Archdiocese thanks, bids farewell to Bishop Saporito
“I may be leaving Newark, but Newark will never leave me,” said Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito as he said goodbye to the people of the Archdiocese of Newark less than a week before his installation as the sixth Bishop of Metuchen.
He spoke during a special Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell, celebrated on Oct. 17 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, presided at the liturgy. He was joined by Bishop Saporito and Bishop Emeritus Gregory J. Studerus, along with numerous priests and deacons, many from parishes where Bishop Saporito served over the years.
Many religious and members of the faithful also attended the liturgy to honor a man who had devoted his life to serving the people of the Newark archdiocese.
Building up the body of Christ
Bishop Saporito, age 64, was born in Newark and raised in Bloomfield, NJ. Following his ordination in 1992, he served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark in the early years of his ministry. He was later appointed pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Maplewood, where he served for nearly seven years and then pastor of Saint Helen Parish in Westfield for nine years. He was appointed auxiliary bishop in 2020.
Following his episcopal consecration, Bishop Saporito served as the regional bishop of Bergen County. Cardinal Tobin also assigned him to lead the implementation of the Archdiocese of Newark’s We Are His Witnesses initiative.
Referring to this work, Cardinal Tobin said to the bishop during his homily:
“You didn’t just manage a program; you walked with people, listened to them and challenge us all to become intentional, courageous missionary disciples. You leave behind the legacy of a Church that is more alive, more aware of its baptismal calling, and more anchored in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“This rich experience of building up the body of Christ is the beautiful, hard-won gift you now carry with you as you prepare to cross the river,” the Cardinal continued. “You have taught us how to be witnesses; now, you go to show Metuchen how to do the same.”
Called ‘to trust once again’
During remarks near the end of Mass, Bishop Saporito expressed his gratitude to all those who “welcomed me into your lives, into your homes, and into your hearts.” He also thanked Cardinal Tobin for his “example and guidance,” and his brother priests for their support, dedication, and friendship.
“I must say that no matter how tough things were, I’ve always felt like every assignment has gotten me ready to face the next chapter,” Bishop Saporito said. “So, the Lord Jesus, who has been consistently faithful to me, has called me to trust Him once again. I don’t know what awaits me in Metuchen, but I know who has been there before I step foot into an office or parish.”
“Thank you for your love. Thank you for being here tonight. Thank you for making me who I am today,” Bishop Saporito concluded. “May God bless you. May His mother watch over us, and may our witness as the body of Christ draw others to the love that takes our breath away.”
A man of humility and ‘a deep love for the Lord’
A reception followed the farewell Mass, giving clergy, seminarians, and guests an opportunity to personally congratulate Bishop Saporito and wish him well.
Fr. Joseph Meagher is the pastor of Saint Antoninus Parish in Newark. He and Bishop Saporito were classmates for five years in the seminary and were both ordained in 1992.
“Bishop Michael has a deep love for the Lord and for his Church, and he’s also a man of courage, open to the work of the Holy Spirit in surprising ways,” said Fr. Meagher. “He is a person who thinks outside the box, looking beyond how things were done yesterday, while also working within the institutional realities.”
Others present emphasized the bishop’s unpretentious style and dedication to his ministry.
“I’ve known Bishop Michael for about 25 years,” said Martha, a parishioner at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in River Edge. Recalling the bishop’s ministry there as a parochial vicar in the 1990s, she said she had “never met anyone who is more humble and so full of God’s grace,”
Cardinal Tobin echoed the sentiment. “He’s open, he’s humble, he takes preaching very seriously, and really prepares for it,” he told Jersey Catholic during the reception. “The priests of Metuchen will find him to be a good brother and father figure.”
To view more photos of Bishop Saporito’s farewell Mass and reception, CLICK HERE.
Bishop Saporito’s brother auxiliary bishops also issued congratulatory messages and tributes.
You can watch video highlights of the farewell Mass below:
Featured image: The Archdiocese of Newark held a Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell for Bishop Michael A. Saporito on Oct. 17. (Photos by Julio Eduardo Herrera / Archdiocese of Newark)
