Papal Honors

Thirty-eight priests of the archdiocese have been named Chaplains to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, with the title of monsignor, the Cardinal's Office announced last week. The new monsignors include 29 pastors, three regional vicars, the rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral, a vice chancellor, two seminary administrators and two high school principals.

Msgr. Desmond J. Vella, judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal and a monsignor since 1973, has been named a Prelate of Honor.

The papal honors were officially made at the Vatican on March 4. They will be formally conferred by Cardinal Egan at a ceremony in St. Patrick's Cathedral at a date to be announced.

Msgr. Desmond J. Vella, ordained in 1958, has been judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal since 1986. Previously he was vice officialis for nine years; he was named a member of the Tribunal in 1962. He also served as vice chancellor and assistant chancellor of the archdiocese. He served at Our Lady of Mercy parish in the Bronx.

Msgr. Vincent Bartley, ordained in 1969 in Dublin, Ireland, where he was born, has been pastor of St. Paul's parish, Staten Island, since 1993. He began serving in the archdiocese in 1984 and was incardinated in 1993. He served at St. Mary's, Yonkers, and Holy Child, Staten Island, and was assigned to a parish in Scotland, 1986-1990.

Msgr. Walter A. Birkle, ordained in 1958, is pastor of Our Lady of Grace, the Bronx, where he was appointed in 1993. He was pastor earlier of Holy Family, the Bronx, and St. James, Manhattan, and also served in Manhattan at Incarnation, St. Brigid's and Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Msgr. John A. Boehning, ordained in 1962, has been pastor of St. Thomas More, Manhattan, since 1994. He was pastor at St. Anastasia, Harriman, and served earlier at St. Joseph's, Yorkville, Manhattan; St. Patrick's, Staten Island; and Holy Family, the Bronx.

Msgr. John J. Brinn, ordained in 1962, is pastor of St. Mary's, Poughkeepsie, where he has served since 1994. He was appointed pastor of St. Martin de Porres, Poughkeepsie, in 1983 after serving there for 18 years. He also served at St. Peter's, Liberty.

Msgr. Raymond J. Byrne, ordained in 1957, has served as pastor of Immaculate Conception, Irvington-on-Hudson, since 1991. He also served as pastor, co-pastor and parochial vicar at St. Paul's, East Harlem, and was parochial vicar at St. Thomas Aquinas, the Bronx.

Msgr. James T. Byrnes, ordained in 1986, was appointed principal of John S. Burke Catholic High School, Goshen, in 2002. He previously was a teacher and dean of studies at Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx, and served in St. Anthony's parish, Nanuet, and Christ the King, the Bronx.

Msgr. Charles P. Coen, ordained in 1968, has served as pastor of St. Christopher's, Red Hook, since 1986. He served earlier on Staten Island at St. Joseph-St. Thomas and St. Paul's, and at Incarnation, Manhattan.

Msgr. Ralph V. Curcio, ordained in 1961, has been pastor since 1996 at Our Lady of Mercy, Port Chester, and served there earlier as parochial vicar. He also served at St. Rose of Lima, Manhattan; Infant Saviour, Pine Bush; Our Lady of Grace, the Bronx; and St. Ann's, Yonkers. He was a chaplain at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan, and St. Francis Hospital, Port Jervis, and an Army chaplain with service in Vietnam.

Msgr. Donald M. Dwyer, ordained in 1979, is pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption, the Bronx, serving since 1995, and regional vicar of the East Bronx. He also served at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Staten Island; Christ the King, Yonkers, and St. Gabriel's, the Bronx.

Msgr. Peter J. Gavigan, ordained in 1962, has been pastor since 1984 of Our Lady of Victory in the Bronx, where he had been administrator for several months and previously was a parochial vicar. He also served at St. Teresa of Avila in Sleepy Hollow; SS. Peter and Paul in the Bronx and St. Teresa's in Manhattan.

Msgr. Peter A. Gelsomino was ordained in 1955 and has been pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Port Chester since 1994. He taught at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains for 35 years and was a parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Shrub Oak; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Bronx; and St. Lucy's, Manhattan.

Msgr. Joseph R. Giandurco, ordained in 1987, is dean of students, dean of admissions, procurator and professor of canon law at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, where he has served since 1994. He also served at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Shrub Oak, where he is a weekend associate, and at St. Patrick's Cathedral and Notre Dame in Manhattan.

Msgr. Francis P. Gorman, ordained in 1959, has been pastor of St. Teresa of Avila and Holy Cross in Sleepy Hollow since 1990 and previously was pastor of St. Columba's in Chester. He was vice chancellor for Spanish pastoral affairs and acting director of the Spanish Apostolate, and served in Venezuela at a parish sponsored by the archdiocese which he helped to found. He was a parochial vicar at St. Teresa of Avila, Sleepy Hollow, and St. Rose of Lima, Manhattan.

