Catechetical Office

Fr. Keith Fennessy – Pastor, St. Margaret Mary Parish

Fifth generation New Yorker, Father Fennessy grew up in Manhattan. He graduated from Immaculate Conception School, LaSalle Academy, and Iona College.

From an early age, Father Fennessy was involved in civic and church affairs. Among his community involvements, he was elected a member of the Community School Board 2.

Father Fennessy received a Masters of Divinity from St. Joseph’s Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood on December 1, 1984. He has served in the parishes of St. Gabriel’s in the Bronx, Sacred Heart in Suffern, and St. Columbanus in Cortland Manor. He returned to Manhattan to serve as Chaplain at Mount Sinai Hospital and Director of Mission Development and Pastoral Services at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center. Father Fennessy was named pastor of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in lower Manhattan where he did much to revive interest in this historic church. He also served on Community Board 2.

Father Fennessy came to Staten Island to assist Msgr. James Dorney at St. Peter’s Church and, subsequently, he administered at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel/St. Benedicta. Since 2006 he has been the pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Midland Beach.

 

Fr. D. Michael Flynn, S.J. – Pastor, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish

Fr. D. Michael Flynn, S.J. was born on January 2, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of Holy Child Jesus Grammar School in 1954, Power Memorial Academy in 1958, and St. Peter’s College in 1962. He entered the Society of Jesus in August of 1962, taking his first vows in August of 1964. He was ordained a priest May 26, 1973.

From 1967 to 1970 Fr. Michael taught at St. Peter’s Prep. He then taught at Xavier High School in Manhattan from 1972 to 1980. He was the Director of Vocations from 1980 to 1986. In 1986 he was named Pastor of Nativity Parish where he served through 1996. In 1998 he began his work with EPNE (Estudios Pastorales de la Nueva Evangelización) through 2002. He was then appointed Administrator of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Port Richmond, where in September of 2002 he became Pastor. In 2006 he was also appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta Parish in West Brighton. Fr. Michael presently continues as Pastor in both Staten Island Parishes.
 

Fr. John Steven Kostek – Pastor, St. Ann’s Parish

Fr. John Steven Kostek was born in Hudson, New York, on July 10, 1942 to John Peter and Mary Rose Hull Kostek. He attended St. Mary’s Academy from kindergarten through 12th grade. Fr. Kostek attended seminary at St. Mary’s College and S.S. Cyril and Methodius Theoligate in Orchard Lake, Michigan.

Fr. John was ordained for his home diocese of Albany, New York, on May 5, 1973 at a private ordination at his parish Church of Sacred Heart in Hudson, New York.

He experienced five parish assignments in the diocese of Albany for 25 years. Fr. John came to minister in the Archdiocese of New York and was assigned by John Cardinal O’Connor in 1998 to Our Lady of Victory in downtown Manhattan. Then on September 11, 2001, he was assigned to Holy Child Church on Staten Island. Later, officially incardinated into the Archdiocese of New York in 2003, he was appointed by His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, in 2005 as Pastor of St. Ann’s Church, Dongan Hills, Staten Island.
 

Fr. Louis Jerome – Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish

Fr. Louis Jerome grew up on Staten Island, one of four children of Louis and Phyllis Jerome. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School before going on to Monsignor Farrell High School.

The example of the Archdiocesan priests and Christian Brothers teaching at Monsignor Farrell had a strong influence on his determination to become a priest. At Fordham University, he studied history and entered the Saint John Neumann Residence during his senior year there. After graduating Fordham, he entered Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. He was ordained by John Cardinal O’Connor in 1988 and has served as parochial vicar in three parishes – Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale, St. Mary’s in Poughkeepsie, and St. Patrick’s in Yorktown Heights.

In 2003, Fr. Jerome became the Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish on Staten Island. He enjoys working with youth in all aspects but most especially teaching religion in the parish school, which is his joy. Although the ministry to the young is challenging, Fr. Jerome feels that he always receives a thousand fold more than he gives.
 

Fr. Robert Aufieri – Pastor, Holy Rosary Parish

Father Robert Aufieri, the seventh Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in South Beach, was ordained a priest in 1974. A native of the Bronx, he attended both public and catholic elementary school there and Salesian High School in New Rochelle. In addition to a B.A. and M.Div. from St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, he has an M.A. from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. For the first 20 years of his priesthood, Father served as a Parochial Vicar on Staten Island, the Bronx, Putnam and Westchester counties, while teaching at the Archdiocesan Catechetical Institute of St. Joseph's Seminary. From 1994 to 2000, he was director of the office for Parish councils of the Archdiocese and Executive Secretary of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council under John Cardinal O'Connor.

In 2000, Edward Cardinal Egan appointed him Director of Pastoral Ministries. From 2002 to 2008, he was responsible for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs in the Archdiocese and The Italian Apostolate, while also on staff at the parish of St. John the Evangelist in Manhattan. Father was appointed pastor of Holy Rosary Parish on August 1, 2008 and continues his Archdiocesan duties as Director of Italian Apostolate.

