Priests celebrate Jubilees in 2023
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, sends his prayerful congratulations to the priests and religious who are celebrating their Jubilees this year. Cardinal Tobin is celebrating his 45th year as a beloved priest.
75 Years
Reverend Msgr. James C. Turro
Msgr. James Turro was born in Jersey City in 1922 and ordained to the priesthood in 1948 at St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral in Newark.
After receiving a licentiate in theology from the Catholic University of America and studying for two years in Rome, Msgr. Turro began teaching at Immaculate Conception Seminary/ Seton Hall in 1959 where he remained on staff for 60 years. He also served as a retreat master, providing spiritual guidance to thousands of priests, religious men and women, and laity. He became director of the seminary library in 1959, a position he held until 2004.
He also has taught at Fordham, Fairfield, La Salle and St. John’s — all universities — and Immaculata College. For many decades, Monsignor Turro taught part-time at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Pennsylvania; and at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut.
As for his priestly ministry, Msgr. Turro began by serving at Holy Trinity Church in Hackensack in 1948 before he went on to become a weekend assistant at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Park Ridge, where he has remained for more than 50 years. He is currently priest-in-residence at OLMC.
Msgr. Turro is the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Newark, recently celebrating his 101st birthday on Jan. 26.
70 Years
Bishop Domonic A. Marconi
Dominic Marconi was born on March 13, 1927, in Newark. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Thomas Boland for the Archdiocese of Newark on May 30, 1953.
During the 1970s, Father Marconi served as chaplain for St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in Jersey City. Father Marconi led the Vicariate of Union City with 43 parishes and was director of the archdiocese’s Division of Services to the Elderly. He was also on the Board of Consultors and Presbyteral Council.
In 1976, Pope Paul VI appointed Father Marconi as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark and titular bishop of Bure. He was consecrated by Archbishop Peter Gerety.
On July 1, 2002, when he reached the mandatory retirement of 75 for bishops, he retired as auxiliary bishop of Newark.
60 Years
Reverend Kevin P. Ashe
Father Kevin P. Ashe was ordained on May 25, 1963.
Father Ashe’s education includes Seton Hall Prep, Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ.
His parish assignments have been at Little Flower Berkeley Heights, (Jaycee Man of the Year 1968) and (Member of Union County Children Shelter); Saint Paul’s Greenville, Jersey City. While there established the Greenville House – a resource center, helped to establish a municipal housing court and housing resources and was publisher of the Greenville Gazette.
Father was appointed Pastor of Holy Family Church Union City. While there established the Park Performing Arts Center, was Chaplin for the Police and Fire Departments, and became Executive Director, Park Performing Arts Center. Since retirement, Father Ashe is a Founding Member of Seeds of Service, Brick, NJ and helps local Catholic Parishes.
Father Kevin Ashe received a Lifetime Achievement Award for establishing the Park Performing Arts Center and America’s longest running production of the Park’s Passion Play, which won an award as one of the top 100 tours from the American Bus Association. Father Kevin raised more than $1 million for capital improvements and program expansion to bring even more arts programs to an urban area largely devoid of other cultural opportunities. He also established the Northeast Folk Art Center at the Park, which earned the coveted Governor’s Tourism Award. Today. The Park Performing Arts Center continues to be a rich cultural center where audiences enjoy performances, exhibitions, educational workshops and historical displays. Father Ashe assumed the role of full-time executive director for the Park Performing Arts Center.
Reverend John P. Holian
Father John P. Holian was ordained: May 25, 1963.
He attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, Mahwah.
Father Holian served as Associate Pastor at Annunciation Parish, Paramus; Our Lady of Mercy, Park Ridge; Saint Michael’s, Newark and Saint Catherine of Siena, Cedar Grove.
Father served as Pastor at Saint Peter Claver in Montclair.
Father Holian also served as Chaplain at Overlook Hospital, Summit, and was a weekend assistant Our Lady of Lourdes at Mountainside.
Reverend Thomas J. Norton
Father Thomas J. Norton was ordained on May 25, 1963, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Basilica by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland.
Father earned his B.A. degree from Seton Hall University; his M.Div. at Immaculate Conception Seminary and his D.Min. from Drew University at Madison.
Father Norton’s assignments include Church of Lady of Good Counsel, Township of Washington; Chaplain, Coordinator of Pastoral Care at Pascack Valley Hospital, Westwood and served on the Archdiocese Matrimonial Tribunal.
