Pope John Paul II honors 13 Archdiocesan Priests as Monsignors His Holiness Pope John Paul II has recently bestowed the honorary title of Reverend Monsignor upon ten priests of the Archdiocese of Newark. Three Monsignors have been further elevated in the Catholic Church. The rank of Monsignor honors a priest with one of three different titles: Private Chaplain to His Holiness, Prelate of Honor, and Protonotary Apostolic. Among the thirteen who have most recently been elevated, 10 were named Prelate of Honor. Three were honored as Private Chaplain to His Holiness. Elevated from their previous titles of Private Chaplain to His Holiness to the post of Prelate of Honor were: Reverend Monsignor Dennis J Mahon, Executive Director of Catholic Community Services; Reverend Monsignor Francis R. Seymour, Vice-Chancellor for Archdiocesan Archives; and Reverend Monsignor Robert T. Sheeran, President of Seton Hall University. Also named Prelates of Honor were: Episcopal Vicars Reverend Monsignor Lawrence W. Cull, V.E., pastor at St. MichaelÕs, Cranford; and Reverend Monsignor Robert H. Slipe, V.E., pastor at St. Peter the Apostle, River Edge. The title of Prelate of Honor was bestowed upon: Reverend Monsignor Joseph Chiang, pastor at Holy Rosary, Jersey City and National Director of the National Office for The Chinese Apostolate in the U.S.; Reverend Monsignor Frederick M. Eid, a retired priest of the Archdiocese; Reverend Monsignor Neil J. Mahoney, pastor at St. PatrickÕs Pro-Cathedral, Newark; Reverend Monsignor Augustin C. Park, pastor at St. Venantius/St. Andrew Kim, Orange and Coordinator of the Korean Apostolate of the Archdiocese; and Reverend Monsignor Jeremias Rebanal, pastor at St. AedanÕs, Jersey City and Coordinator of the Fillipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese. The title of Private Chaplain to His Holiness was bestowed upon Reverend Monsignor Manuel Cruz, Director of Pastoral Care at St. MichaelÕs Medical Center, Newark, and Reverend Monsignor William J. Fadrowski, Executive Director for Priest Personnel and pastor at Queen of Peace, North Arlington; and Reverend Monsignor Paul D. Schetelick, V.E., an Episcopal Vicar and pastor at Sacred Heart (Vailsburg), Newark. In commenting on these honors, Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick said, "This recognition is not just a personal honor for these thirteen men, but also a recognition of the outstanding service and dedication of the priests of Newark." The formal investiture of the new Monsignors will be at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St., Newark, on Sunday, April 30, 2000, at 6 p.m. The celebration will also include the awarding of the Jubilee Medal, Pro Meritus, to religious and laity from throughout the Archdiocese. Editor's Note: See below for brief biographies of the newly named monsignors. Reverend Monsignor Joseph Chiang Msgr. Chiang came to the Archdiocese in 1970, as a member of the Dominican order, and began to serve Holy Rosary Parish, Jersey City. In 1975, he was recalled to Taiwan by his superiors, and was later named the Vicar General for all Chinese Dominican priests. He returned to Holy Rosary in 1978, and was incardinated into the Archdiocese in 1983. Msgr. Chiang served the Archdiocese as the head of the Chinese Apostolate in 1984 and the part-time archdiocesan director of adjunct clergy in 1987. Msgr. Chiang was named the National Director of the National Office for The Chinese Apostolate in 1989. He named the Administrator of Holy Rosary in 1998, and is currently the pastor at Holy Rosary. Reverend Monsignor Manuel A. Cruz Ordained May 1980, Msgr. Cruz was the first Cuban born priest ordained in the Archdiocese. After completing his education at Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Msgr. Cruz began as an Associate Pastor at Holy Rosary in Elizabeth. In 1982, he was appointed as an Associate Pastor at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark. During the years 1991- 93, he served as Dean of Deanery 19, Northern Newark. In 1995, Msgr. Cruz became a Chaplain at St. MichaelÕs Medical Center in Newark. Today he is the Director of Pastoral Care at St. MichaelÕs. Reverend Monsignor Lawrence W. Cull, V.E. Msgr. Cull, a native of Oradell, was ordained in May 1980 after he had completed his studies at both Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary. His first assignment was at St. PaulÕs Church in Ramsey until 1983. After a sabbatical, he was assigned to Ascension in New Milford. In 1985, Msgr. Cull was appointed pastor at Holy Rosary, Edgewater. He was named the Dean of Deanery 