congratulations to

Fr. Philip Ruggiero

on his 35th Anniversary!

Best wishes from the parish family of

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church - Toms River Pastor: Rev. Stephen M. Piga

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Finding Community

Father S u l l iv an sees j oy in prov id ing for others Story by JENNIFER MAURO, Associate Editor

F

ather Michael D. Sullivan was 15 years old when he joined the youth group in St. Dominic Parish, Brick.

“My two older sisters went through the same youth group, and they were doing weeklong summer retreats in Wildwood,” Father Sullivan said with a smile, implying the amusement park hotspot was one of the reasons he joined the group all those years ago.

“I wanted to find a community where I felt welcomed and loved,” he said. He later realized, “What I found there, I wanted to provide to others.”

Now decades later, Father Sullivan, Father Michael D. pastor of St. Mary of the Lake, LakeSullivan wood, is celebrating 25 years as a priest.

Born March 1962 to Chuck and Barbara Sullivan of New York, N.Y., Father Sullivan grew up in Brick Town, where he attended public schools and graduated from Brick Township High School. He received an associate’s degree from Ocean County College, proceeding to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1985. He completed his studies for the priesthood in the Theological College of The Catholic University of America, Washington, earning a degree in sacred theology.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John C. Reiss May 18, 1991, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Father Sullivan said the priesthood gives him a sense of fulfillment. “I constantly feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m able to use the gifts I have in a profound way,” he remarked, adding that he considers teaching to be among those gifts.

And if you were to talk to those in his former parish – St. Martha, Point Pleasant Beach – they would have to agree. He was assigned there June 29, 2001, and appointed pastor April 29, 2003.

CHAMPION OF LAITY

One of his main missions there was to encourage others to participate in lay ecclesial ministry. “By the time I left, there were eight people who completed or had gone through the program,” Father Sullivan said, referring to the former diocesan Institute for Lay Ecclesial Ministry program.

“The great thing about that, most of them received a degree, which means they could run a ministry without constant supervision,” he added.

After he was ordained as a priest, his first assignment was

in St. Mary of the Lake Parish, where he served for one year. In June, 1992, he was named parochial vicar of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, where he served for five years. He was then appointed parochial vicar of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, before returning to St. Barnabas, where he served again as parochial vicar and briefly as temporary administrator in 2000.

During his time at St. Martha Parish, he was also elected chairman of the Priest Council in 2002 and served as an at-large representative to the Council of Priests from 2004 to 2005. Father Sullivan returned to St. Mary of the Lake in 2012 as pastor.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

For more photos, go to TrentonMonitor.com

Lives OF FAITH • S27

Jeff Metzner photo

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He said that over the years, he has A N seen his spiritual life change. “I have a deeper understanding of the Gospel of Jesus, which mainly comes from preaching it every week.”

That, in turn, makes the messages he preaches stronger. “I’m able to take the abstract theological and philosophical (concepts) – the academic tradition of the Church – and put it in a way that most people in today’s world can understand.”

And through it all, Father Sullivan has continued to hold youth ministry close to his heart. During his time at St. Barnabas, he started the youth ministry program that is currently in place there.

Though his own parish is seeing a decline in its youth – demographics within his community are changing with the influx of single-family homes and seniors – this hasn’t stopped him from doing everything he can to minister to children and young adults.

For example, during the week of June 27, he celebrated Mass every day with the youth during the parish’s Vacation Bible School. A few weeks earlier, he was on hand when the parish youth choir joined with children from St. Anthony Claret, Lakewood, to sing the national anthem during a Blue Claws baseball game.

“This is the stage in human development when people start taking charge of their own life and spirituality,” he said. “This (youth ministry) is something they can go to on their own. The Church needs to meet them where they’re at in that stage of development.”

Father Michael D. Sullivan, pastor of St. Mary of the Lake, Lakewood, distributes the Eucharist to children in the Vacation Bible School program June 30 at its Holy Family Church campus. Joe Moore photo 

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

P R I E S T

 Father Sullivan addresses a gathering during a Catholic Women of Zion retreat.

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N IV E R S A R Y

“I constantly feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Congratulations to Reverend Charles Weiser on his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination.

May God continue to bless you in your continued service of His people.

Father Cullen and the Parish Family of

St. Catharine-St. Margaret

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FATHER JOSEPH J. MIELE

Born in August, 1925, to John and Anna (Passalaqua) Miele, Father Joseph J. Miele attended Our Lady of the Rosary School and West Philadelphia Catholic School for Boys.

Following his graduation from high school, he entered the Navy and studied shipboard engineering at the Wentworth Institute in Boston. During World War II, he spent three years aboard the U.S.S. Augusta.

Father Miele returned home to Philadelphia at the conclusion of the war and went to LaSalle College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1949.

He entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa., and completed his studies in Our Lady of the Angels Seminary, Niagara University, Niagara, N.Y. On May 26, 1956, Father Miele was ordained a priest by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hamilton. As parochial vicar he served in St. Ann Parish, Raritan, St. Joachim Parish, Trenton, St. Mary of Mount Virgin Parish, New Brunswick, and St. Mary Parish, Deal.

In 1970, Father Miele was appointed to serve on the diocesan liturgical commission and as parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish, North Plainfield. In September 1971, Bishop Ahr assigned Father Miele to full-time studies at Fordham University, N.Y., where he earned a master’s degree in religious studies. After graduating from Fordham in May, 1972, Father Miele was named the founding pastor of St. Anselm Parish, Wayside, where he served for 12 years, until he was transferred to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Seaside Heights, where he served as pastor from 1984 until 1991. On Jan. 11, 1991, Bishop John C. Reiss appointed Father Miele as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, where he spearheaded the construction of the new parish center, established a parish pastoral council and implemented social concerns ministries.

Father Miele retired as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish Jan. 15, 1999. He continues to assist with Masses in several parishes.

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MSGR. HUGH F. RONAN

Msgr. Hugh F. Ronan was born in April, 1934. His home parish is St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton.

He graduated from Trenton Catholic High School in 1952, Msgr. Ronan entered St. Charles Seminary, Catonsville, Md., in 1953 and matriculated in St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore.

He was ordained to the priesthood in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr May 27, 1961. He spent the next 10 years ministering in Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords; St. Paul Parish, Princeton, and St. Francis of Assisium Parish, Trenton.

In 1973, Msgr. Ronan became an associate to Msgr.

Joseph A. O’Connor, who served as the bishop’s representative to Catholic hospitals for the Diocese. Five years later he assumed the title himself and held the position until 1981.

Msgr. Ronan was appointed temporary administrator of St. Edward Parish, Milford, in June, 1976, where he would later serve as pastor. In August, 1981, he returned to the Trenton area as pastor of Incarnation Parish, Ewing (now Incarnation-St. James Parish, Ewing).

Msgr. Ronan served three terms as chaplain for the Ewing Columbiettes; was appointed as Mercer County Region PTA moderator; was spiritual director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Mercer County, and a member of the board of trustees for Morris Hall/St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville.

On a diocesan level, he served three consecutive

terms as associate director of the Priest Personnel Office and three consecutive three-year terms as episcopal vicar of Mercer County (1988-1997). He was also appointed an ex-officio member of the council of priests and appointed to a five-year term as a member of the diocesan consulters.

On Sept. 14, 1993, he received papal honors with the title of Monsignor. Other appointments include the seminarian recruitment board for vocations; a five-year term on the college of consulters; the diocesan expansion commission; election as secretary of the priest council, and as an at-large representative of the council of priests.

He retired as pastor of Incarnation-St. James Parish in 2006 and moved to Villa Vianney, the diocesan residence for retired priests in Lawrenceville.

Msgr. Ronan served as coordinator and liaison to the bishop for the Villa Vianney residence in 2008, and as of July 1 completed his term on the priest retirement committee.

He has assisted with clerical dues both in St. Anthony Parish of Padua, Hightstown, and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Yardville. He currently serves as chair of the Morris Hall/St. Lawrence board of trustees.

FRANCISCAN FATHER RICHARD ROSSELL

Franciscan Father Richard Rossell grew up in Trenton, one of five sons of Ralph and Marcella Rossell. His family was members of Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, and he attended the parish school as well as Trenton Catholic Boys High School in the Chambersburg section of Trenton.

Following his graduation in 1952, he began his studies for the priesthood in St. Francis College, Staten Island, N.Y., and completed a bachelor’s degree in theology from St. Anthony-on-the-Hudson Seminary, Rensselaer, N.Y. He also studied at The Catholic University of America, Washington, receiving a doctorate of sacred theology in 1961.

He was ordained May 27, 1961, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany, N.Y., by Bishop William Aloysius Scully of Albany.

After his ordination, Father Rossell began his foray into Catholic education, teaching in several Catholic high schools including Trenton Catholic Boys High School, from 1961-1962. From 1962 to 1970, he taught in Bishop Canevin High School, Pittsburgh, Pa., and St. Joseph Catholic High School, New York City, from 1972 to 1976.