Father retired in 2007.
He has assisted at Saint John the Baptist Church, Hillsdale, and is currently assisting at Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Washington Township and Saint Pius X Church, Old Tappan.
Father is currently Chaplain, Township of Washington Police and has also served as Chaplain, Bergen County Police Chiefs Assn.; Chaplain, Bergen County P.B.A. Conference; Chaplain, Bergen County, P.B. A. Local #206; Chaplain Assoc. – Honor Legion – Police Depts – State of NJ.
Reverend Msgr. Richard M. Liddy
Msgr. Richard M. Liddy was ordained Dec. 18, 1963.
He attended Seton Hall University Immaculate Conception Seminary and North American College. He received a License in Theology and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Gregorian University. His doctoral dissertation from the Gregorian University in Rome was on the philosophy of art of the American philosopher, Susanne K. Langer, from the viewpoint of Bernard Lonergan.
Monsignor was assigned to Immaculate Conception Seton Hall University where he taught philosophy and was spiritual director and rector of the seminary.
He was the founder of the Center for Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University and chaplain of the men’s basketball team for several years.
Msgr. Liddy was also the spiritual director of the North American College in Rome, and he was Senior Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University.
In 1993 he published “Transforming Light: Intellectual Conversion in the Early Lonergan” and in 2007 “Startling Strangeness: Reading Lonergan’s Insight.”
Msgr. Liddy is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Newark and Emeritus Professor of Seton Hall University.
Reverend Joseph O’Brien
Father Joseph O’Brien was ordained on Aug. 18, 1963.
He attended Mt. Carmel College, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, St. Bonaventure University, Olean, New York, White Friars Hall, Washington, D.C. and Georgetown University – School of Foreign Service – Washington, D.C.
Father O’Brien’s assignments include Parochial Vicar at Parroquia Santo Cura de Ars, Santiago, Chile and St. Cecilia Church, Englewood, N.J. Pastor at St. Patrick Church, Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada, St. Joseph Church in Bogota, N.J., St. Cecilia Church in Englewood, N.J., Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Franklin Lakes, N.J. and St. Therese Church in Cresskill, N.J
Father O’Brien served on the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Newark and as Episcopal Vicar of Eastern Bergen County. He received papal honors with the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. He currently serves as the Director of Carmelite Missions.
*Reverend James Gessler
Reverend Francis J. Burla
Reverend Raymond T. McKeon
Reverend Hilary Milton
Reverend John P. Ryan
Reverend Oscar G. Magnan
Reverend Ian Boyd
55 Years
Reverend James J. Reilly
Father James J. Reilly was ordained on May 25, 1968.
He attended Seton Hall University and seminary at Immaculate Conception Darlington where he received his Bachelor of Sacred Theology.
Father Reilly advanced degrees consist of a S.T.L. and a M.CH.A. from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and a M.P.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Rutherford.
Father Reilly served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Valley, Orange; Notre Dame, North Caldwell; Our Lady of Sorrows, Kearny; and St. Mary’s, Bayonne. He served in residence at Holy Cross, Harrison, and pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows, Kearny.
Father “JJ” served as a chaplain with campus ministry at Kean University/Union County College, Bloomfield College/Upsala College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Saint Joseph’s Home in residence.
He served as chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council 3187 in Hillside; Knights of Columbus Council 4th degree of North Arlington, Secaucus, and Kearny; and Red Bull Soccer Team in Harrison.
His appointments include Director of the U.S. Bishop’s Fund for Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and member of NJ Governor’s Advisory Council for Community Service and Volunteerism.
Reverend Msgr. Robert J. Wister
Msgr. Robert Wister was ordained on Dec. 20, 1968.
He attended Seton Hall Divinity School, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, North American College and Gregorian University. He received a Doctorate of Church History from Gregorian University.
Msgr. Wister’s assignments included Mount Carmel in Montclair and Ascension in New Milford. His appointments include Immaculate Conception Seminary faculty both in Darlington and South Orange.
He is a member of the National Catholic Education Association, Washington, D.C.
Reverend Paola Giovanni Pezzi
Reverend Albert J. Berner
Reverend Michael J. German
Reverend Donald P. Sheehan
Reverend W. Jerone Bracken
Reverend William A. McKenna
Reverend Bogumil Chusciel
50 Years
Reverend Charles McDermott
Charles McDermott was born in Irvington in 1947 but grew up in Union. He attended St. Michael’s School, and Roselle Catholic, where he was the first graduate to be ordained a priest.
