Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski Is Ordained Auxiliary Bishop More than 2,200 people came to celebrate the Episcopal Ordination of The Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski on Friday, September 5, 1997. Bishop Bootkoski was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Newark by Archbishop Theodore McCarrick during a ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. He is the first Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark who is of Polish descent. Co-Consecrators included Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton and Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli of Wilmington, Delaware, both former Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Newark. Concelebrants included John Cardinal O'Connor of New York, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua of Philadelphia, Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Archbishop of Kamala, Uganda, and more than 30 bishops and Archbishops from dioceses around the world. Special guests included Mayor Sharpe James of Newark and members of the Priory of Benedictine Monks from Weston, Vermont, who lead the assembly in singing one of the Communion hymns during the Mass. The celebration began with thunderous applause accompanying a procession of more than 200 priests, deacons, bishops, archbishops and cardinals. The Rite of Ordination began after the reading of the Gospel. Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States, read the letter of appointment from Pope John Paul II and added his own good wishes to the new bishop, saying that Bishop Bootkoski now was being called to even greater service and love and "to spend his life fully" for Christ and His people. The rite continued in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, with the principal celebrant, Archbishop McCarrick, and co-consecrators laying their hands on the head of the bishop-elect, conferring the power of the Holy Spirit to the new Bishop. Then the Cardinals and all of the bishops present also imposed their hands, to show that the ordination of a bishop is a collegial act of the order of Bishops. Next, the Book of the Gospels was placed over Bishop Bootkoski's head as a reminder of his continued responsibility to preach the Good News. His head was anointed with Chrism as a reminder of his Baptism, and he was then presented with various symbols of his office: the Book of Gospels, his ring and miter (the hat that a bishop wears), and a wooden pastoral staff. These symbols remind the new Bishop of his responsibility to watch over and lead Christ's people. Bishop Bootkoski then went to a chair placed between the concelebrating Bishops as the congregation, led by Archbishop McCarrick, broke into a loud and lengthy applause. At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Bootkoski conducted a kind of litany, asking everyone present to respond in their own native language with the traditional Polish greeting, "Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever, Amen." He then gave thanks for his family, his Catholic Polish heritage, the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Benedictine monks who taught him in Newark, the people in the parishes he served, and those with whom and for whom he has labored. During the ceremony, Archbishop McCarrick reminded Bishop Bootkoski to "always be mindful of the Good Shepherd" and to "love all those who God has placed in your care." Bishop Bootkoski's appointment was announced by Pope John Paul II on the morning of Tuesday, July 8, 1997. During a press conference, Archbishop McCarrick said, "In naming Monsignor Paul Bootkoski Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, the Holy Father has . . . 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. . . .As pastor, as university official, as director of Campus Ministry and as Vicar for Priests, [Monsignor Bootkoski] has been a faithful and devoted friend to all God's people." Monsignor 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." Bishop Paul Bootkoski was born in Newark on July 4, 1940, to Peter Bootkoski, deceased 1985, and Antoinette (Klimek) Bootkoski, 82, of Westwood. He has one sister, Annette Wagner, 50, of River Vale, NJ. He knew he wanted to be a priest at a very young age, according to his family, and they supported him throughout the discernment process. "It was always meant to be," said his mother. "It was God's will." Bishop Bootkoski 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, and was ordained a priest by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland on May 28, 1966. After ordination, Father Bootkoski served as a Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart Church, Bloomfield. He also served in similar positions at Holy Spirit Church in 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 was named 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 Father Bootkoski as pastor of St. Gabriel, Saddle River, in 1990. Pope John Paul II named him a Monsignor in 1991. In July of 1996, Monsignor Bootkoski became the Vicar for Priests in the Archdiocese.
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