He began his service in the Diocese of Trenton, serving as parochial vicar in St. Peter Parish, Riverside (now part of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Riverside), from 1976 to 1980; Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords (now in

the Diocese of Metuchen), from 1980-82; St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, from 19821986 and St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown.

From 1986 to 1988, he studied at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, Mass., and then returned to parish life, once again in the Diocese of Trenton, becoming parochial vicar in St. Peter Parish, Point Pleasant Beach, from 1988 through 2005.

Though it is uncommon for a Conventual Franciscan priest to spend more than 12 years in a parish, Father Rossell had an opportunity to serve six of those years as “guardian,” who is responsible for maintaining the parish grounds. He functioned as pastor for another six years.

Father Rossell was named pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Seaside Heights in 2005 where he also acted as chaplain of the police department and served the community as host to Simon’s Kitchen, which provides food for the hungry in the shore area.

Father Rossell currently resides in St. Peter Parish as parochial vicar.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

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The Parishioners, Clergy, and staff of

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, West Trenton

The parish community of

CONGRATULATES

ST. DENIS, MANASQUAN

Monsignor James Innocenzi

on the 40th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood AND

Deacon Steven Szmutko

Asks for God’s continued blessings on

on the 10th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Diaconate.

Thank you for your service to our parish and the entire Church

Ad Multos Annos.

Rev. Joseph Miele

celebrating

60 years of priestly ministry

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BI S H O P

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A N N IV E R S A R Y

BISHOP EMERITUS JOHN M. SMITH Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith, the ninth bishop of Trenton, was born in 1935 in Orange and is the son of the late Ethel and Mortimer F. Smith. He attended John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio, prior to beginning his studies for the priesthood in 1955 in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington.

Bishop Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in classical languages from Seton Hall University, South Orange, in 1957, and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America, Washington, in 1961.

Following his May 27, 1961 ordination in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newark, by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland, Bishop Smith was appointed to the archdiocesan Chancery Office and assigned to graduate studies in The Catholic University of America where he received a doctorate in canon law in 1966.

Bishop Smith served as assistant chancellor of the Newark Archdiocese, defender of the bond in the tribunal and coordinator of the English Cursillo Movement. He was named a Papal Chamberlain with the title of “Monsignor” by Pope Paul VI in 1971.

In 1982, he was named to the faculty of the Pontifical North American College in Rome as director of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education and program director of the U.S. Bishops’ Consultation IV. After four years in Rome, Bishop Smith returned to the Newark Archdiocese to serve as pastor of St. Mary Parish, Dumont, in June, 1986. Under Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick’s tenure, Bishop Smith was chairman of the archdiocesan vocation board and served as vicar

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general and moderator of the curia. On Dec. 1, 1987, Bishop Smith was named auxiliary bishop of Newark

by Pope John Paul II. In June, 1991, he was named third bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., and installed July 31, 1991.

In November, 1995, Pope John Paul II transferred Bishop Smith from the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese, appointing him coadjutor bishop of Trenton.

Bishop Smith succeeded retired Bishop John C. Reiss July 1, 1997.

Among the many committees that Bishop Smith had served since 1987 included the board of directors of the North American College in Rome; the Bishops’ Committee on Migration and Refugee Services, and the board of directors for Catholic Relief Services.

In his 13 years shepherding the Diocese of Trenton, Bishop Smith was responsible for implementing numerous initiatives, advancing the Church of Trenton in the areas of communications and technology, the formation of lay ecclesial ministers, strategic planning for parishes and Catholic schools and the development of multicultural ministry.

In June, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese. On Dec. 1, 2010, Bishop Smith’s resignation was accepted by the Holy Father, and Bishop O’Connell was named the 10th bishop of Trenton.

Upon his retirement, Bishop Emeritus Smith took up residence in Villa Vianney, Lawrenceville, the retirement residence for priests of the Diocese. He currently resides in St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, Lawrenceville.

Congratulations on your 10th anniversary

Deacon George Swanson

From the entire community of

St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville

FATHER FREDERICK W. JACKIEWICZ

Father Frederick W. Jackiewicz was born in Masindi, Uganda, to Mr. and Mrs. Waclaw Jackiewicz in November1944. He spent his early years in present day Kenya, before immigrating to the United States, settling in South River. In Kenya, he attended St. Mary of Ostrabrama Elementary School and later graduated from St. Mary High School, South Amboy.

After his graduation from St. Mary High School, Father Jackiewicz went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary College, Orchard Lake, Mich., in 1967. He completed his theological studies at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Mich., and also earned a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of Detroit.

Father Jackiewicz was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, May 29, 1971. Following his ordination, he was assigned to St. Hedwig Parish, Trenton, where he served for 15 years.

He was a temporary administrator at St. Hedwig Parish as well as St. Joseph Parish, Beverly, before being named parochial vicar of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton.

On March 20, 1987, Father Jackiewicz was named pastor of St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch. While in West Long Branch, he served as chaplain at Monmouth University. He continued to serve in Monmouth County until an accident required him to retire. He currently resides in St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville.

FATHER ROBERT J. SCHECKER Father Robert J. Schecker was born in Jersey City in May 1945, to William and Anna Schecker. In 1955, the family moved and became members of St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish, West New York. In 1963, he graduated from Memorial High School, West New York.

Upon his graduation, he attended Seton Hall University, South Orange, and St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore. During this time he also was involved in an inner-city program in Newark, worked in the apostolate for the Spanish-speaking community and participated in a clinical pastoral education program at a mental health facility in Maryland.

On Dec. 11, 1971, he was ordained a priest by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Joseph of the Palisades Church, West New York.

On Jan. 5, 1972, Father Schecker began his first parish assignment as parochial vicar of St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson. In 1975 he was assigned to Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton. He served the faithful at Holy Angels for six years before he received his first pastorate in Epiphany Parish, Brick, in 1981. He remained in Brick for 11 years before being named pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, from 1982-2004. In 2004, he was named pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, and served there until his retirement in 2015.

Prior to his retirement, Father Schecker was also a member of the Diocesan Council of Priests, served as Spiritual Director for the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society and acted as Dean of the Central Monmouth Deanery. In March, 2011, he was appointed to a five-year term on the College of Consultors.

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35 Ordination th

ANNIVERSARY

Congratulations to our Pastor,

Fr. Thomas Morris, o.ss.t (35 years)

and to our

Deacon James Alessi (5 years)

Rev. Francis Cheruparampil,VC Congratulations from the Parishioners and Staff of

Thank you and God Bless from the staff and parishioners of

Union Beach/Hazlet

Incarnation St. James

Holy Family Parish

PARISH, EWING

“You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 7:17

Congratulations Fr. Rich On thirty years of serving God’s people

You went from St. Charles in Cinnaminson to Epiphany in Brick to The Diocesan Youth Ministry to St. Gregory the Great in Hamilton to St. Joan’s………a trail that has left so many, many people loving you, especially us.

Rev. Msgr. Richard D. LaVerghetta Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish Marlton, NJ

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MSGR. JAMES G. INNOCENZI

A native of Trenton, Msgr. James G. Innocenzi was born in July, 1949, to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Innocenzi.

Msgr. Innocenzi was raised in Trenton where he was a member of St. Joachim Parish Trenton. He graduated from St. Joachim School and Cathedral High School, also in Trenton.

Msgr. Innocenzi’s higher education included studies in the Pontifical College Josephinum, Worthington, Ohio. He completed his studies for the priesthood in St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore.

On April 24, 1976, he was ordained a priest in St. Joachim Church by Cardinal Egidio Vagnozzi, a cousin of Msgr. Innocenzi’s father and at the time, the Holy See’s Prefecture of Economic Affairs.

Upon ordination Msgr. Innocenzi was first assigned to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown. In 1977, he was named defender of the bond of the Tribunal, and in June, 1980, was appointed assistant chancellor of the Diocese of Trenton. During this time, Msgr. Innocenzi resided in Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton.

In 1981, he briefly served as temporary administrator in Assumption Parish, New Egypt, and St. Edward Parish, Milford. He was appointed temporary administrator of St. Michael Parish, Trenton, in 1982, and was named chaplain of the Trenton Fire Department in 1983.

He continued his work with the diocesan Tribunal and was reappointed associate judicial vicar, defender of the bond and advocate/notary for an indeterminate term beginning Oct. 26, 1983.

He was appointed to the interdiocesan tribunal as judge and defender of the bond for a three-year term beginning Nov. 8, 1993.

On June 6, 1986, he was appointed pastor of St. Michael Parish, Trenton. In 1997, then Pope John Paul II named him Prelate of Honor of his Holiness with the title of Monsignor.

