Eight Priests of the Archdiocese Retire

Eight priests of the archdiocese have retired, effective July 1, the Cardinal’s Office has announced. All had previously reached the normal priest retirement age of 75, or they will reach it at some point this year.

Father Martin Biglin retired as administrator of Holy Name of Jesus parish, New Rochelle, where he had served as administrator, 2014-2016, and pastor, 1990-2014. He was also temporary administrator at Blessed Sacrament, New Rochelle, 2012-2014. He was appointed regional vicar of the South Shore Vicariate in 2010. He was co-pastor of Holy Cross, Manhattan, 1985-1990. He was parochial vicar of St. Barnabas, the Bronx, 1971-1985, and Sacred Heart, Barrytown, 1967-1971. He was ordained in 1967.

Father John Borzuchowski retired as administrator of Immaculate Conception parish, Kingston, where he had served as administrator, 2015-2016, and pastor, 1991-2015. He served as parochial vicar at St. John’s, Goshen, 1987-1991; St. John the Evangelist, Beacon, 1980-1987; St. Francis, Newburgh, 1978-1980; and St. Joseph’s, Florida, 1975-1978. He was ordained in Warsaw, Poland, in 1968 and incardinated into the archdiocese in 1984. 

Father James Healy retired as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle parish, Yonkers, where he had served since 2010. He was pastor of St. Vito’s, Mamaroneck, 1992-2010. He served at Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, as principal, 1988-1992, and dean of studies, 1980-1988. He was administrator of Mount St. Mary High School, Newburgh, 1977-1980, and a faculty member at Cardinal Spellman High School, the Bronx, 1969-1977. He served at St. John the Evangelist parish, White Plains, 1967-1969, and the Church of the Magdalene, Pocantico Hills, 1967. He was ordained in 1966 in Rome. 

Father Elias Isla, a senior priest, retired as administrator of St. Jude’s parish, Manhattan, a position he had held since 2011. He also served at St. Jude’s as pastor, 1989-2011, and administrator, 1985-1989. He served as parochial vicar of St. Francis de Sales, Manhattan, 1982-1985; Annunciation, Manhattan, 1977-1982; and SS. Peter and Paul, the Bronx, 1967-1977. A native of Spain, he was ordained in Madrid for the Pairist Fathers in 1959 and incardinated into the archdiocese in 1988.

Father Richard LaMorte retired as chaplain and director of campus ministry at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, where he had served since 2000. He also taught at Marist, 1976-1985. He was pastor of Regina Coeli, Hyde Park, 1999-2000, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Poughkeepsie, 1988-1999 and 1966-1972. While pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, he also served as administrator of St. John the Baptist in Poughkeepsie, 1990-1994. He was pastor of Immaculate Conception, Amenia, 1985-1988. He was chaplain of Piux XII School, Chester, 1973-1976. He served at St. Christopher’s, Red Hook, 1972-1973. He was ordained in 1966.

Msgr. Kevin O’Brien, a senior priest, retired as administrator of St. Philip Neri parish, the Bronx, a post he had held since 2014. He was pastor there, 2008-2014. He served as spiritual director of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, 2001-2008. He was pastor of Immaculate Conception, 1991-2001, and St. James, 1981-1991, both in Manhattan. He was regional vicar of South Manhattan for 15 years, beginning in 1986. He was parochial vicar of Holy Family, the Bronx, 1980-1981, and St. Rose of Lima, Manhattan, 1973-1980. He was ordained in 1973 and named a monsignor in 1995. 

Msgr. Kenneth Smith, a senior priest, retired as administrator of St. Catherine of Genoa, Manhattan, a position he had held since 2012. He was pastor there, 2006-2012. He has served as a judge with the Metropolitan Tribunal since 2002. He was pastor of St. Bernard’s and administrator of St. Veronica’s, 1990-2002, both in Manhattan. He was pastor of Holy Name of Jesus, Manhattan, 1985-1990, and administrator of Nativity of Our Blessed Lady, the Bronx, 1990. He served as parochial vicar at Incarnation, Washington Heights, 1984-1985 and 1978-1980, and at St. Columba’s, Manhattan, 1976-1978, and he served at the Northeast Pastoral Center for Hispanics, 1980-1984. He was ordained for the Diocese of Worcester, Mass., in 1964 and incardinated into the archdiocese in 1984. He was named a monsignor in 2006. 

Msgr. George Thompson retired as administrator of St. Patrick’s, Bedford, where he had served as administrator, 2014-2016, and pastor, 2002-2014. He was appointed regional vicar of Northern Westchester/Putnam in 2001. He was director of Priest Personnel, 1999-2002, and assistant director, 1993-1999. He was pastor of St. Denis, Yonkers, 1988-1993. He was rector of Cathedral Prep, 1986-1988, and spiritual director, 1974-1985. He was assistant director of vocations, 1968-1969, and director of vocations for the archdiocese, 1969-1974. He was ordained in 1965 and named a monsignor in 1986.