Msgr. Michael F. Hull, ordained in 1993, has been professor of sacred Scripture at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, since 1998. He also is dean of St. John Neumann Residence and Hall for men preparing for priesthood. Previously he served at St. Charles on Staten Island.

Msgr. John J. Keaveney, ordained in 1959, has been pastor of St. Mary's in Washingtonville since 1997 and previously was pastor of St. Boniface in Monsey. He was a parochial vicar at St. James the Apostle, Carmel; St. Catharine's, Blauvelt; and Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck.

Msgr. Thomas R. Kelly, ordained in 1967, has been pastor of St. Gabriel's, the Bronx, since 1995, where he was appointed after serving as temporary administrator of Infant Saviour, Pine Bush. On Staten Island, he was principal of Moore Catholic High School for 13 years, taught at Msgr. Farrell High School for 12 years and was parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament.

Msgr. Kenneth M. Loughman, ordained in 1958, was a chaplain in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. He became pastor of Most Precious Blood in Walden in 1995 after serving briefly as parochial vicar. Previously he was pastor of St. Peter's, Poughkeepsie, where he had been administrator; associate director of Trinity Retreat in Larchmont; and parochial vicar at St. Gregory Barbarigo in Garnerville and St. James the Apostle in Carmel.

Msgr. James J. Malley, ordained in 1956, has been pastor since 1995 of St. John Neumann on Staten Island, and previously was a chaplain at the former Willowbrook State School there. He was parochial vicar at Our Lady Star of the Sea on Staten Island and Blessed Sacrament in Manhattan.

Msgr. Douglas J. Mathers, ordained in 1985, has been vice chancellor of the archdiocese since 1996. Previously he served on the Metropolitan Tribunal as a judge, defender of the bond and canonical consultant. He was a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory in Manhattan and St. Martin of Tours in the Bronx.

Msgr. Louis J. Mazza, ordained in 1953, is pastor of Immaculate Conception, Sleepy Hollow, where he was appointed in 1993 after serving as administrator. He previously was pastor of St. Christopher's, Red Hook. Other parishes he served were St. Christopher's, Buchanan; St. Bernard's, Manhattan; St. Francis of Assisi, Mount Vernon; Holy Family, Manhattan; St. Ann's, Yonkers; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Bronx; St. Joseph's, New Rochelle; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Poughkeepsie.

Msgr. Patrick V. McNamara, ordained in 1960, is pastor of St. Gabriel's, New Rochelle, where he has served since 1990. He previously was pastor of St. Angela Merici, the Bronx, and has served at Holy Name of Jesus, Manhattan; St. Thomas Aquinas, the Bronx; and St. Columba, Manhattan.

Msgr. John T. Meehan, ordained in 1964, has been pastor since 1992 of St. Mary's, Mount Vernon, and before that was pastor of All Saints, Manhattan. He also served at St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection, and Our Lady of Lourdes, Manhattan, and was director of the Pierre Toussaint Residence, Manhattan, and part-time teacher at Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx.

Msgr. Kevin J. Nelan, ordained in 1977, is pastor of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard's and administrator of St. Veronica's, Manhattan, and is regional vicar of South Manhattan. He was pastor, and previously administrator, of Sacred Heart of Jesus, and temporary administrator of St. Benedict the Moor, both in Manhattan, and port chaplain of the archdiocese and archdiocesan director of the Apostleship of the Sea. He also served at Our Lady of Angels and at SS. Peter and Paul, the Bronx.

Msgr. Robert B. O'Connor, ordained in 1956, has been pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Manhattan, since 1985. Earlier he was pastor of Holy Name of Jesus, Manhattan; and administrator of St. Rita of Cascia, the Bronx, and St. Peter's, Monticello. He served at St. Columba's, Manhattan; St. Peter's, Yonkers; and St. Philip Neri, the Bronx; taught at Msgr. Farrell High School, Staten Island; and was assistant librarian at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie.

Msgr. Joachim J. Olendzki, ordained in 1958, has served as pastor of St. Stanislaus parish, Pine Island, since 1989. He was founding director of Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Roman Catholic Center in Yonkers. He also served at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Staten Island; Our Lady of Victory, Mount Vernon; St. Frances de Chantal, the Bronx; and Assumption, Staten Island. A native of Brazil, he was ordained in Rome, first served in the archdiocese in 1960 and was incardinated in 1974.

Msgr. John N. Paddack, ordained in 1984, has been principal of Msgr. Farrell High School, Staten Island, since 2002. Before that he was on the faculty of St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, Staten Island, and Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx. His first assignment was as parochial vicar of Incarnation parish, Manhattan.