He then attended Seton Hall and Darlington and served his diaconate at St. John’s in Linden and was ordained in 1973.
Father Charles McDermott was assistant pastor at St. Peter’s, River Edge; Sacred Heart, Vailsburg; and St. Rose, Short Hills. He was a chaplain at Essex Catholic Girls, Irvington; St. Aloysius, Jersey City; and St. Anne, Jersey City. Father was an assistant and pastor at St. Michael’s in Union and is now pastor emeritus there.
He is also the chaplain to the Union Fire Department, and to the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Reverend Msgr. Timothy J. Shugrue
Msgr. Timothy J. Shugrue was ordained on May 26, 1973.
He attended Seton Hall University, Immaculate Conception Seminary, and received a M.A. in Systematic Theology also at the Immaculate Conception Seminary,
Msgr. Shugrue has served as parochial vicar at St. Aedan Parish, Jersey City; Students’ Chaplain at Essex Catholic High School, Newark and East Orange; director, permanent diaconate, preparation program director with the Office of the Permanent Diaconate; parochial vicar at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Parish, Bayonne; pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish, Montclair; and parochial vicar and pastor at St. Michael Parish, Cranford.
Reverend Msgr. Richard J. Arnhols
Msgr. Richard J. Arnhols was ordained May 26, 1973.
Msgr. Arnhol graduated from Seton Hall University in South Orange with a B.A. in Classical Languages. He received an M. Div. in Pastoral Ministry from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Mahwah.
He served as a transitional deacon at St. Augustine in Union City. His assignments include parochial vicar at Holy Family in Union City and Immaculate Conception in Elizabeth, temporary administrator at St. John the Apostle in Linden, and pastor at St. Patrick in Elizabeth and St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield.
Msgr. Arnhol was also the Archdiocesan Vicar for Pastoral Life and served through the years as dean and member of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors, Advocate Advisory Board, Catholic Cemeteries Board, and Redemptoris Mater Pastoral Council.
Reverend Joseph James McConnell
Reverend John R. O’Connell
Reverend George J. Ruane
Reverend George Idzik
Reverend Sebastian Kunnath
40 Years
Reverend Joseph D. Girone
Father Joseph D. Girone was ordained on May 28, 1983.
Father Girone received his B.A. from Fordham University, Bronx, New York and an advanced degree is an M.Div. from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Mahwah.
Father has served as Parochial Vicar at Saint John the Baptist, Jersey City; Holy Trinity, Hackensack; Saints Peter and Paul, Hoboken and Saint Mary of the Assumption, Elizabeth.
His appointments as pastor have been at Saint Peter, Belleville; Holy Cross/Saint Anthony, Harrison/East Newark and Saint Rocco, Union City. He has also served as dean three times for the Archdiocese and has served on the Archdiocesan College of Consultors and the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council.
Father Girone has also served as Spiritual Director for Movimiento de Retiros Parroquiales Juan XXIII and Hudson County Hispanic Curia of the Legion of Mary.
Reverend Bruce Janiga
Father Bruce Janiga was born in Bayonne and attended St. Vincent de Paul Church and school. In his home parish, his faith was supported by his family as well as the parish priests and the Sisters of St Joseph of Chestnut Hill. A graduate of Marist High School, and Seton Hall’s College Seminary, he continued his studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah.
He was ordained a priest on Nov. 19, 1983. He completed his course of studies the next year, earning a master’s degree in theology with a concentration in sacred scripture, inspired by the excellent scripture professors at the seminary.
His first assignment was St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Cedar Grove where he began offering adult Bible studies at the request of parishioners. He also established a youth group during his time there and organized trips to the Holy Land, the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Alaska, and the Greek Isles, which brought many people together. While still in the parish he taught scripture part time for the Archdiocese of New York in a program for lay students pursuing a master’s degree and filled in one semester at Dunwoodie Seminary teaching a class on the Old Testament.
He was assigned as a professor at Seton Hall Prep. While teaching there he continued to do adult education Bible studies, and served as a contributing writer to Ministry & Liturgy Magazine, writing a monthly column on the Sunday readings. After 20 years of teaching, he left and took a sabbatical before returning to parish ministry, first as a parochial vicar at Holy Spirit in Union and then as pastor of Madonna in Fort Lee, which included the position of director of the parish cemetery. Currently, he is pastor of St Philip the Apostle in Saddle Brook.
