By MICHAEL WOJCIK
News Editor
PATERSON - This week marked the "end of an era" as well as "new beginnings" not only at Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish, where the Franciscans turned over pastoral responsibilities of the Little Falls parish to the diocese after 125 years, but also at two Paterson parishes, St. Michael and St. Gerard Majella, where the Vocationist Fathers plan to assume pastoral responsibilities, effective Aug. 9.
The diocese announced that Vocationist Fathers Lorenzo Gomez, Robert Vass and Ezio Antunes would serve both St. Michael's and St. Gerard's.
Leaving St. Michael's will be its pastor for the past 18 years, Father Joseph Orlandi, a diocesan priest who has served as a military chaplain in the Balkans, Afghanistan and recently in Iraq. Father Orlandi plans to pursue a sabbatical year at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome for theological studies.
"It's time for me to move on," said Father Orlandi, staff chaplain of the 77th Regional Readiness Command, from Fort Totten, Queens, N.Y. "After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, I need to regroup as part of my spiritual journey."
Meanwhile, Father Charles Waller, a diocesan priest who has served as St. Gerard's pastor for six years, plans to pursue studies in counseling at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Upon completing his studies, the priest will return to diocesan service.
"Father Orlandi and Father Waller [both of whom were ordained priests of the diocese in 1973] have brought their own gifts to their parishes and to the wider community. Father Orlandi served with great distinction as a military chaplain in combat zones. Father Waller has been active in the fields of spiritual direction and ministering to persons with addictions," according to Msgr. James Mahoney, vicar general. Both Father Orlandi and Father Waller announced the pastoral changes at Masses this past weekend.
Since the two parishes are close to each other, Bishop Serratelli invited the Vocationist priests to work together at St. Gerard's and at St. Michael's because no diocesan priests were available to succeed Fathers Orlandi and Waller with the language skills required.
"The Vocationists will meet the needs of the people of both parishes, because they are experienced in pastoral life and also are proficient in English, Spanish, and Italian," said Msgr. Mahoney. "They are specially qualified to evangelize the people who live in the respective neighborhoods."
St. Michael's serves 200 families, whose demographics have been changing from a mostly Italian population to a more Hispanic and multicultural population. Founded in 1903, the parish sponsors a center for young children and seniors, staffed by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood. St. Michael's also operates immigration, job-placement and other social-justice ministries, Father Orlandi said.
"We at St. Michael's feed people and help them care for themselves," Father Orlandi said.
Father Orlandi said he welcomes the Vocationists to St. Michael's, having known the religious order's superior, Father Louis Caputo, for many years.
"The Vocationists bring linguistic abilities and a deep spiritual life," Father Orlandi said. "They share God's love with people - with parishioners as well as with the unchurched."
Founded in 1961, the 675-family St. Gerard's grew out of the faith community of St. Michael's and today serves a growing population of young, upwardly mobile second-generation Hispanic families. The parish school reaches out to these families. Many on the parish staff speak Spanish and Italian, which many older parishioners speak, Father Waller said.
"St. Gerard's parishioners are very encouraging. If I introduce a program, they will say, 'I'll be part of it.' The people were welcoming to me when I arrived here and I'm sure they will welcome the Vocationists," said Father Waller, who noted that he has met with Father Antunes. "Father Ezio is friendly and outgoing and smiles at the drop of a hat."
The Vocationists have worked in the diocese since 1989 at the Father Justin Vocationary in Florham Park, the order's U.S. headquarters. Founded in the early 20th century in Italy, Vocationists work around the world in priestly formation and parish ministry. They encourage priestly and religious vocations, especially among the poor. They staff parishes in the Newark Archdiocese as well as in Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, India and Indonesia.
"Our mission as a diocese is to serve the people of our towns and cities, to bring everyone to Jesus. Inviting the Vocationist Fathers to serve two parishes fulfills a part of that mission," said Bishop Serratelli. "Recently, we have gathered data and have enlisted the pastors of Paterson to meet and assess the facts of daily Catholic life in the parishes. This process culminated in preliminary thoughts and observations rather than an immediate action plan. Further deliberation is the next step. We intend to explore many options before taking any other particular actions in the city," the bishop said.
