Archbishop
John J. Myers ordains 12 new priests
Nine will serve the Archdiocese of Newark
The Most Rev. John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, will ordain 12
men to the priesthood at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2003 at the
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St., Newark. While
nine of the newly ordained priests will serve within the four counties
– Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union – of the Archdiocese,
the remaining three are being ordained for service to the Order
of the Augustinian Recollects.
Ten of the newly ordained priests studied at Immaculate Conception
Seminary on Seton Hall University's South Orange campus. The remaining
two attended Redemptoris Mater, the Archdiocese's missionary Seminary
in Kearny that provides formation to many foreign-born seminarians.
Mirroring the ethnic and national diversity of the Archdiocese,
five out of the 12 men to be ordained are foreign born; their homes
include Brazil, China, Korea, the Philippines and Poland.
In commenting on this year’s ordinands, The Most Reverend
John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, said, “I am pleased to
ordain these men into the priesthood, and welcome the nine who will
serve the Church of Newark. We rejoice in their depth of faith,
and their commitment to the Church and her people.”
Many of the new priests will celebrate their first Mass the following
day, Sunday, May 25, 2003 in churches throughout the Archdiocese.
The newly ordained priests will receive their parish assignments
in June.
Editor’s Note: See the following for biographies
of the newly ordained priests.
Joe Astarita
Father Astarita, 48, was born in Cliffside Park, NJ to Eugene and
Phyliss Astarita. A graduate of Boston College and New York University,
he holds an MBA in Finance. Father Astarita served in parishes in
Newark, Caldwell and Secaucus while studying at Immaculate Conception
Seminary.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May
25, 12:15 p.m., at the Church of the Assumption in Emerson.
Leonardo M. Cáceres-Núñez
Father Cáceres-Núñez, 28, son of Roberto Cáceres
Fernández and Rebeca Núñez de Cáceres,
was born in Niterói, Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Before entering
the seminary, he studied at Caldwell College and Seton Hall University.
While studying at Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Father Cáceres-Núñez
served in parishes in Newark, Plainfield, Union City and Garfield.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at Our Lady of
Mt. Virgin, Garfield, Sunday, May 25, at 11:30 a.m.
Jiang Joseph Chang
Father Chang, 34, was born in Beijing to Zhen Hua Cheng and Xiao-Qin
Zhao. He has studied at St. John’s University and Seminary
of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY. Father Chang served
in parishes in Jersey City, Kenilworth, Garfield and Hackensack
while studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May
25, 5 p.m., at St. Saviours in Brooklyn, NY.
Salvatore DiStefano
Father DiStefano, 43, son of James (deceased) and Pasqulina DiStefano
was born in New York, NY. Before entering the seminary, he has studied
at Empire State College, Hunter College, and St. John Nuemann Seminary,
all in NY, and holds a BA in Philosphy, an M.S.Ed. in Counseling,
a P.D. in School Administration, and a M.Div. in Pastoral Ministry.
While studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Father DiStefano
served in parishes in Cliffside Park, Palisades Park, Bayonne and
Jersey City.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at Our Lady of
Mercy, Jersey City, Saturday, May 24, at 5:30 p.m.
Wojciech B. Jaskowiak
Father Jaskowiak, 29, was born in Koscierzyna, Poland to Zdzistaw
(deceased) and Kazimiera Jaskowiak. He had studied at Seton Hall
University before entering the seminary. Father Jaskowiak served
in parishes in Estonia and Jersey City while studying at Redomptoris
Mater Seminary.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday, May 25,
12 noon, at St. Anne, Jersey City.
Jung Soo Kim
Father Kim, 34, son of Koon Sung Francisco (deceased) and Young
Ja Theresa Kim was born in Seoul, Korea. He has attended Cornell
University School of Engineering and holds M.Div. and MA from Seton
Hall University. While studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary,
Father Kim served in parishes in Short Hills, Bergenfield and Roselle.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Andrew Kim,
Orange, on Sunday, May 25, at 11:30 a.m. He will also celebrate
a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Joseph the Carpenter, Roselle, Sunday,
June 1, at 12 noon.
James M. Moran
Father Moran, 40, was born in New York, NY to Patrick Leo and Kathleen
Clinton (deceased) Moran. Before entering the seminary, he attended
St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY. Father Moran served
in parishes in Oradell, Bayonne, Old Tappan, and Ridgewood while
studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday, May 25,
12 noon, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tenafly.
Brian Keenan Muzas
Father Muzas, 28, son of Dr. Joseph and Carol Muzas, was born in
Bronx, NY. He holds a B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
from Princeton University, an M..S. in Aeronautics from California
Institute of Technology, and a M.Div. and an M.A. in Systematic
Theology from Seton Hall. While studying at Immaculate Conception
Seminary, Father Muzas served in parishes in Cedar Grove, Cliffside
Park, Newark, and Maplewood.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Trinity,
Westfield, Sunday, May 25, at 12 noon.
Tom Pendrick
Father Pendrick, 38, was born in Hoboken, NJ to Gerard and Mary
Pendrick. Before entering the seminary, he attended St. Peter’s
College. Father Pendrick served in parishes in Emerson, Maywood
and Newark, as well as Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, while studying
at Immaculate Conception Seminary.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving Saturday, May 24,
5 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace, Hoboken.
Fredric Batas Abiera, O.A.R.
Father Abiera, 26, son of Timoted and Norma Abiera, was born in
Tobias Fornier, Antique, Philippines. He has studied at the Casiciaco
Recoletos Seminary in the Philippines, Oxnard College in Oxnard,
California, and at Seton Hall, and holds a BA in education and an
MA in Theology. While studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary,
Father Abiera’s religious formation was conducted by the Order
of Augustinian Recollects, an order in which he will be ordained
for service.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving in Seattle, WA.
A date, time and location have not yet been finalized.
Michael John Kenny, O.A.R.
Father Kenny, 29, was born in Bronx, NY, to Robert (deceased) and
Maryann Kenny. He has studied at Manhattan College, Oxnard College
in Oxnard, California, and at Seton Hall, and holds a BA in philosophy
and a M.Div. While studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Father
Kenny’s religious formation was conducted by the Order of
Augustinian Recollects, an order in which he will be ordained for
service.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May
25, at 11:30 a.m., at St. John, Bronx, NY.
J. Michael Rafferty, O.A.R.
Father Rafferty, 39, son of John and Marianna Rafferty, was born
in Torrington, CT. He has studied at SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Brockport,
St. John’s Seminary and Seminary College in Camarillo, CA.
While studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Father Rafferty’s
religious formation was conducted by the Order of Augustinian Recollects,
an order in which he will be ordained for service.
He will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving on at St. Michael
the Archangel, S. Glens Falls, NY, Sunday, June 1, at 12 noon.
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2003
News Releases |
