With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars.

On this website you will find a number of resources to aid your parish’s celebration of the year for priests. There is also information regarding events for priests that will occur throughout the Year for Priests.

Please pray for our priests that they might always be faithful to their sacred calling.

Pope Benedict XVI Honors 28 in the Archdiocese of Newark

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has bestowed the honorary title of Reverend Monsignor upon 18 priests of the Archdiocese of Newark, and further elevated two Monsignors of the Archdiocese.  The Pontiff also honored eight Religious priests, Brothers and Sisters with the Benemerenti Medal for Religious Men and Women.

The rank of Monsignor honors a priest with one of three different titles: Chaplain to His Holiness, Prelate of Honor, and Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary.  Among the 20 priests honored, one is named Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary, four are named Prelate of Honor, and 15 are named Chaplain to His Holiness.

Elevated in rank from his previous honor as Prelate of Honor to that of Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary is Reverend Monsignor Ronald J. Rozniak, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Ridgewood, Vicar General for “mission sui juris” – Turks & Caicos Islands, and Episcopal Vicar for Healthcare & Social Services.

Elevated in rank from his previous honor as Chaplain to His Holiness to that of Prelate of Honor is Reverend Monsignor William J. Fadrowski, Pastor, Queen of Peace Parish, North Arlington.
Honored as Prelates of Honor to His Holiness with the title of Reverend Monsignor are:

Reverend Monsignor Kevin M. Hanbury
Vicar for Education, Superintendent of Schools

Reverend Monsignor Anthony J. Kulig
Immaculate Conception Seminary – Formation Faculty, Director of Liturgy

Reverend Monsignor James O. Sheerin
Retired

Honored as Chaplains to His Holiness with the title of Reverend Monsignor are:
Reverend Monsignor Michael A. Andreano
Vice-Chancellor & Secretary to the Archbishop

Reverend Monsignor Beaubrun Ardouin
Pastor, St. Leo’s Parish, Irvington; Coordinator, Haitian Apostolate

Reverend Monsignor Peter Baldacchino
Pastor, Our Lady of Divine Providence Church, Providenciales; Chancellor, ‘missio sui juris’- Turks & Caicos Islands

Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Chapel
Professor, Academic Dean, Immaculate Conception Seminary

Reverend Monsignor Anthony J. Figueiredo
Pontifical Council Cor Unum, Vatican City

Reverend Monsignor David C. Hubba
Pastor, St. Mary’s Parish, Nutley

Reverend Monsignor Christopher J. Hynes
Adjunct Professor, SHU; Assistant for Public Affairs

Reverend Monsignor John G. Judge
Pastor, St. Cassian Parish, Upper Montclair

Reverend Monsignor John J. Laferrera
Pastor, St. Philomena’s Parish, Livingston

Reverend Monsignor Lawrence J. Miller
Pastor, St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish, Bayonne

Reverend Monsignor Anselm Nwaorgu
Pastor, Blessed Sacrament/St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Newark

Reverend Monsignor Lewis V. Papera
Pastor, Corpus Christi Parish, Hasbrouck Heights

Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Petrillo
Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, West Orange; Executive Director, Clergy Personnel

Reverend Monsignor James M. Sheehan
Judicial Vicar – designate

Reverend Monsignor C. Anthony Ziccardi
Professor, Immaculate Conception Seminary;
Seton Hall University Board Affairs

The Benemerenti Medal, instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832, is
conferred on those who have exhibited long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and community. The word benemerenti means “to a well deserving person.”

Honored with the Benemerenti Medal for Religious are:
 
Sister Patricia Butler, SC
Associate Superintendent of Schools

Brother Ralph Darmento, FSC
Deputy Superintendent of Schools

Father Edward Glynn, SJ
President, Cristo Rey Schools (Ret.)

Father Mariusz Koch, CFR
Novice Master; Community Visitator

Sister Margaret Thomas McGovern, OP
Delegate for Religious

Father John Russell, O. Carm.
Professor, Immaculate Conception Seminary

Sister Virginia Stanton, SSJ
Director, Ministerial Development Center (Ret.)

Father Benedict M. Worry, OSB
Pastor, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Linden

At this time, the Archbishop is pleased to announce that the following have been granted membership into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre:

Henry A. Amoroso, Esq. Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Chairman, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark

Deacon Joseph A. Dwyer, Jr. 
Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Vice Chancellor for Administration of the Archdiocese

James G. Goodness 
Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Director of Communications and Public Relations of the Archdiocese

Deacon John J. McKenna 
Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Executive Director of Human Resources of the Archdiocese

George A. Peralta 
Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Fiscal Officer of the Archdiocese (Ret.)

They will be invested as members at a Mass to be held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York on Saturday, September 26, 2009.
The Order of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to have been founded on January 1, 1099, and today is a major Catholic Order of Knighthood, under the direct protection of the Holy See. It has a worldwide mission to support the Holy Places, particularly in Jerusalem, and has approximately eighteen thousand members across the globe.

In commenting on the 28 honors, Archbishop John Myers said, “I am happy for these men and women, first for their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through their work and generosity, and second for their goodness and loyalty to the Church.  Please join me in extending congratulations, prayers, and gratitude to these Priests and Religious from a cross-section of the Archdiocese for their dedicated service to the Church as acknowledged by our Holy Father.”

An Evening Prayer service at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark will take place in the fall, at which time the entire Archdiocese will celebrate prayerfully and joyfully the honors bestowed by the Honor Father. “At that time,” the Archbishop added, “we will prayerfully celebrate the Honors bestowed by the Holy Father and our union with him in faith and love. “

Cardinal Rigali on NIH guidelines

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

The mutual relationship between the mystery of the Church and Mary appears clearly in the “great portent” described in the Book of Revelation: “A great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

—POPE JOHN PAUL II, Evangelium Vitae, n.103 (Rev 12:1)

Sunday Mass

and peace to his people on earth.