He remained in St. Michael Parish until he was named pastor of St. George Parish, Titusville. He has served as chaplain to Hopewell Council of the Knights of Columbus, which includes membership from both St. George and St. Alphonsus, Hopewell, parishes. He also has held several additional positions with the Knights of Columbus, including serving as the faithful friar of the Bishop Griffin Assembly, chaplain of the Central New Jersey Centennial Chapter, chaplain of the Trenton Diocesan Federation and, as of September, 2010, district friar of the Second New Jersey District.

Msgr. Innocenzi retired as pastor of St. George Parish in 2015 and is living in residence at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton. He continues to serve the Diocese of Trenton as judicial vicar.

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FATHER ANGELITO I. ANARCON

Father Angelito I. Anarcon, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Farmingdale, was born in January, 1956, in the Philippines. In 1973, he began his priestly studies in the University at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in his home diocese and finished in the Central Seminary of the University of St. Thomas in Manila, Philippines.

On April 9, 1981, he was ordained to the priesthood by Malolos Bishop Cirilo R. Almario in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, Philippines. He then served as parochial vicar in a number of different parishes in his home diocese, including St. Michael, St. Francis, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. James.

Father Anarcon was pastor of St. Peter Parish in the Philippines from May 23, 1994, to June 17,

2001. He came to the Diocese of Trenton in July of 2001 and served as an adjunct priest in St. Dorothea Parish, Eatontown, until June 11, 2004.

On June 12, he transferred to St. Mary Parish, Middletown. He was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Trenton in 2006 and was assigned to serve as the parish’s parochial vicar. He remained in St. Mary Parish until being named pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, in 2011.

MSGR. R. VINCENT GARTLAND

Msgr. R. Vincent Gartland was born in July, 1939, to Robert and Marcella Gartland in Camden. He attended Sacred Heart School, Camden, and graduated from Camden Catholic High School.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Spring Hill College, Mobile, Ala., and a master’s degree in theology from St. John University, N.Y. He also completed graduate studies coursework in counseling and education in Seton Hall University, South Orange.

For 20 years, he was a member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, serving in the ministry of secondary education. Then-Brother Vincent taught in St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, and St. Mary High School, South Amboy. He also served as the coordinator of adult religious education and the Catholic high school religion program in the diocesan Office of Religious Education.

With his background in secondary education, Msgr. Gartland developed and implemented Inscape, a retreat program for high school students in Seaside Park.

He completed his studies in theology in St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, and was ordained a priest by Bishop John C. Reiss May 23,

1981, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Upon his ordination he served at a number of parishes in the Diocese of Trenton, including St. James, Red Bank; St. Raphael, Hamilton; and St. Justin the Martyr, Toms River.

In 1983, he was appointed to a three-year term on the diocesan continuing education committee. He was later chosen to serve as a member of the diocesan liturgy commission and the Engaged Encounter team.

In addition to his parish and diocesan duties, Msgr. Gartland was named the Catholic chaplain of then Rider College in Lawrenceville, and Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, in June of 1988.

On April 21, 1995, he was appointed temporary administrator of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, and was named pastor one month later. He has also served as a member of the diocesan building commission and was a member of the episcopal council for clergy personnel. In June, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI conferred upon him the honor of chaplain to his Holiness with the title “Monsignor.”

Msgr. Gartland retired as pastor of St. Ann Parish in 2014, and currently resides at Villa Vianney, the diocesan facility for retired priests in Lawrenceville.

He continues to serve in parishes as a weekend assistant and also travels to parishes to speak about the missions.

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FATHER EDWARD JAWIDZIK Father Edward M. Jawidzik, parochial vicar of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, was born in April 1954 in New Brunswick to Edward J. and Phyllis Jawidzik. Raised in Monroe Township, the Jawidzik family attended Holy Trinity Parish, Helmetta.

After attending public elementary school, Father Jawidzik answered the call to the priesthood and began his studies in Divine Word Seminary High School, Bordentown, graduating in 1972, and proceeded to attend St. Mary Seminary College, Baltimore, and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. He served his transitional diaconate year in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton.

Father Jawidzik was ordained by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, May 23, 1981. He was then assigned to St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Lakewood, for five years where he served as associate pastor. He then spent one year in Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Long Branch (now part of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch), and was then named parochial vicar of St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, where he served the faith community for seven years.

During time at St. Ann Parish, Father Jawidzik also served as administrator of two other parishes: St.

Mary Parish, Barnegat, for six weeks in 1990, and then St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, for nearly three months in 1992.

In 1992, he was elected to be a member of the Council of Priests and has served in this capacity from 1992 until 2001, and then from 2005 until the present.

On Aug. 22, 1994, Father Jawidzik was named pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Highlands (now part of Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands), where he served briefly until being assigned to St. Rose Parish, Belmar, six months later.

In 1995, he was also appointed to the role of diocesan pro-life chaplain. Father Jawidzik assumed his current role as parochial vicar of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold in June, 2001, and he has continued to serve the faith community there for the past 15 years.

In addition to his responsibilities in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, he currently serves as diocesan director for Catholic Relief Services in the Office of Catholic Social Services and he represents the Diocese as a member of the New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission. He has been the priest chaplain to the Freehold Council, Knights of Columbus, since 2004, and is a member of the Freehold Interfaith Clergy Association.

He is a trustee of Open Door Food Pantry in Freehold and he is a member of the Freehold Township Historical Preservation Commission.

FATHER PHILIP RUGGIERO

Born in May 1952, in Scogli, Vioria, Italy, Father Philip Ruggiero immigrated to the United States with his family in 1970. He attended Seton Hall University, South Orange, for his undergraduate studies and then returned to Italy in 1976 to prepare for the priesthood in San Giovanni Basta Seminary, Ragusa.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Italian Bishop Angelo Rizzo in Ragusa on August 22, 1981.

Father Ruggiero was then assigned to serve as an Associate Priest in San Giovanni Basta Parish, Santa Croce Camerina, Ragusa, from 1981 to 1987. He also served as auxiliary chaplain for the U.S. Air Force Base in Comiso, Ragusa, from 1982 to 1989.

Father Ruggiero returned to New Jersey in the early 1990’s and began his priestly service in the United States as an adjunct priest in Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Sparta, and later St. Christopher Parish, Parsippany.

He again returned to the Diocese of Ragusa in 1995 and was named pastor of Sacro Cuorce Parish, Comiso, Ragusa. He was pastor of Santa Maria di Portosalvo Parish, Scogli, Vioria, Ragusa, from 1997 to 2004 before returning to the United States as an adjunct priest at St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish, Berkeley Heights.

Father Ruggiero began his service to the Diocese of Trenton as parochical vicar of St. Clement Parish, Matawan. He currently serves as parochical vicar of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Toms River.

P R I E S T S FATHER ANGELO AMARAL

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Father Angelo Amaral, parochial vicar in St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, was born in Moema Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in May 1957. He is the youngest of 14 children of the late Jose Ribeiro de Souza and Maria Eulina de Jesus – and now uncle to more than 150 nieces and nephews.

He completed his seminary training in Pontifical University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and was ordained a priest July 18, 1986, in his home parish of St. Peter the Apostle, in Brazil, by Bishop Belchior Joachim da Silva Neto, C.M. Father Amaral embraced his vocation and served his community as a pastor in his home diocese for several years before making a request of his bishop to go to the United States.

In 1994, he made the trip, first to the Archdiocese of Newark for five years before accepting Bishop John M. Smith’s invitation to come to the Diocese of Trenton, where he would be able to serve the Americans, Brazilians, Portuguese and Spanish communities.

Father Amaral first served in St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, and then St. Peter Parish, Riverside, before being incardinated into the Diocese in 2006. He served simultaneously in St. Peter and St. Joseph Parishes, Beverly, before the two parishes were merged to form Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, with Father Amaral being named parochial vicar of the newly-merged community.

He also served in Christ the King Parish, Long Branch, before returning to St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, where he currently serves as parochial vicar.

FATHER VINCENT T. EUK

Father Vincent T. Euk, pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1952 to Helen and Anthony, Sr., who are now deceased. He has two brothers, Stephen and Anthony, as well as one sister, Mary. He grew up in St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Woodhaven, N.Y. He attended St. Thomas the Apostle School and Xavier High School, N.Y., before pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in biochemistry in Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y. While preparing for the priesthood, he earned a master of divinity degree from St. Joseph Seminary, Yonkers, N.Y., and in 2015, he earned a master’s degree in theology with a specialization in bioethics from Holy Apostle Seminary, Cromwell, Conn.

Father Euk was ordained to the priesthood Nov. 15, 1986 in St. Patrick Cathedral, N.Y., by Cardinal John J. O’Connor. Following his ordination, he was assigned parochial vicar in St. Joseph Parish, Spring Valley, where he served until 1990 when he was assigned to Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Staten Island. In 1992, he began a two-year stint teaching in Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, before being named parochial vicar in St. Margaret of Cortona Parish in the Bronx.