Outside of his Church work, he has been involved with the theater community, contributing to a website and a magazine devoted to the composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. He also served as webmaster for achorusline.org in partnership with one of the original cast members.
Reverend Aro Nathan
Father Aro Nathan was ordained on July 7, 1983.
He attended Saint Britto College in Madurai, India. He studied philosophy at Saint Peter’s Seminary, regency at Saint Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Cuddalore, India, and theology at Saint Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology in Bangalore, India.
Father Nathan was assigned 18 Years in India as parochial vicar, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral Pondicherry, Our Lady of Refuge Church, and as pastor at Our Lady of Miracle Parish, Our Lady of Mugaiyur Magimai Madha Shrine.
His assignments in the United States span 22 years and include chaplain at Saint Mary’s in Orange, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Orange, Saint James Hospital in Newark, Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, and Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Montclair.
Reverend Paul A. Cannariato
Father Paul A. Cannariato was ordained Nov. 19, 1983, after attending Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah.
Father Cannariato has a master’s degree in divinity.
His assignments include parochial vicar at St. Michael Cranford, St. John the Baptist in Jersey City, and St. Henry’s in Bayonne. He has been a pastor at St. Mary’s in Closter and Assumption in Emerson.
Reverend Edmund W. Majewski
Reverend Martin Schratz, O.F.M. Cap.
30 Years
Reverend Jose Erlito Ebron
Father Jose Erlito Ebron was ordained Sept. 24, 1993.
He attended St. Francis De Sales Regional College Seminary in Lipa City, Philippines and St. Alphonsus School of Theology – Lucena City, Philippines.
Father Ebron received a Licentiate in Social Communication from Pontificia Università Della Santa Croce, Rome
His has been assignments have varied from communications to teaching to pastoral.
In the Philippines, Father Ebron was a Team Ministry Moderator in St. Roche Parish; Vice-Chancellor/Secretary at the Diocese of Lucena, Director of Commission on Social Communication in the Diocese of Lucena; Director of Diocesan Radio DWVM-FM in Lucena; Chaplain at Sacred Heart College BED in Lucena; and instructor at St. Alphonsus School of Theology.
In the Archdiocese of Newark, Father Ebron has been parochial vicar at St. Theresa Church in Kenilworth, pastor – St. Raphael Church in Livingston, and pastor at St. Joseph Church in West Orange.
Reverend Thomas A. Dente
Father Thomas Dente was ordained on May 29, 1993.
He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grade School, Oakland; Don Bosco Prep High School, Ramsey; Seton Hall University (BA English Lit.) and Immaculate Conception Seminary (M. Div.).
His advanced degrees include Notre Dame University (MA Liturgical Theology) and Saint John’s University (Certificate Sacred Art & Architecture).
Father Dente has served as parochial vicar at Saint Elizabeth, Wyckoff; secretary to the archbishop; weekend assistant, Saint Margaret of Cortona, Little Ferry; chaplain, Immaculate Heart Academy & Saint Joseph Regional High School; residence and weekend assistant, Saint John the Baptist, Hillsdale; parochial vicar, Saint John the Baptist, Hillsdale; assistant director, Worship Office; residence and weekend assistant at Our Lady of Czestochowa, Jersey City; weekend assistant, Saint Bartholomew, Scotch Plains; residence, Saint Joseph Maplewood.
His current assignments include Director of the Worship Office; pastor, Notre Dame, North Caldwell; and adjunct faculty at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.
He participates in the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions; Archdiocesan liturgical Commission; and “Words on Worship” Podcast.
Reverend Camilo L. Lopez
Father Camilo (aka Father Miles) was ordained May 29, 1993.
Father Miles was born and raised in the Bicol Region, Philippines. He received his bachelor’s degree from Divine Word College of Legazpi, Legazpi City, Philippines, where he majored in Political Science. After his graduation from college, he migrated to the U.S.A.
Once in the United States, he attended Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. There he obtained a Master of Divinity Degree. Father was ordained to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Newark.
Father has served as a Parochial Vicar at Saint Augustine’s Church in Union City; Church of the Madonna in Fort Lee; Saint Vincent De Paul Church in Bayonne; and Church of the Assumption in Emerson.
