Archdiocese Has New Auxiliary Bishop Pope John Paul II has named a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark to be an Auxiliary Bishop. The Holy Father today named Monsignor Paul G. Bootkoski, pastor of St. Gabriel Church, Saddle River, to be an Auxiliary Bishop. Monsignor Bootkoski was ordained a priest by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland on May 28, 1966 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. The 57 year-old Monsignor Bootkoski is the son of Antoinette (Klimek) Bootkoski of Westwood. His father Peter died in 1985. He has one sister, Annette of River Vale, NJ. He was born on July 4, 1940 in Newark and attended Queen of Peace Grammar School in North Arlington, St. Benedict's Prep in Newark and Seton Hall University. He studied for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ. In making the announcement, Archbishop McCarrick stated, "Once again the Church has chosen a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark to be a successor of the Apostles. In naming Monsignor Paul Bootkoski Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, the Holy Father has not only raised to the episcopacy a good and holy pastor of souls and a man well respected by his brother priests and the faithful of this local Church, but Pope John Paul has honored our presbyterate by selection of another bishop from its ranks. Bishop Bootkoski will be the sixth Newark priest that I will be privileged to ordain a bishop, and he joins a group of other outstanding men of God and of the Church whose lives and talents reflect so well on their dedication and the talent of the priests of Newark. "As pastor, as university official, as director of Campus Ministry and as Vicar for Priests, he has been a faithful and devoted friend to all God's people. He will be a great gift to the Church of Newark and I am grateful to the Lord and to the Holy Father for the blessing of his future service. I welcome Bishop Bootkoski with a special personal joy and look forward to his ever greater role in the life of the Archdiocese of Newark." Bishop-elect Bootkoski responded to the Holy Father's appointment by saying, " I am humbled and honored to have been called to be a bishop by Pope John Paul II. I am thankful for the trust and faith of Archbishop McCarrick. I have happily served the Church of Newark in my priestly life and pledge to continue to serve the Lord in this local Church. I ask for the prayers of my family, friends, the religious men and women and all I have come to know in my ministries. To my brother priests I pledge my support for the selfless service they provide to our sisters and brothers in the Archdiocese." After ordination, Father Bootkoski served as a Parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Church, Bloomfield. He also served in similar positions at Holy Spirit Church, Orange, and St. Michael's in Cranford. In 1972 he was assigned to campus Ministry and became Director of Campus Ministry in 1974. In 1980 he became Assistant Vice-president for Student Affairs at Seton Hall University. In 1983 he was appointed pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Elizabeth. Archbishop McCarrick appointed Monsignor Bootkoski as pastor of St. Gabriel, Saddle River in 1990. He has served on the Presbyteral Council and as a member of the College of Consultors for the Archdiocese. Pope John Paul II named him a Monsignor 1991. In July of 1996 Bishop-elect Bootkoski became the Vicar for Priests in the Archdiocese.
|