Father's one sibling, Joan, serves as a NYC Public School nurse supervisor and resides in the family home in the Bronx. His remaining uncle is a former professional baseball player and retired employee of the NY Yankees, which accounts for Father’s avid interest in baseball. Father enjoys swimming and playing racquetball and is a fan of movies and plays having been involved in acting in high school and college. He continues to follow politics and volunteered in several political campaigns in the 1960's. Father is fluent in French and Italian and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

 

Msgr. Thomas J. Bergin – Pastor, St. Charles Parish

Born and raised in the Bronx, Msgr. Bergin attended Regis High School and Manhattan and Cathedral Colleges before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. He was ordained a Diocesan Priest in 1961, and except for 1982-1983, when he was the Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in upstate Poughkeepsie, he spent thirty years as a priest on Staten Island, first as Assistant Pastor of St. Charles Church, then at Msgr. Farrell High School (1965-1973) where he taught Latin, Religion and Psychology, was a Guidance Counselor, and Chairman of the Athletic Department.

From 1973-1982, Msgr. Bergin was the principal of Moore Catholic High School. He returned as Farrell’s educational leader in 1983, remaining there until July 1,1992, when John Cardinal O’Connor named Msgr. Bergin the Vicar for Education of the Archdiocese. On January 15, 1993, the Cardinal appointed him Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Msgr. Bergin served as both Chancellor and Vicar for Education for a year before returning full-time to the education post. On July 1, 1995, he became the president of Cathedral Girls High School in Manhattan, while continuing as Vicar for Education.

During his years at Msgr. Farrell and Moore Catholic High Schools, Msgr. Bergin was a weekend assistant at a number of Staten Island parish churches, and served daily and weekends at St. John the Evangelist Church on East 55th Street in Manhattan from 1995-2002.

Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Bergin a Prelate of Honor, with the title Reverend Monsignor, in 1990. Msgr. Bergin has been an Archdiocesan Consultor since 1993.

In May 2002 Msgr. Bergin was assigned as Administrator of St. Raymond’s Parish in the Bronx. On July 1, 2004, Msgr. Bergin returned to Staten Island, being named the fifth Pastor of St. Charles in Oakwood Heights.

 

Fr. Peter J. Byrne – Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish

Fr. Byrne was born in Manhattan in 1951 and attended Immaculate Conception grammar school, Cardinal Hayes High School, and Fordham College. Although he entered the seminary in 1974, he took time off and was a teacher for 6 years. He was ordained on December 1, 1984 by Cardinal O’Connor.

Fr. Byrne was assigned to St. Teresa of Avila parish in Sleepy Hollow from 1984 to 1992. From 1992 to 1994 he was the administrator of St. Thomas Aquinas parish in the Bronx under Bishop Garmendia. Since 1994 he has been the administrator and then pastor of Immaculate Conception. From 1994 to 2007 he was also the administrator of St. John the Baptist de la Salle, which has since closed.

Fr. Byrne is currently the Chairman of the Respect Life Committee of the Staten Island Area Conference. When needed, he assists Fr. Frank Naccarato at the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility.

Fr. Byrne studied Spanish at Douglaston and in the Dominican Republic. He has served in Spanish-speaking parishes for his entire priesthood.

 

Fr. Eugene J. Carrella – Pastor, St. Adalbert Parish

Fr. Carrella was born on April 17, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, to Eugene and Marie (nee Laurenzano) Carrella. He was baptized in St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Flatlands, Brooklyn, and he began school at St. Francis of Paola School in Greenpoint, where he was educated by the Capuchin Sisters of the Infant Jesus. Both the parish and the school had a profound influence on him; from the time he was 6 years old, he wanted to be a priest.

The family moved to Staten Island in 1967 where they attended Holy Family Parish. At the time Fr. Carrella could not get into a Catholic School, so he attended P.S. 30 and J.H.S. 51. He went to Moore Catholic H.S. and Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, N.Y. He entered St. Joseph's Seminary in 1980 and was ordained a priest December 1, 1984 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral by John Cardinal O'Connor.

Father’s first assignment was at St. Benedict Church in the Bronx from 1984 to 1989 and then from 1989 to 1998 he served at Annunciation Church in Yonkers. In 1998 he was named Pastor of St. Adalbert.

Fr. Carrella’s great passion is the lives of the Saints. He collects holy cards, statues and relics of the Saints. “They truly are my heavenly companions.” He has been fascinated by the lives of the Saints since he was a little child; it was this that led him to the priesthood. “I am grateful to God for the gift of my priesthood.”

 

Fr. Michael W. Cichon – Pastor, Assumption-St. Paul

Father Michael is a native Staten Islander born and raised on the north shore. He is a graduate of St. Adalbert Elementary School and Msgr. Farrell High School. Father also graduated from Cathedral College in Douglaston before entering St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, Yonkers, New York. He was ordained a priest in 1985.

