One of the three men ordained to the priesthood last month at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart has been assigned to Nutley, while the other two will serve elsewhere in the Archdiocese of Newark.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, ordained three men to the priesthood during a Rite of Ordination on May 25.
Amidst a sea great joy from family and friends, Matteo Matarazzo, Joseph A. Pavone and Andrew M. Rubinich were called forward by Cardinal Tobin for election to the priesthood. They pledged their obedience, prostrated before the altar as a litany of saints was sung and kneeled as archdiocesan priests laid hands on them in prayer.
Cardinal Tobin then recited the Prayer of Consecration, officially ordaining the trio as priests in a moment of immense happiness and celebration.
Upon donning their stoles and chasubles, the new priests had their hands anointed with the sacred chrism before distributing the Holy Eucharist for the first time as priests. Afterward, they offered inaugural blessings to many of the gathered faithful and they gave personal blessings to Cardinal Tobin, as well.
The new priests — Father Matarazzo at Holy Family Parish in Nutley, Father Pavone at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Wyckoff and Father Rubinich at St. Aloysius Parish in Caldwell — will embark on their pastoral duties to shepherd the faithful and administer the sacraments.
Through it all, they will be guided by the message of Cardinal Tobin’s homily, which emphasized service as “the foundation on which the priesthood is built.”
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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.