Father Miles came to Saint Michael’s Parish, Union in the summer of 2016, where he currently serves.
Reverend Peter Joseph Palmisano
Father Peter Joseph Palmisano was ordained on May 29, 1993.
Father Palmisano graduated from Saint Francis of Assisi Grammar School, Hoboken and attended Saint Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, as well as Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and Minor in Language Arts upon graduation. Returning to Saint Peter’s, he earned a master’s in education & Supervision, while teaching in the Hoboken Public School system for eight years. Post his public-school teaching, he attended Immaculate Conception Seton Hall University, where he earned a Master of Divinity and entered the seminary.
Father’s assignments include Saint Joseph, Oradell; Most Blessed Sacrament, Franklin Lakes; and currently as pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Virgin, Garfield.
He is a partner with his brother Frank Palmisano of IL TAVOLO DI PALMISANO in Hoboken.
Reverend Msgr. Beaubrun Ardouin
Msgr. Beaubrun Ardouin, known as Father Beau, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He attended Petit Seminaire College St. Martial, College Catt’s Pressoire, and Faculté de Medecine in Port-au-Prince.
After graduating from Instituto Lope de Vega in Port-au-Prince, he moved to the United States, to Spring Valley, N.Y., in 1980. He attended Rockland Community College, in Suffern, N.Y.; and Columbia University (Pre-Med), in Manhattan. He worked with Mentally Handicapped, at Letchworth Village Development Center in Thiells, N.Y., until 1988, the year when he entered the Seminary.
Father Ardouin spent five years at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, in Cromwell, Conn., where he graduated with a master’s in divinity and a master’s in theology. During his years in the Seminary, Father Ardouin worked in the summer at St. Michael Parish, in Cranford; St. Thomas the Apostles, in Bloomfield; St Stephen, in Kearny. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark, on May 29, 1993.
As a priest, Father Ardouin’s first assignment was at St. Joseph the Carpenter’s parish, in Roselle, where he spent 6 ½ years as Parochial Vicar. During that time, he was Chaplain for the Police Department in Roselle, Chaplain for the St. Joseph the Carpenter’s Knights of Columbus Council 3946, in Roselle, and Associate Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Newark. Father Ardouin was transferred to the Church of Holy Spirit/Our Lady Help of Christians, in East Orange, still as a Parochial Vicar. He was appointed administrator then pastor of St. Leo’s Church, in Irvington.
Father Ardouin was Associate Chaplain for the Supreme Council of the Columbiettes, throughout the United States. He was also a Professor of Religion at St. Patrick High School, in Elizabeth, from 1993 to June 2003. He was the coordinator of the Haitian Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Newark
He was a Youth/Young Adult Task Force member. Father Ardouin served on the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Newark. Until July 2013, Fr. Beau served on the Priestly Vocation Board of the Archdiocese of Newark. Msgr. Ardouin is still a pastorate at Saint Leo Parish.
On June 4, 2009, Father Ardouin was granted the title “Reverend Monsignor.”
Currently, Father Ardouin is the Spiritual Director for the Lay Missionaries of Charity. He was Chaplain for the Bloomfield Columbiettes (Knights of Columbus women’s branch). He is chaplain for the newly founded Knights of Columbus St. Pope John Paul II Council, in Irvington.
Reverend Edmondo Sombilon
Father Edmondo Sombilon entered the seminary in 1985 and was ordained in 1993.
He has degrees in Philosophy and Theology.
Father Sombilon is pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Lee.
Reverend Ranulfo D. Docabo
Reverend Bartley P. Baker
Reverend Frederick A. Pfeifer
Lt. Ulysses L. Ubalde, CHC, USN
Reverend James P. Whelan
Reverend Jaroslaw Zaniewski
Reverend Francis Flood
Reverend Frank Wright
25 Years
Very Reverend Dieuseul Adain
Father Dieuseul Adain was ordained on June 28, 1998 at the Cathedral of Remembrance of Gonaives.
He studied Management Information at the “Infotec” Faculty in Gonaïves at the same time he spent two years at the Faculty of Law of Gonaïves where he studied Civil Law. He was responsible for a presbyteral school for the laity in the work hall of the Cathedral of Gonaïves. Father spent a year in the Propaedeutic in the Diocese of Hinche as the first step in his journey to the priesthood.
