The Most Reverend John J. Myers, archbishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020.
He was 79.
Upon hearing the news of Myers’ death, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, the current archbishop of Newark, said: “On behalf of my brother bishops and the entire family of God here in our local Church of Newark, I extend my heartfelt prayers and condolences to his family. Let us thank God for Archbishop Myers’ service and his love of our Church. I entrust him to the loving arms of our Blessed Mother Mary, and I pray that Our Lord grant him peace.”
Myers, who was born in Ottawa, Illinois, and was the eldest of seven children, was ordained to the priesthood in 1966 and consecrated coadjutor Bishop of Peoria, Illinois, in 1987.
On July 24, 2001, Pope John Paul II called then-Bishop Myers to serve as the fifth Metropolitan Archbishop of Newark. He was installed as Archbishop of Newark Oct. 9, 2001, shortly after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
His Holiness conferred the Pallium on Myers on June 29, 2002.
In addition to his responsibilities as Metropolitan Archbishop of Newark, Archbishop Myers had also served as the Ecclesial Superior, missio sui iuris, of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Myers submitted his letter of resignation as Archbishop of Newark, which was accepted Nov. 7, 2016, by Pope Francis.
Upon the installation of Cardinal Tobin as Archbishop of Newark on Jan. 6, 2017, Myers was granted the title Archbishop Emeritus of Newark.
Myers’ episcopal motto, Mysterium Ecclesiae Luceat (“Let the Mystery of the Church Shine Forth”) is a summary of the central theme of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium.
He often said: “I cannot make someone believe. I can, however, explain what the Church teaches and the reasons for that teaching, and then invite him or her to be open to that teaching and embrace it.”
For a full biography on the late archbishop, please visit www.rcan.org/offices-and-ministries/archbishops-office/biography.
Please remember Archbishop Myers and his family in your prayers.
Formal funeral arrangements will be announced.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.