6, Bergen County Southeast, in 1987 and pastor of St. MichaelÕs Church in Cranford, in 1989. Msgr. Cull was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Union Counties, Deaneries 22, 23 and 26, in 1998. Reverend Monsignor Frederick Eid Ordained May 1947, Msgr. Eid spent much of his career at Our Lady of Grace, Hoboken, where he was the Parochial Vicar. He also served at St. MichaelÕs in Union, Holy Spirit in Orange, and St. MaryÕs in Jersey City. In 1988, Msgr. Eid was appointed Chaplain for the Hoboken Police Department and the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps. After his retirement in March 1999, he was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the Casa de la Caridad del Cobre, Union City. Reverend Monsignor William J. Fadrowski In 1985, Msgr. Fadrowski began his studies for the priesthood, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Marist College. He was ordained in November 1987, and in January 1988, was assigned as Parochial Vicar at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington. In March 1991, Msgr. Fadrowski was appointed Director of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Office, and also served on the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Educational Association. Msgr. Fadrowski was appointed Executive Director of the Office of Clergy Personnel and Director of Priest Personnel in January 1996. In July 1999, he became pastor of Queen of Peace. He also holds a Master of Arts in Education and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Seton Hall University. Reverend Monsignor Dennis J. Mahon Msgr. Mahon was ordained May 1970, after earning a Bachelor for Arts degree in Classic Languages at Seton Hall University and completing studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary. His first assignment was at Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Bayonne, before going to Syracuse University to study mass media. In 1974, he joined the Seton Hall University staff as an instructor in communications; he was later named an assistant professor. After earning a doctorate from Syracuse University, Msgr. Mahon was named Seton HallÕs assistant vice-president of planning in 1980, while retaining his position in the Communications department. While serving as vice-president from 1986- 1994, Msgr. Mahon was honored by Pope John Paul II in 1989 with the designation of Private Chaplain to His Holiness, making him a Monsignor. In 1994, Msgr. Mahon was named the vice chancellor for planning. Shortly after, he was named vice president for development at Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. He returned to the Archdiocese of Newark in November 1997 to become the Executive Director for Catholic Community Services. Reverend Monsignor Neil J. Mahoney Msgr. Mahoney, a native of Bayonne, was ordained December 1970, after completing his studies at Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary. He also has a MasterÕs degree from Seton Hall, a licentiate in Sacred Theology from Gregorian University, Rome, and a Ph.D. in counseling from Fordham University. He has served at St. LeoÕs Church, Irvington, Queen of Angels Church, Newark, and as a counselor at the Union County office of the Mt. Carmel Guild. In 1981, he was named the director of the New Jersey Boystown, Kearny. In 1990, he was appointed pastor at St. PatrickÕs Pro-Cathedral, Newark. Reverend Monsignor Augustin Park After graduation from Catholic University, Seoul, Korea, Msgr. Park was ordained in May 1961. His first assignment was to the Korean military, where he served for three years. Before coming to America in 1970, he studied at the Angelicum, Rome. By 1972, he was serving as the assistant pastor at Our Lady of Victories, Jersey City. By the time he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Newark in June 1986, Msgr. Park was administrator at the Catholic Korean mission of St. Andrew Kim, Orange. In December 1986, he was named pastor of St. Andrew Kim. Today he is the pastor at St. Venantius/St. Andrew Kim, the largest Catholic Korean mission in the state. Mgsr. Park also serves as the Coordinator of the Korean Apostolate of the Archdiocese. Reverend Monsignor Jeremias R. Rebanal Born in the Philippines, Msgr. Rebanal was ordained March 1955, where he spent much time teaching and studying in both his native country and Europe. In 1976, Msgr. Rebanal earned his master of divinity degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University and in 1978, received a doctorate in canon law from Gregorian University, Rome. After his return to the