Father obtained a Diploma in Philosophy and Theology from the Gregorian University affiliated to the Grand Séminaire Notre Dame D’ Haiti. He was ordained Deacon at the Cathedral of Gonaïves.
He studied English and studied Spanish for a year at Union County College. Father Adain speaks 4 languages: Haitian Creole, French, English and Spanish.
His assignments and ministries include Parochial Vicar at Saint Michel De L’attalaye-Parochial Vicar in Saint Marc, Haiti; Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Michael in Elizabeth; Parochial Vicar at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Newark. He then returned to the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Michael in Elizabeth.
He is the first Haitian Dean of the City of Elizabeth to coordinate pastoral care in the 10 parishes of the City. Soon he was appointed administrator Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Michael in Elizabeth, then temporary administrator of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Patrick, Elizabeth. He was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Michael, Elizabeth and re appointed temporary administrator of the parish of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Patrick in Elizabeth.
Reverend Leo J. Butler
Father Leo J. Butler was ordained on May 23, 1998.
Father attended Seton Hall University where he received his B.A. degree.
He received an M. Div. advanced degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary.
His assignments include Saint Peter’s, Belleville; Our Lady of the Visitation in Paramus; Paramus Catholic High School, Paramus; Immaculate Conception, Norwood; and Church of the Annunciation, Paramus.
Reverend Antonio ‘Tony’ Ricarte
Father “Tony” was ordained on June 16, 1998, in Cebu City, Philippines.
He attended Seminario Mayor De San Carlos in Cebu City.
Advanced degree is a Licentiate in Missiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.
He then became the private secretary to the Archbishop of Cebu, Philippines.
Since in the United States, Father has served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph Church, New Milford/Oradell; Sacred Heart Church, Haworth; Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Garfield; and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland.
Father was the appointed School Chaplain for Bergen Catholic High School, Oradell and is currently serving at pastor at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Maywood.
Reverend Zephyrin Katompa
Father Zephyrin Katompa was ordained on May 23, 1998.
He attended Seton Hall University in South Orange and seminary at Redemptoris Mater in Kearny.
Father Katompa’s assignments include Holy Rosary/ St. Michael in Elizabeth, St. Anthony of Padua in Union City, and Ste. Roseline in Toulon, France. He is currently at St. Peter Claver in Montclair.
Reverend Paul Passant
Father Paul Passant was ordained on May 23, 1998, after attending Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Kearny.
His assignments include St. Valentine’s in Bloomfield, Our Lady Star of the Sea in Bayonne, St. John the Apostle in Linden, and Itinerant Missionary in Louisiana, Arizona, and Ohio. He is currently in the Missio sui iuris, in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Very Reverend Robert Wolfee
Father Robert Wolfee was ordained on May 23, 1998, after attending Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange.
He received a Master of Divinity at Seton Hall University in South Orange and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Rutherford.
Father Robert Wolfee has served as a parochial vicar at Holy Trinity in Hackensack, Our Lady of the Lake in Verona, St. Andrew in Bayonne, and St. Michael the Archangel in Union and as pastor at Sacred Heart in Haworth, Sacred Heart in Rochelle Park, and St. Michael the Archangel in Union.
Father Wolfee has also served as a judge on the Archdiocese of Newark Metropolitan Tribunal and dean of the Northern Valley Deanery 2N.
Reverend José Wilson Bello Celis
Father José Wilson Bello Celis was ordained Nov. 21, 1998, after attending Major Seminary “Maria Immaculate” in Pereira Risaralda, Colombia.
Father has a Bachelor of Theology and specialization in Dogmatic Theology from Pontifical Bolivarian University in union with the Popular Catholic University of Risaralda.
He has been a parochial vicar at Nuestra Senora del Carmen Parish in Anserma Caldas, Colombia; pastor of Santa Clara de Asís Parish in Pereira Risaralda, Colombia; Chaplain of the Men’s Prison in Pereira, Colombia.
In the U.S., Father has been the parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception in Elizabeth, Saint Paul of the Cross in Jersey City, and Transfiguration Parish in Newark.
Reverend Emmanuel Bornhauser
Reverend Stephen A. Carey
Reverend Ordanico de la Pena
Reverend Attilio Morelli
Reverend Ewald Randi
Reverend Roberto Santamaria
Reverend Luis Alberto Vargas
Editor’s note: Biographies were submitted to Jersey Catholic by the priests. Where name only is listed, the priest did not submit information to Jersey Catholic.