See 30th Anniversary • S37

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The People of CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH Willingboro, New Jersey Ask God’s Guidance and Blessings Upon You REVEREND JOHN J. TESTA, Our Newly Appointed Administrator, On The Occasion of Your 5th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination.

Father John Testa “May Your Dedication TheJ. Father to John J.Lord Testaand His People

The Community of

Ascension Church, Bradley Beach

congratulates

Deacon John Kopcak for his 10 years of service to our parish.

and People of Continue to Flourish as You Grow and The The People of in His Grace.”

 CORPUS PARISH CORPUS CHRISTI CHRISTI PARISH Willingboro Willingboro Ask Ask God’s God’s Blessings Blessings Upon Upon REVEREND REVEREND JOSEPH JOSEPH A. A. JAKUB JAKUB As As You You Celebrate Celebrate th The The 10 10th Anniversary Anniversary of of Your Your Priestly Priestly Ordination Ordination “May “May Your Your Dedication Dedication to to The The Lord Lord and and His His People People

Continue Continue to to Flourish Flourish as as You You Grow Grow in in His His Grace.”

Grace.”

Rev. Jerome M. Nolan, Pastor

May Almighty God bless our Pastor Rev. Brian Patrick Woodrow on his 10th Anniversary of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood

Congratulations Fr. Brian! Magno cum gaudio!

With our prayers and best wishes from the Saint John the Baptist Parish Family and Staff, Family and Friends

Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church

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From 1996 to 1999, he served as administrative assistant to the chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York. He also served briefly as administrator of Nativity Parish, Manhattan; chaplain for Bellevue Hospital at New York University Medical Center, Manhattan; teacher in St. Agnes Boys High School, Manhattan; and briefly as the temporary administrator of Blessed Sacrament Parish, the Bronx. In 2008, Father Euk was assigned parochial vicar in St. John the Evangelist Parish, White Plains.

While he was a priest in the Archdiocese of New York, Father Euk was granted a leave of absence to work in the Diocese of Trenton to care for his elderly mother. From 2004 to 2005, he served as chaplain of the Catholic Center in Monmouth University, West Long Branch. From 2004 through 2007, he served as an adjunct priest in St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch.

In 2011, Father Euk returned to the Diocese of Trenton as parochial vicar in St. Dorothea Parish, Eatontown. He was incardinated to the Diocese in 2012 by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and in the same year was appointed pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, a position he continues to hold.

He was also selected by Bishop O’Connell as a Missionary of Mercy – one component of Pope Francis’ celebration of the Year of Mercy. With this designation, Father Euk has faculties conferred by the Holy Father which allow him “the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See.”

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FATHER RICHARD R. SWEENY

Father Richard R. Sweeny was born in February 1934, in Trenton to the now-deceased Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Sweeny, whose home parish was St. Anthony, Hamilton (now part of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton). He attended St. Anthony Grammar School, where he first discovered his vocation to the priesthood.

It was not until much later in life, however, that he followed the call to priestly ministry.

Father Sweeny graduated from Trenton Catholic Boys High before attending Rider College (now University), Lawrenceville, to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an associate’s degree in accounting. He attended classes at night while working in the accounting department of Hill Refrigeration Company, Trenton. He continued working there for 27 years, advancing to the position of staff accountant.

He began his studies for the priesthood at the age of 46, beginning with a year of pre-theology in St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, before transferring to Sacred Heart Seminary, Hales Corner, Wis., which focuses on preparing men over age 30 for the priesthood.

Father Sweeny was ordained a priest May 17, 1986, in St. Raphael Church, Hamilton, by Bishop John C. Reiss. He first served as associate pastor in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, and then in Our Lady Star of the Sea, Long Branch(now part of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch), before taking a temporary assignment as chaplain for Morris Hall, Lawrenceville.

Father Sweeny also served as parochial vicar for the parishes of Our Lady of Good Counsel, West Trenton; St. Mary, Deal; St. Maximilian Kolbe, Berkeley Twp.; St. Theresa, Little Egg Harbor; St. Justin the Martyr, Toms River, and St. Joachim, Trenton (now part of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton).

In 1993, Father Sweeny was assigned as temporary administrator in St. Joachim Parish, and later that year as parochial vicar in Nativity Parish, Fair Haven.

Father Sweeny retired from active ministry March 1, 2004, and is now in residence in St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville.

MSGR. RICHARD D. LAVERGHETTA Msgr. Richard D. LaVerghetta, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, was born in January 1959. He grew up in a faith-filled Catholic home in Cherry Hill with parents who made sure that he and his two sisters, Jane and Diane, attended Mass regularly in their parish of Christ the King.

He attended high school and college in Ohio after his family moved there. He studied political science in Ohio University, where he was also involved in campus ministry. which helped him consider a vocation to the priesthood.

When Msgr. LaVerghetta’s family moved back to New Jersey, they joined St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford.

He would soon begin preparing for the priesthood, entering The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.,

and earning a master of divinity degree.

He was ordained a priest by Bishop John C. Reiss May 24, 1986, in St. Charles Borromeo Church, Cinnaminson.

As a young priest, he served first as parochial vicar in Epiphany Parish, Brick, until 1991, when he began serving as director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

In 1995, he was named pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and appointed to serve as a member of Bishop John M. Smith’s cabinet as secretary of Pastoral Life.

In 2007, Msgr. LaVerghetta was named pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, where he continues to serve today. In 2008, he was named a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI. In 2011, he was appointed by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to serve on the bishop’s newly formed Episcopal Council. He has also been part of the diocesan Marriage Commission and, most recently, the Faith In Our Future Commission.

FATHER PABLO T. GADENZ

Father Pablo T. Gadenz was born in February 1967, in San Bernardo, Chile, the youngest of three children of Renato and Cecilia Gadenz, both Italian natives. The family moved to the United States when he was two years old.

Father Gadenz grew up in Tinton Falls and graduated as valedictorian from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1984. He then attended Princeton University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering.

He earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University and worked for three years at AT&T. Feeling a call from God, Father Gadenz left his job and studied for the priesthood in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa. He was ordained a priest by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, May 18, 1996.

Father Gadenz was first assigned to St. Ann Parish, Keansburg, where he served for two years before being appointed secretary and master of ceremonies to Bishop John M. Smith. While working for Bishop Smith, he served on weekends for four years in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville.

In 2002, Father Gadenz pursued advanced biblical studies in Rome, earning a licentiate in Sacred Scripture (S.S.L.) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute and a doctorate in theology (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Since 2008, Father Gadenz has been on the faculty of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University, South Orange. He is currently associate professor of biblical studies, teaching various New Testament courses as well as biblical Greek. He is also a member of the formation faculty, assisting in the other areas of the seminarians’ training for the priesthood. Moreover, since 2015, he serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Translation of Scripture Text. He is also the author of various publications, including a forthcoming commentary on the Gospel of Luke in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series.

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Congratulations, Deacon John Zebrowski from your parish family at

St. Thomas More.

We thank you for your dedication in serving Amighty God and his people tirelessly for 35 years!!

May God continue to bless you as you carry on His work.

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St. Thomas More Church

Saint Thomas More Manalapan

The clergy & faithful of

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Father John J. Testa Father Father John John J. J. Testa Testa and The People of and and The The People People of of

CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH CORPUS CORPUS CHRISTI CHRISTI PARISH PARISH

Willingboro Willingboro Willingboro Ask God’s Blessings Upon Ask Ask God’s God’s Blessings Blessings Upon Upon REVEREND JOSEPH A. JAKUB REVEREND REVEREND JOSEPH JOSEPH A. A. JAKUB JAKUB As You Celebrate As As You You Celebrate Celebrate The 10thth Anniversary of Your Priestly Ordination The The 10 10th Anniversary Anniversary of of Your Your Priestly Priestly Ordination Ordination “May Your Dedication to The Lord and His People “May “May Your Your Dedication Dedication to to The The Lord Lord and and His His People People Continue to Flourish as You Grow in His Grace.”

Continue Continue to to Flourish Flourish as as You You Grow Grow in in His His Grace.”

Grace.”

P R I E S T S

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FATHER CESAR A. RUBIANO

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A N N IV E R S A R Y

FATHER JEFFREY J. KEGLEY

Father Jeffrey J. Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, was born in May 1959, in Red Bank to Leon and Kathryn Kegley.

Father Kegley attended St. Ann School, Keansburg, and graduated from Keansburg High School in 1978. He studied at the American Institute of Banking, New York Chapter, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Thomas Edison State College, Trenton. During this time, he remained active in his parish as a member of the choir and in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, which eventually led him to leave behind his career and embark on the path toward priesthood.

After completing his studies in Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange, Father Kegley was ordained a priest by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, May 18, 1996. He was then assigned to St. Mary Parish, Middletown.

