Archbishop to Honor New Monsignori and Recipients of Jubilee Awards Four priests will receive papal honors and the title of "monsignor" during a special prayer service at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 1997, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Most Rev. Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick will formally recognize as "Honorary Prelate to His Holiness" Msgr. Thomas McCarthy, Msgr. Joseph Masiello, Msgr. Gerard Santora and Msgr. Bronislaw Wielgus in recognition of their years of service in and dedication to the Church. Msgr. McCarthy is pastor of Our Lady of Good Council Parish, Washington Township. Born in Bayonne, he was ordained on May 23, 1959.He earned a master's degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary and a doctorate in systematic theology from Fordham University. Prior to his current position as pastor, Msgr. McCarthy has served as parochial vicar for St. Peter's Parish in Belleville, Ascension Parish in New Milford and Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Bayonne. He is also currently director of Continuing Education for Priests in the Archdiocese and is an adjunct theology professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary. Msgr. Joseph Masiello was born in Jersey City and is currently pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Westfield. He was ordained on December 19, 1969, after studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, and the North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University, both in Rome. He served as parochial Vicar for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Jersey City before becoming business manager of the North American College in Rome in 1971. Two years later, he was assigned to St. Peter's Parish in Belleville, and then returned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. After three years in Jersey City, he was appointed business manager of Immaculate Conception Seminary, becoming it's vice-rector in 1985. After serving a brief period at St. Vincent De Paul's Parish in Bayonne, he returned to Jersey City to become pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish. In 1995, Msgr. Masiello was appointed to a three year term as the Archbishop's delegate to the Archdiocesan Priest Personnel Policy Board, and that same year was named pastor at Holy Trinity. Msgr. Bronislaw Wielgus, pastor of St. Hedwig's Parish, Elizabeth, was born in Zakliczyn, Poland. After completing his studies at the seminary in Krakow, he was ordained by then Bishop Karol Wojtyla (now Pope John Paul 11) on June 17, 1962. He spent 15 years in the Archdiocese of Krakow before coming to the Archdiocese of Newark at the request of Archbishop Peter Gerety to minister to Polish Catholics here. He was first assigned to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Linden, and then to St. Adalbert's Parish in Elizabeth. In 1984, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese and four years later became pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Harrison. In 1992, he was appointed to his current position. Msgr. Gerard Santora was born in Montclair and is now living in retirement at St. John Vianney Residence, Rutherford. He was ordained on June 11, 1938, after his studies at Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary. He was assigned to Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Garfield, for two years before spending 29 years at Holy Rosary Parish, Jersey City, as associate pastor, administrator and pastor. He then became chaplain at Mount St. Andrew Villa, Paramus, from 1968 until his retirement in 1986. In 1987, he was called out of retirement to take over briefly at Our Lady of The Rosary Parish, Newark, when its pastor died. The title of "prelate" (Latin for "one set before"), is an honorary distinction given to members of the clergy by the pope as a reward or as recognition of special merit. Those who have been honored with this distinction can be addressed as "monsignor," which in Italian means "my lord." During the prayer service, Archbishop McCarrick will also recognize 172 recipients of Jubilee Awards in the Archdiocese of Newark. The Jubilee Award is a distinction given to people, lay or religious, who have contributed in a special way to the Archdiocese.
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