Philippines in 1978 Msgr. Rebanal was appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Tabaco, Philippines. During his time as pastor, he also served as Episcopal Vicar and Dean of the First Vicariate, diocesan counselor and dean of the Graduate School of Quinas University. After a sabbatical, he began teaching again in 1987. He returned to the Archdiocese in 1988 to work with the Hispanic Apostolate. In 1990, he was named Coordinator of the Filipino Apostolate, and was incardinated into the Archdiocese in October 1991. Today he is pastor at St. AedanÕs, Jersey City. Reverend Monsignor Paul Schetelick, V.E After studying at the Seton Hall Divinity School, Msgr. Schetelick was ordained May 1976. His first assignment was to Queen of Angels Parish, Newark, until 1979, when he moved to Blessed Sacrament Parish, Newark. In 1985, he named pastor of Blessed Sacrament, and in addition to his current pastorate, was named pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Newark in 1996. He has also served as dean of Central Newark Deanery 20. Today he is the pastor at Church of the Sacred Heart (Vailsburg,) Newark. He also serves the Archdiocese as Episcopal Vicar for Essex County, comprising of deaneries 19, 20 and 21. Reverend Monsignor Francis R. Seymour Ordained in May 1963, Msgr. Seymour started his career as the Associate Pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Newark. During his six years at St. Charles, he also served as Chaplain at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. In 1969, he was named Archivist of the Archdiocese and an Assistant in the Newark Matrimonial Tribune. Msgr. Seymour also served as the Moderator of the Holy Cross Parish Catholic Youth Organization. In 1973, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Archdiocese, and a year later was named the Director of Catholic Relief Services. In 1979, Pope John Paul II honored Msgr. Seymour with the designation of Private Chaplain to His Holiness, making him a Monsignor. He became pastor of Guardian Angel Church, Allendale, in 1982, where he also served as Chaplain to the Police and Fire Departments. Msgr. Seymour was appointed the Administrative Assistant to the Office of the Archbishop, and Director of Ministry to Retired Priests, in 1987. In 1988, he became the Associate Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He is a charter member of the New Jersey Catholic Historical Records Commission. Today, Msgr. Seymour is the Vice-Chancellor for Archdiocesan Archives. Reverend Monsignor Robert Sheeran After graduating from Seton Hall University, Msgr. Sheeran traveled to Rome to study at the United States seminary, the North American College. Ordained there in December 1970, he received a licentiate degree in theology the following year from the Gregorian University. After returning home, Msgr. Sheeran was appointed associate pastor of St. MichaelÕs Parish, Cranford. While there, he earned a MasterÕs from Princeton Theological Seminary. He returned to Rome in 1974 to serve as director of the advising program at the North American College. He earned his doctorate in theology from the Angelicum University there in 1979. Upon his return to the Archdiocese, Msgr. Sheeran served as associate pastor of St. RaphaelÕs Parish, Livingston, until his appointment as Rector of Seton HallÕs College Seminary in 1980. He was named Assistant Provost in 1987, and Associate Provost in 1991. During the 1992-93 academic year, he was a Fellow of the American Council on Education at Saint Louis University. He was named Seton Hall UniversityÕs Executive Vice Chancellor in 1993, and was installed as President in 1996. Pope John Paul II named Father Sheeran a Chaplain to His Holiness in 1989. Reverend Monsignor Robert H. Slipe, V.E. Msgr. Slipe received a Bachelor of Arts in classical languages from Seton Hall University and was ordained May 1973, after completing his studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary. His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. LukeÕs, Ho-Ho-Kus. In 1981, he was appointed the archdiocesan director of Vocations, and in 1982, was named director of the Office of Ministerial Formation. After six years in the office of Vocations, Msgr. Slipe was assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Elizabeth. In 1994, he was appointed as pastor for the Church of St. Peter the Apostle, River Edge. He has served as dean of Deanery 26, Union East. In 1998, Msgr. Slipe was appointed an Episcopal Vicar of Eastern Bergen County, comprising of deaneries 2, 3 and 6.
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