In 2001, Father Kegley was named parochial vicar of St. Catharine Parish, Spring Lake, where he served for three months before being assigned to St. Veronica Parish, Howell, as parochial vicar. In 2004, Father Kegley was named administrator of Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, after a merger created St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish in 2005. Father Kegley was named pastor of the new parish. In 2012, Father Kegley returned to St. Mary Parish as pastor there, where he continues to serve. He also remains an active member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and in 2011 was appointed liaison with the Diocese of Trenton for the Charismatic Renewal.

FATHER VICENTE N. MAGDARAOG

Father Vicente N. Magdaraog, parochial vicar in St. Veronica Parish, Howell, was born in July 1964. He was raised in the Philippines, where he graduated from Bicol University, Legaspi City, with a bachelor’s degree in industrial education.

Having felt a call to the priesthood from an early age, Father Magdaraog chose to come to the United States in 1986 at the suggestion of Father Thomas Gier, a missionary priest and friend. Father Magdaraog began studying in Seton Hall University, South Orange, earning a bachelor’s degree in religious studies before pursuing theological studies in Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, Conn.

Father Magdaraog completed his preparation for the priesthood in Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, Dec. 14, 1996.

Upon his ordination, Father Magdaraog was assigned to serve as parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, where he spent six months before being named parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, in 1997.

After five years in Barnegat, Father Magdaraog was assigned to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade, in 2002. In 2006, he was named parochial vicar of St. Dorothea Parish, Eatontown, until his current assignment in St. Veronica Parish.

FATHER ARIEL F. ROBLES

Father Ariel F. Robles, who serves in St. James Parish, Red Bank, was born in April 1968, to Rene and Corazon Robles in Malolos, Philippines. He has five siblings.

Father Robles attended schools in the Philippines and began his preparation for the priesthood there in 1985 in Immaculate Conception Seminary, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He continued his studies in Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila, and received a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology in 1995.

Father Robles was ordained to the priesthood in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Manila, Philippines, July 31, 1996.

Following his ordination, Father Robles served as a professor and later as dean of studies in Immaculate Conception Seminary in the Philippines. He also served as a parochial vicar in several parishes in his home diocese from 1996 to 1998, and from 2004 to 2007.

In 2008, Father Robles came to the United States and received his current assignment as an adjunct priest in St. James Parish, Red Bank. Since 2008, he has also been pursuing post-graduate studies in Seton Hall University, South Orange.

Father Cesar A. Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, was born in October 1967 in San Juan Rioseco, Colombia. He is one of three children of Fanny A. de Rubiano and Gonzalo V. Rubiano.

He studied for the priesthood at Valmaria Major Seminary of the Eudist Fathers in Bogota, Colombia, and was ordained there for the Congregation of Jesus and Mary March 30, 1996, by Bishop Carlos Jose Ruiseco, now Bishop Emeritus of Cartagena de Ludias.

Father Rubiano was sent to live in the United States by his congregation shortly after his ordination. He was first assigned to the campus ministry program in San Diego State University. In 2000, he moved to New York and became a city and hospital chaplain; director of the Eudes Foundation, an outreach created by his congregation to minister to those with HIV/AIDS, and a domestic violence volunteer for the Brooklyn district attorney’s office.

After encouragement from Father Javier Diaz, a fellow Colombian priest and pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Trenton, Father Rubiano was appointed in 2007 as an adjunct priest in St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt.

Two months later, he was named diocesan coordinator of the Hispanic Charismatic Renewal based there.

In 2007, he was appointed secretary and master of ceremonies to Bishop John M. Smith and a member of the diocesan curia, and he resided in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton.

Incardinated into the Trenton Diocese by Bishop Smith on March 30, 2009, he was named temporary administrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish as he continued to serve with Bishop Smith. On Dec. 1, 2010, the official date of Bishop Smith’s retirement, Father Rubiano was appointed by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to continue serving Bishop Emeritus Smith.

Father Rubiano then began his doctoral studies in moral theology and bioethics in the Pontifical Academy, Rome. In 2014, he was named administrator of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, where he was named pastor in March, 2015.

FATHER MIGUEL VIRELLA, SVD

Divine Word Father Miguel Virella, pastor of Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, was born in July 1956 in Ciales, Puerto Rico.

Father Virella earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo., and a bachelor’s in theology from Universidad Intercontinental, Tlalpan, Mexico. He then earned a master of divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.

On Aug. 22, 1992, Father Virella made his first profession of vows with the Society of the Divine Word in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Techny, Ill. His profession of perpetual vows took place Sept.

16, 1995, in the same location.

He was ordained to the priesthood March 23, 1996 in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, and assigned upon ordination to St. Anthony Claret Parish, Lakewood.

Father Virella was later assigned to serve as parochial vicar in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, before being named pastor in Our Lady of Providence Parish, Neptune. In late 2011, he was also appointed as administrator pro tempore for St. Peter Claver and Holy Spirit Parishes, Asbury Park, in addition to retaining his leadership in his Neptune parish.

In July 2012, two parish mergers resulted in the opening of Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, and Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., appointed Father Virella as pastor of the new parish community.

Father Virella has served extensively in Hispanic ministry and is district superior of the Society of the Divine Word’s New Jersey District.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

Lives OF FAITH • S39

Congratulations & God’s choicest blessings as you celebrate your ordination anniversary in 2016!

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P R I E S T S

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FATHER JOSEPH A. JAKUB

Father Joseph A. Jakub was born in November 1977, in Long Branch and is one of five sons of Louis and Mary Jakub.

Father Jakub was raised in Eatontown and his family members have been longtime parishioners of St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch, where as a child he became an altar server. The family later moved to Hawaii, where they lived for three years before returning to Eatontown.

After attending the University of South Carolina for one year, Father Jakub transferred to Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. He eventually discerned a calling to the priesthood and continued his studies in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa., where he received a master of arts degree and master of divinity degree in systematic theology.

Father Jakub was ordained a priest May 20, 2006, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop John M. Smith. He was then assigned to serve as parochial vicar in St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, where he spent three years. During Father Jakub’s time in St. Aloysius, he was appointed to the newly formed Vocation Recruitment Committee, through which he oversaw the redesign of the vocation website, www.godiscallingyou.com, among other duties.

Also during Father Jakub’s time at St. Aloysius, he became a chaplain for the Diocese of Trenton Retrouvaille, a program for troubled marriages.

In June, 2009, Father Jakub was appointed as Catholic chaplain in Rider University and Notre Dame High School, both in Lawrenceville.

He was also named diocesan director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. In 2013, Father Jakub was named pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro.

As of July 1, he began a sabbatical to pursue further studies in Rome.

P R I E S T S

FATHER MICHAEL T. MCCLANE Father Michael T. McClane, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, was born in January 1979. He grew up in Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Park Ridge, in the Archdiocese of Newark.

After graduating from Park Ridge High School, he studied history in Princeton University. Father McClane then entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa., for one year before embarking on further study in the Pontifical North American College, Rome.

Father McClane was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Trenton

by Bishop John M. Smith May 20, 2006, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

He then began his first parish assignment as parochial vicar in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown. In 2007, Father McClane was assigned to advanced studies in canon law at The Catholic University of America, Washington, and in 2009 was appointed parochial vicar of Assumption Parish, New Egypt, and vice chancellor and defender of the bond of the Diocese of Trenton. When Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., arrived as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese in June 2010, Father McClane was selected to be his secretary and master of ceremonies, then was parochial vicar of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, and vice chancellor in canonical affairs in 2011. In 2014, Father McClane was named administrator in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and was appointed pastor the following year. In May 2016, he was appointed adjutant judicial vicar in addition to his responsibilities in Hamilton Square.

FATHER BRIAN P. WOODROW

Father Brian Patrick Woodrow, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown, was born in October 1979, in Red Bank, and was raised in Union Beach.

He attended Holy Family School, Union Beach, and graduated from Mater Dei High School (now Mater Dei Prep), New Monmouth.

Father Woodrow entered Seton Hall University, South Orange, where he received a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and philosophy, and continued his studies in Seton Hall’s Immaculate Conception Seminary, earning a master’s degree in systematic theology and a master of divinity degree.

Father Woodrow was ordained a priest May 20, 2006, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral by Bishop John M. Smith. He began his priestly ministry as parochial vicar of St. Rose Parish, Belmar.

In June 2010, he was assigned parochial vicar in St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor. The following year, he was named hospital chaplain to the Trenton-based Capital Health System, with residence in Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton. In 2013, Father Woodrow was appointed to his current position as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown. He also serves as the Diocese’s liaison to the Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

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CLASS OF 2011

Ordained June 4, 2011, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, members of the first class to be ordained by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., are marking their fifth anniversaries.

They are listed here, along with their current assignments:

Father H. Todd Carter, parochial vicar in Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton Father Carlos A. Florez, parochial vicar in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford Father Kevin J. Kimtis, pursuing a licentiate in canon law in the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome Father Fernando A. Lopez, pastor in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands Father Christopher P. Picollo, pastor in St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington Father John M. Testa, administrator in Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro

 Members of the ordination Class of 2011 are shown with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and his predecessor, Bishop John M. Smith, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. The newly ordained priests, the first six to be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop O’Connell, are from left, front, Father John M. Testa and Father Fernando A. Lopez; back, Father Carlos A. Florez, Father Christopher P. Picollo, Father H. Todd Carter and Father Kevin J. Kimtis. Bob Van Doren photo.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

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St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center thanks Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith for 55 years of service in the priesthood and 14 years as Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton.