Msgr. Charles P. Quinn, ordained in 1959, has served as pastor of St. Stanislaus parish, Pleasant Valley, since 1995. He was pastor of St. Mary Mother of the Church, Fishkill, where he previously served as administrator and parochial vicar. He also served at the following parishes: Holy Family, Staten Island; Annunciation and Sacred Heart of Jesus, both Manhattan; and St. Joseph's, Middletown. He also was archdiocesan coordinator for the Marriage Encounter movement.

Msgr. Joseph F. Reynolds, ordained in 1959, has served as pastor of St. Anastasia's parish, Harriman, since 1994. He previously was pastor of St. Joseph's, Millbrook. He also served at the following parishes: St. Joseph's, Bronxville; St. Joseph's, Croton Falls; and St. John, Clove. He was on the faculty of Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains.

Msgr. William V. Reynolds, ordained in 1955, has served as pastor of St. Anthony's parish, Nanuet, since 1986. He previously was pastor of St. Augustine's, Larchmont. He also served at St. Joseph's, Spring Valley, and St. Peter's, Kingston.

Msgr. Robert T. Ritchie, ordained in 1971, was appointed rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral in February. Before that, he had served as pastor of Our Lady of Angels and was regional vicar of the Northwest Bronx. He earlier was pastor of St. Catherine of Genoa, Manhattan, 1983-1999, where he also had been a parochial vicar. He was director of Catholic Charities' Department of Youth Services and executive director of the Catholic Youth Organization. Previously he was assistant director of youth activities for Catholic Charities.

Msgr. Robert D. Saccoman, ordained in 1957, has served as pastor of St. Boniface parish, Wesley Hills, since 1997. He was pastor of St. John's, Piermont, and administrator of St. Christopher's, Red Hook. He also served as parochial vicar of the following parishes: St. Anthony's, Nanuet; St. Peter's, Rosendale; St. Martin of Tours, the Bronx; St. Joseph's, New Rochelle; and Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck. He was a faculty member at John A. Coleman Catholic High School in Hurley.

Msgr. John J. Sheehan, ordained in 1954, has served as pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish, Staten Island, since 1996 and previously was parochial vicar there. He was founding pastor of St. John Neumann, Staten Island, 1982-1995, and was administrator at St. Lawrence O'Toole, Brewster, and St. Sylvester's, Staten Island, where he earlier was parochial vicar. He also served at the following parishes: St. Mary's (Rosebank), Staten Island; St. Agnes, Manhattan; Sacred Heart, Staten Island; and St. Patrick's, Bedford.

Msgr. John F. X. Smith, ordained in 1961, has served as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Tuxedo, since 1998 and previously was administrator there. He was pastor of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Cornwall-on-Hudson, and Holy Name of Jesus, Kingston, when he also was on the faculty of John A. Coleman Catholic High School, Hurley. He served as a parochial vicar of St. Peter's, Manhattan, and Sacred Heart, Suffern.

Msgr. Kenneth J. Smith, ordained in 1964, has served as pastor of St. Catherine of Genoa parish, Manhattan, since last August. He has served as a judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal since 2002. He previously was pastor of St. Bernard's parish and administrator of St. Veronica's, both Manhattan. He was pastor of Holy Name of Jesus, Manhattan, and briefly served as administrator of Nativity of Our Blessed Lady, the Bronx. He was parochial vicar of Incarnation, Manhattan. A native of Braintree, Mass., he was ordained for the Diocese of Worcester, Mass., and incardinated into the archdiocese in 1984. He first came to New York in 1976 to serve at the then-Northeast Pastoral Center for Hispanics.

Msgr. John B. Sullivan, ordained in 1961, has served as pastor of St. Mary's, the Bronx, since 1987. He earlier was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and administrator of Ascension, both in Manhattan. He served as parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist, Beacon, and Visitation, the Bronx.

Msgr. Peter Tran Van Phat, ordained in 1967, has served as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus parish, Otisville, since 2001 and previously was administrator there. He also has served as parochial vicar at the following parishes: St. Anthony's, Nanuet; St. Vito's, Mamaroneck; and St. Mary's, the Bronx. A native of Vietnam, he was ordained there and incardinated into the archdiocese in 1989.

Msgr. Edward J. Weber, ordained in 1976, has served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, West Nyack, since 1994, and regional vicar of Rockland County since 2002. He served as parochial vicar at the following parishes: St. Margaret of Cortona, the Bronx; St. Margaret Mary and St. Sylvester's, both Staten Island.

Msgr. Charles F. Zanotti, ordained in 1953, has served as pastor of St. Joseph's parish, Glasco, since 1984. He served as parochial vicar at the following parishes: St. Mary and St. Andrew, Ellenville; Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta, Staten Island; St. Luke's, the Bronx; St. Joseph's (Rosebank), Staten Island; Holy Rosary, Manhattan; and St. Michael's, Staten Island.