His dedication, leadership and compassion have enriched the lives of many.

We are pleased to honor him for this special anniversary.

ather Muorah finds happiness, fulfillment through priesthood Continued from • S25 “When I went home,” he says, “both my father and grandmother said my mother had appeared to them at the same time she was admonishing me. Then my grandmother told me my mother’s dying wish. That’s when I knew I was meant to be a priest.”

It was also when Father Muorah began using prayer and meditation to quell the anger he had as a child, turning his energies instead toward evangelization, peace and social justice.

In 1991, he was ordained at Onitsha Archdiocese Nigeria.

After serving at a number of other parishes and as the director of the Archdiocesan Evangelization Office, he spent four years pursuing his studies in the Catholic Institute of West Africa, and in 2001, he was invited to join the Diocese of Trenton as an adjunct priest in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford. In 2007, he began serving in St. Isaac Jogues, Parish, Marlton, where he is today.

On June 25 of this year, Father Muorah celebrated his 25th anniversary as an ordained priest with a Mass of Thanksgiving, among family, friends, Nigeria-Igbo Catholic Community and parishioners in St. Isaac Jogues Church, where he continues to serve as associate pastor, minister to the sick, family counselor and champion of evangelizing the marginalized and the unchurched.

Most recently, with the blessing of Father Phillip C. Pfleger, the pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, he founded the Pastoral Ministry for the Nigeria-Igbo Catholic Community in the tristate area

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Fr. Charles Muorah – 25 years St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton

Then my grandmother told me my mother’s dying wish.

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Deacons Edward Heffernan & David Papuga – 10 years

Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown

Deacons John Bertagnoli, Jr. & Thomas Kolon – 5 years

Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown and preaches at parish missions in Nigeria and in the U.S. Father Muorah holds a doctorate of philosophy, licentiate in sacred theology, a master’s degree in theology, a post-graduate certification in education, and bachelor’s degrees in both theology and philosophy. He is also a licensed marriage and family therapist and has authored several publications on theology and evangelization.

J ohn P . N ap ol i F u n e r a l D ir e c to r N .J. L ic. N o. 5054

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The Redemptorist Fathers and Staff of SAN ALFONSO RETREAT HOUSE Congratulates Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith on his 55th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

We also congratulate all those celebrating Religious Anniversaries this year.

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JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

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Rev. Jeffrey Kegley, 20 years

Pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish-Middletown

Rev. Fernando Lopez, 5 years

Pastor of The Parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual HelpSt. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands

Deacons Charles Smith, 30 years & Carlo Squicciarni, 5 years

THE PARISH FAMILY OF ST. CATHARINE CHURCH HOLMDEL, NJ

Mary, Mother of God Parish- Middletown

ASKS GOD’S BLESSINGS UPON

Deacon John Mc Grath, 10 years

Deacon John Flanagan

Deacon Fernando Linka, 5 years

ON THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ORDINATION.

St. Catherine Church- Middletown

The Parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual HelpSt. Agnes- Atlantic Highlands

God’s Choicest Blessings G g On

RWJ Hamilton proudly joins The Monitor in honoring Deacon Jeffrey Pierfy for his many years of service to the hospital, the church and our community.

ith g tit de o o dedic tion nd ith l se ice ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HAMILTON

Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of RWJBarnabas Health and is affiliated with the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

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www.stbenedictholmdel.org

MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016

R eaching thou sand s in 5 0 years Continued from • S13

divorced and for people with addictions. In St. James, Msgr. Bacovin oversaw another, the construction of a facility to house religious education classes and parish meeting rooms.

Along with his pastor assignments, Msgr. Bacovin held diocesan duties including as director of the Office of Priest Personnel, the Diocesan Incardination Board, the Committee on Ministry in Non-Correctional and Health Care Institutions and vice chairman of the priest council. In June, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI bestowed papal honors on then-Father Bacovin, naming him a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of monsignor.

WONDERFUL AND CHALLENGING EXPERIENCES

Of his 50 years as a priest, Msgr. Bacovin is pragmatic when he says he has witnessed both “the best of times and the worst of times” in the life of the Church.

The best was witnessing the changes that came about as a result of the Second Vatican Council, he said, citing the various changes the council implemented.

“I was wonderfully positioned because I knew the classical Catholic Church in which I was raised. I knew where we were, where we were going and why we were going there. It was never changed for the sake of change.” The difficult time that left him shaken was when the clergy abuse scandal “hit the papers.”

“It was tough to wear the Roman Collar at times, but I wore it nonetheless,” he said, adding that he was “glad that this news, as bad as it was, came out. Had it not come out, I feared it would have continued, and who knows how many others would be hurt.”

Since retiring in 2012, Msgr. Bacovin has resided in Villa Vianney, the diocesan retirement facility for priests. He’s enjoyed time in Burlington County, serving for four years as chaplain in Holy Cross Academy, Delran, and helping with weekday Masses in Corpus Christi, Willingboro, and Jesus the Good Shepherd, Riverside. On weekends, he can be found in St. James Parish and in St. David the King Parish, West Windsor. Of any of his assignments, especially in parishes, Msgr. Bacovin said that it has been his prayer that “I was as good to the people as they were to me.”

Happy 30th Anniversary and Congratulations to

Deacon Tom Garvey THANK YOU We appreciate all you do.

Congratulations Congratulations to to Congratulations to Our Parochial Parochial Vicar Vicar Our OurCarlos ParochialA.Vicar Father Flores

Father Carlos A. Florez Father Carlos A. Flores on on your your Fifth Fifth Year Year Anniversary Anniversary

on your Year to Anniversary May God Continue Bless God Fifth Continue to Bless You You May May God Continue to Bless You Reverend Daniel F. Swift, Pastor Reverend Daniel F. Swift, Pastor Deacon Joseph Tedeschi Deacon JosephF.Tedeschi Reverend Daniel Swift, Pastor Deacon Kenneth Motylinski Deacon Kenneth Motylinski Deacon Joseph Tedeschi Deacon Timothy Collins TimothyMotylinski Collins DeaconKenneth Deacon Staff and Parishioners Staff and Parishioners Deacon Timothy Collins Staff and Parishioners 40 Jackson Road 40 Jackson Road08055 Medford, New Jersey Medford, New Jersey 08055 www.smlparish.org 40 Jackson Road www.smlparish.org Medford, New Jersey 08055 www.smlparish.org

“We Worship, We Believe, We Evangelize, We Serve”

From your friends at St. Anthony of Padua in Hightstown

Father Joseph A. Jakub

Father John Testa

The R.C.I.A. and Adult Confirmation Ministries of

Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, asks God’s blessings upon our former pastor, Father Joseph A. Jakub, who celebrates his 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination and to our new administrator, Father John Testa, on his fifth anniversary of priesthood.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

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25 Years Deacon K. Jerry Purcell

Congratulations on reaching these milestones.

35 Years

May God continue to bless you!

Deacon Ralph J. Cordasco

St. Francis of Assisi Parish BRANT BEACH

wishes to give thanks to

Deacon Robert Cunningham for 15 years of ministry & service.

From the clergy and parishioners of

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church • Whiting Rev. Pasquale A. Papalia, Pastor

20 Years St. Mary’s Church

of Bordentown would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to

Deacon Gary Richardson

for his 20 years of dedication to our Parish.

The Parish Community of

St. John’s R. C. Church, Lakehurst would like to congratulate

DEACON JAMES GONZALEZ on the 10th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Diaconate

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Happy ry! a s r e v i n An

D E A C O N S

th A N N I V E R S A R Y

DEACON JOSEPH A. CARD

Deacon Joseph A. Card was born in 1926 in Millbrook, N.Y., where he attended elementary and high school.

He graduated from high school in the midst of World War II and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. He served for 32 months before attending LaSalle University, Philadelphia, through the G.I. Bill. He studied languages and received a bachelor’s degree in French literature.

Deacon Card was ordained May 11, 1991, by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and has served in Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade.

As a deacon, he has been involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and interreligious activities, among other ministries. While he is presently retired, he continued to assist with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as with Bible study classes.

Deacon Card spent a time working for a steamship company, before taking a job as a manager of computer operations for an insurance company. He is now retired.

Deacon Card lives in Maple Shade. He has five children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His wife, Gilda, is deceased.

DEACON JEFFERY F. PIERFY

DEACON KYRAN JERRY PURCELL

Deacon Kyran Jerry Purcell was born in Orange in 1940 to parents Kyran and Angela. His sister, Mary, is deceased. He has one brother, Joseph.

Deacon Purcell attended Sacred Heart School, Newark; Archbishop Walsh High School, Irvington, and Seton Hall University, South Orange, before serving in the U. S. Army and the National Guard from 1961 to 1991.

Deacon Purcell was ordained May 11, 1991, by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and was assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting.

His ministry there has included assisting in parish catechesis programming, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process. He has also trained and supervised extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.

“As a deacon, I find my satisfaction is working with the parish youth ministry and spending quality time with the sick and homebound,” Deacon Purcell reflected. His ministry to the Whiting community has included weekly visits to the homebound, as well as leading weekly Communion services in two nursing home communities.

Since 1990, Deacon Purcell has served as an investigator for the Ocean County Election Board.

Deacon Purcell’s main hobby is gardening, though he also enjoys reading and researching American history and baseball. He has conducted genealogy research on his family dating back to 1800, and has traveled to 13 different countries.

DEACON DENNIS E. SLAVIN

Deacon Jeffery F. Pierfy of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, was born in Easton, Pa., in 1943 to parents Jeffrey and Melinda. He has a sister, June.

He attended Alpha Public School and Phillipsburg High School and Rider University, Lawrenceville, where he earned a bachelor of arts in journalism Following his graduation, Deacon Pierfy served as an English teacher, varsity baseball coach and junior varsity basketball coach in Phillipsburg Catholic High School before taking a job as director of public relations and advertising for a firm in Avenel. He then returned to his alma mater, Rider University, to serve as assistant vice president for development from 1968 to 1991.

Deacon Pierfy was ordained May 11, 1991, by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and was assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish.

His ministry has revolved, in large part, around ministering to the sick. He established a pastoral care program in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, serving as its director for 11 years. He also spent five years as executive director of the hospital’s foundation. The hospital chapel is named in his honor.

A certified chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Deacon Pierfy’s ministry also included coordinating the bereavement ministry and ministry to the sick in his home parish. Presently, he continued to volunteer one day a week as chaplain at St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton.

Other achievements include receiving a Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of Hamilton Township; his being named Hamilton Township Jaycee Citizen of the Year and earning two Distinguished Alumnus Awards from Rider University in 1999 and 2004

Deacon Dennis E. Slavin of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, was born in Trenton in 1947 to parents Edward and Anne. He attended Our Lady of Sorrows School, Mercerville, and St. Charles College High School, Catonsville, Md. He and his wife, Joan, reside in Bordentown. Their son, James D. Slavin, is deceased.

Deacon Slavin received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Bonaventure University, N.Y. He later took courses at LaSalle University, Philadelphia, and then earned a master’s degree in theology from Georgian Court University, Lakewood. His graduate thesis was recognzied as having been “completed with distinction” and “excellence in research.”

Deacon Slavin’s professional career included serving as an auditor for the state from 1969 to 1997; as benefits administrator for the Diocese of Trenton, business manager for Anchor House, a Trenton-based ministry that provides assistance to run-away and at-risk youth, and accountant for the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. As a parishioner and then as an ordained deacon, most of his ministries have centered on the Sacrament of Marriage. In the early 1980s, he and his wife served on their parish Pre-Cana team and the diocesan Engaged Encounter retreat, To Trust Again Pre-Cana and first Retrouvaille retreat teams.

He was ordained a deacon May 11, 1991, by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and was assigned to the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, where his ministry included assisting in the development of a parish Pre-Cana Team training curriculum, conduct of team training and of diocesan-level Pre-Cana days for engaged couples and training of FOCCUS facilitators. Deacon Slavin is a certified FOCCUS facilitator and a certified FOCCUS facilitator trainer. Concurrent with his years working in the Office of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, he served as an annulment advocate for the Office of Canonical Services and Tribunal, and a faculty member for the Ministry of Diaconate and a catechist for the Department of Evangelization and Catechesis.

His service to the Diocese was recognized in 2007 by Bishop John M. Smith with a Nostrum Ecclesiam Tempus Award.

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Congratulations to Deacon Robert B. Armstrong on your 20 years in the Diaconate

Ad Multos Annos

The Parish Family of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ

Congratulations on your 10th Ordination Anniversary, Deacon Ed Heffernan!

Thank you for your many years of leadership in your ministries, as a Deacon at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and as our diocesan representative at Jesus, Bread of Life Catholic Cemetery.

May the Lord watch over you and guide you as you continue His work.

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DEACON WILLIAM A. WILSON Deacon William A. Wilson was born in Trenton in 1934, to parents Charles and Dorothy and is the brother of Carl Wilson and Linda Place. He attended Junior No. 2, Trenton, and Trenton Central High School.

Deacon Wilson, who lives in Robbinsville with his wife, Cecelia, was ordained May 11, 1991, by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. He was assigned to his home parish of St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square.

His ministry has encompassed a range of activities, including service in the Holy Innocent Society in the 1980s, and with Martin House, an agency providing service to the poor in Trenton, in the 1980s and 1990s. He also spent 11 years as a leader in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults process; served as an

th D E A C O N S extraordinary minister of the Eucharist to nursing home residents and the A N N I V E R S A R Y homebound and as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is currently a member of the executive advisory council of the Trenton-based City of Angels addiction recovery community.

Deacon Wilson completed an apprenticeship program as a carpenter in 1956. For a period of time, he was self-employed before going on to serve as a foreman and superintendent for Piscataway-based firm EPIC Inc. He then spent 15 years serving as director of the Diocese of Trenton Department of Building and Construction, retiring in 2015.

Deacon Wilson is the father of three children and has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His hobbies include painting, drawing, bocce and golf.

D E A C O N S đ&#x;Œž Deacon Thomas D. Begley III

Town of Residence: Moorestown Wife’s Name: Ana Number of Children: 5 Home Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown Parish Where Ministering: Resurrection, Delran Current Ministries: Baptisms, marriage preparation, wake services and liturgy preparation Employment: Attorney, co-chair – Trusts and Estates Group, Capehart & Scatchard P.A., Mount Laurel

đ&#x;Œž Deacon James Campbell

Town of Residence: Toms River Wife’s Name: Francine Number of Children: 2 Home Parish: St. Justin the Martyr Current Ministries: Spiritual director and catechist in St. Justin Center of Learning, member of the diocesan Federation of Holy Innocents Society, bereavement minister

đ&#x;Œž Deacon Lawrence E. Gallagher

Town of Residence: Titusville Wife’s Name: Rose Number of Children: 6; Grandchildren: 1 Home Parish: St. George, Titusville Current Ministries: Adult education (Bible study), Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Baptismal preparation, marriage preparation, prison ministry, training extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and altar servers, ministering to the sick Employment: Retired from Mobil Research and Development Corporation in 2000 (chemical engineer). He currently helps his wife with babysitting their granddaughter.

A N N I V E R S A R I E S

đ&#x;Œž Deacon James Gonazlez

Town of Residence: Toms River Wife’s Name: Johanna Number of Children: 2; Grandchildren: 5 Home Parish: St. John, Lakehurst Current Ministries: Serves in a variety of ministries Employment: Retired from education field more than 16 years ago; currently works as a travel agent

đ&#x;Œž Deacon Edward Heffernan

Town of Residence: Mount Laurel Wife’s Name: Monica Number of Children: 3; Grandchildren: 5 Home Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown Current Ministries: Manage altar servers, ushers and sacristan ministries Employment: Manager of Jesus, Bread of Life Diocesan Cemetery, Mount Laurel

đ&#x;Œž Deacon John Kopcak

Town of Residence: Neptune City Wife’s Name: Karen Number of Children: 3; Grandchildren: 3 Home Parish: Ascension, Bradley Beach Ministries: Assisting at Mass, officiating at Baptisms, weddings, weekly Communion services at an area nursing home, wake services and committals; bringing the Eucharist to the homebound; Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; evening Lenten reflections; Sta-

tions of the Cross; weekly novenas; religious education Confirmation preparation Employment: Retired teacher in Middletown

đ&#x;Œž Deacon John McGrath

Town of Residence: Manchester Home Parish: St. Catherine Laboure, Middletown Current Ministries: Assist Father Daniel Hesko, pastor, with the Traditional Latin Rites as a deacon. Also assist with Novus Ordo Rites, wakes, funeral Masses, outreach to the elderly, Scripture studies for retirees.

Employment: Retired

đ&#x;Œž Deacon David F. Papuga

Town of Residence: Mount Laurel Wife’s Name: Annette Number of Children: 2; Grandchildren: 1 Home Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown Current Ministries: Social Outreach; assist at the 9 a.m. daily Mass Employment: Business manager in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish for the past 11 years

đ&#x;Œž Deacon Don Ronning

Town of Residence: Red Bank Wife’s Name: Delmar (deceased prior to ordination) Home Parish: St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank Current Ministries: Social concerns; marriage preparation; religious education; Secular Oratory of St. Philip Neri Employment: As of July 1, retired from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex Vicinage See Deacons • S50

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Continued from • S49

Best Wishes Best Wishes and and Congratulations Congratulations to to Deacon Deacon Bill Briggs Bill Briggs And And Deacon Deacon

D E A C O N S A N N I V E R S A R I E S

ð&#x;Œ¾ Deacon Stephen G. Scott

Town of Residence: Parlin Wife’s Name: Margaret Number of Children: 2 Home Parish: St. Benedict, Holmdel Ministries: Child and adult education; use of technology in school and parish; counseling; marriage preparation; bereavement; liturgy; music; Baptism preparation; scheduling; community building.

Employment: IT consultant, retired from At&T in 2015

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Delran

Congratulations to

Deacon John Hvizdos Deacon Gerald Doughty Deacon Carl Sondeen

For 15 Years of Service With Best Wishes!

Fr. Dan Kirk and Fr. Leo Dusheck and the Parish Community of

St. Charles Borromeo

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ð&#x;Œ¾ Deacon George J. Swanson

Town of Residence: Bayville Wife’s Name: Connie Number of Children: 3; Grandchildren: 6 Home Parish: St. Barnabas, Bayville Ministries: visits three nursing homes each week; pre-Cana; Interfaith Hospitality; instructs seventh and eighth grade religious education; Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; whole community catechesis; marriage preparation; assisting at Mass and preaching; Divine Mercy devotions; Stations of the Cross, serves at weekly morning Mass Employment: Retired See Deacons • S51

P ARISH C OMMUNITY of S AINT M ARY, M OTHER of G OD C HURCH

rejoices & congratulates

C

DEACON CHARLES J. SMITH

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on his 30 th Anniversary

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30

YEARS

SERVING OUR LORD

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SAINT MARY, MOTHER OF GOD PARISH MIDDLETOWN, NEW JERSEY

Continued from • S50

D E A C O N S

D E A C O N S A N N I V E R S A R I E S

A N N I V E R S A R I E S

đ&#x;Œž Deacon Steven K. Szmutko Town of Residence: Ewing Wife’s Name: Mary B. Number of Children: 3; Grandchildren: 3 Home Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel, West Trenton Current Ministries: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults coordinator; adult faith formation; write weekly reflections on Sunday Readings for parish bulletin; liturgical ministries Employment: Employer relations manager with Drexel University (LeBow College of Business) Office of MBA/MS Career Services. Also president and board member of Ewing Public Education Foundation (non-profit organization providing scholarships to graduating seniors and teacher grants in public schools); retired from New Jersey Economic Development Authority (assistant director)

đ&#x;Œž Deacon Francis J. Weber, Jr. Town of Residence: Freehold Wife’s Name: Debra Number of Children: 2 Home Parish: St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold Current Ministries: coordinator of the parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; Baptism preparation; assist with altar server training; assist with Baptisms, marriages, funerals (including wake services) Employment: The Monitor – advertising sales representative since 2007

đ&#x;Œž

35 Years

đ&#x;Œž Deacons ordained

May 16, 1981 by Bishop John C. Reiss Deacon John P. Flanagan (Ret.) • St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel Deacon Ronald Nowak • Epiphany Parish, Brick Deacon Neil J. Pirozzi • St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square Deacon Robert L. Tharp • St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton Deacon John J. Zebrowski • St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan Deacons ordained for the Archdiocese of Newark on April 11, 1981 Deacon Ralph J. Cordasco • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting Deacon Leo Montini

30 Years

đ&#x;Œž Ordained May 10, 1986, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop John C. Reiss Deacon Thomas J. Garvey • St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown Deacon Robert H. Lafond • St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell Deacon Salvatore Marcello • St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton

Ordained for the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY on April 12, 1986 Deacon Charles J. Smith • St. Mary Parish, Middletown

20 Years

đ&#x;Œž Ordained May 11, 1996 by Bishop John C. Reiss Deacon Robert B. Armstrong • St. Elizabeth Parish, Avon Deacon Frank E. Giglio (Ret.) • St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton Deacon Silverius F. Galvan • St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Lakewood Deacon James L. Casa • Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly Deacon James A. Manaloris • Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade Deacon James J. Littlefield • St. Veronica Parish, Howell Deacon Michael F. Mullarkey • Epiphany Parish, Brick Deacon Patrick J. Martin • St. Mary Parish, Barnegat Deacon John J. O’Donnell • Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport

Deacon William R. Rowley (Ret.) • Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly Deacon Gary T. Richardson • St. Mary Parish, Bordentown Deacon Anthony D. Vogel (Ret.) Ordained for the Diocese of Metuchen on May 5, 1996 Deacon John H. Hanna • St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Lavallette Deacon Robert J. Klein • St. Mary Parish, Barnegat Deacon James W. Hendrix, Jr. • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting

15 Years

đ&#x;Œž Ordained May 12, 2001 by Bishop John M. Smith Deacon William E. Briggs • Resurrection Parish, Delran Deacon James F. Cattanea • Resurrection Parish, Delran Deacon Robert Cunningham • St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Brant Beach Deacon Gerald A. Doughty • St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson Deacon Thomas J. Everist • St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville Deacon Edward A. Hoag • St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville Deacon John F. Hvizdos • St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson Deacon Thomas J. Lavelle, Jr. • St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton Deacon Uku R. Mannikus • St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson Deacon Carl R. Sondeen • St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson Ordained for the Diocese of Metuchen on June 9, 2001

Deacon Philip Fiore • St. Mary Parish, Barnegat

5 Years

đ&#x;Œž Ordained May 14, 2011 by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Deacon James Alessi • Deacon Adolfo Baeza • Deacon John F. Bertagnolli, Jr. • Deacon Luders Desire • Deacon James Gillespie • Deacon Thomas F. Kolon • Deacon Fernando Linka • Deacon Romeo B. Modelo, Jr. • Deacon Christian Nnajiofor • Deacon Carol Squicciarini • Deacon Edward H. Wilson • Deacon William Joseph Zapcic, Jr.

JULY 28, 2016 • TRENTONMonitor.com •

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NO ENTRY FEE NO ENTRY FEE

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

SCHEDULE YOUR TOUR TODAY SCHEDULE YOUR TOUR TODAY

OurMorris Continuum Care Community Welcomes Hall Meadows,of a new approach to nursing home living based Our Continuum of Care Community Welcomes on the GREEN HOUSE® model, congratulates Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith for 55 years of service in the priesthood and 14 years as Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton.

NOW ACCEPTING SCHEDULE NO ENTRY MorrisFEE Hall Meadows will be home to many of the retired priests in the diocese, as well as YOUR APPLICATIONS TOUR TODAY many lay people community. We welcome them to their new home.

Our Continuum of Care Community Welcomes We are open for tours of our beautiful homes.

THE GREEN HOUSE® APPROACH TO NURSING HOME LIVING. NOW ACCEPTING SCHEDULE YOUR NO ENTRY FEE APPLICATIONS THE HOUSE® APPROACH TO NURSING HOME LIVING. TOUR TODAY Our goal forGREEN each Morris Hall Meadows Elder is to have a meaningful life with as much Please contact mhadmissions@morrishall.org or call 609-712-1016.

Our goalover for each Hall Meadows Elder is Elders to havelive a meaningful life with as much autonomy his orMorris her activities as they choose. in actual homes offering more autonomy or herthan activities as they choose.

Elders live in24actual more privacyover and his comfort traditional nursing home settings. hour homes supportoffering from our privacy and comfort traditional nursing 24 hour support from our multi-disciplinary staff than of professionals, securityhome and asettings. stimulating array of daily activities multi-disciplinary staff ofatprofessionals, security and a stimulating array of daily activities make life Morris Hall Meadows enjoyable and fulfilling. make life at Morris Hall Meadows enjoyable and fulfilling.

Our Continuum of Care Community Welcomes

THE GREEN HOUSE® APPROACH TO NURSING HOME LIVING. THE GREEN HOUSE® APPROACH TO NURSING HOME LIVING. Our goal for each Morris Hall Meadows Elder is to have a meaningful life with as much Our goal autonomy for eachover Morris Hall Meadows to have meaningful life more with as much his or her activities as they Elder choose.is Elders live inaactual homes offering privacy than traditional nursing home settings. support from our autonomy over hisandorcomfort her activities as they choose.

Elders live24inhour actual homes offering more multi-disciplinary staff of professionals, security and a stimulating array of daily activities privacy and comfort than traditional nursing home settings. 24 hour support from our make life at Morris Hall Meadows enjoyable and fulfilling. more please visit usand at www.morrishall.org or of daily activities multi-disciplinaryFor staff of information professionals, security a stimulating array For more information please visit us atenjoyable www.morrishall.org or contact atMorris mhadmissions@morrishall org or (609) make lifeusat Hall Meadows and712-1016 fulfilling. contact us at mhadmissions@morrishall org or (609) 712-1016 S52

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