Father Michael's first assignment was as Parochial Vicar of St. Charles, Staten Island. His next assignment was as Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick's Church, Yorktown, New York. In 1994, he returned to Staten Island as Parochial Vicar of St. Clare. In 2001, Father Michael was named Pastor of St. Joseph-St. Thomas in Pleasant Plains. On July 1, 2007, Father Michael became Pastor of the Parish of Assumption-St. Paul. Father is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Crossroad Foundation. His hobbies include reading and traveling. He also enjoys playing with his chocolate Lab Maggie.

 

Msgr. Jeffrey P. Conway – Pastor, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish

Msgr. Conway was born on December 24, 1947 in Yonkers, New York. He attended St. Peter’s Elementary School in Yonkers and Cathedral Prep for grades 9 through 12. After attending Cathedral College for his freshman and sophomore years, Father completed his undergraduate work at St. Joseph’s Seminary. He continued in the graduate program at the Seminary and received his Master of Divinity degree.

Msgr. Conway was ordained a Deacon on March 25, 1972 at St. Joseph’s Seminary. He served as a Deacon in Our Lady of Victory Parish in Mount Vernon from 1972 to 1973.

Msgr. Conway was ordained a Priest on May 26, 1973 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. His first assignment was in St. Joseph’s Parish, Croton Falls, from 1973 to 1976. He then served at Cardinal Spellman High School from 1976 to 1977. His next assignment was at St. Patrick’s, Staten Island from 1977 to 1987, and then he was Administrator at Sacred Heart, Manhattan, from 1987-1989. In 1989 he became Pastor at St. Paul’s, Staten Island, until 1993 when he was named Pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea. He has led this Parish in building a new Pre-K, an Athletic Complex, and a new Church is now being built and will be completed soon.

On October 12, 1995, Father Conway was named Monsignor (Prelate of Honor). He has worked with addicts and alcoholics for 30 years and has been involved in the Healing Ministry for over 25 years.

 

Fr. Robert Dillon – Pastor, St. John Neumann Parish

Father Robert Dillon, the youngest of seven children, was raised in Sacred Heart Parish, Monroe, New York, where he attended the parish school. He attended John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, and graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching. He then taught sixth-grade on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He studied at the St. John Neumann Residence in Riverdale and was sent to Rome to live at the North American College and study at the Pontifical Gregorian University as well as the University of St. Thomas (Angelicum), from which he received his licentiate in Spiritual Theology in 1998.

Father Rob was ordained by John Cardinal O'Connor in 1997 and has served all of his parish assignments on Staten Island. He was at Holy Rosary for the summer of 1997 and from 1998 to 2006 he served as parochial vicar at St. Charles. Since October 2006, he has been pastor of St. John Neumann Parish.

 

Msgr. James J. Dorney – Pastor, St. Peter’s Parish

Msgr. Dorney was born on July 12, 1932. He attended St. John’s Elementary School, the Bronx; Cathedral College Prep School, Manhattan; and graduated from St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers in 1958. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1958. During the summer of 1958, Msgr. Dorney attended Catholic University’s Post Graduate Studies in Spanish in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Msgr. Dorney’s assignments included Associate, Our Savior Church, Bronx; Associate, St. Agnes Church, New York; Associate St. Elizabeth’s Church, Washington Heights; Associate Pastor, St. Paul’s Church, Congers; Associate Pastor, St. Margaret Mary’s Church, Staten Island; and Administrator, St. Peter’s Church, Staten Island. He was named Pastor of St. Peter’s on July 1, 1986.

Prelate of Honor was bestowed on him on October 11, 1995, and on October 27, 1998, Msgr. Dorney was named Regional Vicar for Staten Island

Msgr. Dorney presently serves as Chaplain, NYC Police Department, Patrol Borough Staten Island, and as Catholic Chaplain, U.S. Coast Guard Activities New York, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island. He is also Chaplain of Richmond Division Holy Name Society; Knights of Columbus; Member of Ancient Order of Hibernians; and Honorary Member of Notre Dame Club of Staten Island.

 

Msgr. Peter G. Finn – Pastor, Blessed Sacrament Parish

Born October 6, 1938, Msgr. Finn is a native of Stapleton, Staten Island, and a graduate of St. Peter’s Boys’ High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Manhattan College, a Master of Education in Social Science from Richmond College, a Master of Education in Supervision and Administration from Columbia University, and a Master of Divinity from St. Joseph’s Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1965 by Francis Cardinal Spellman.

Following his ordination, Msgr. Finn was appointed parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Church in Rosebank. He then served for two years at St. Catherine’s Church in Pelham. He returned to Staten Island in 1968 to teach at Msgr. Farrell High School where he was Department Chairman of Social Studies and Athletics. From 1974 to 1983, he was District Superintendent for Catholic Schools, and in 1977 he was named Supervising Principal of Farrell.

Msgr. Finn left Staten Island in 1983 to become Director of Communications for the Archdiocese, a post he held for six years. During that period he was appointed Chaplain of His Holiness in 1986. In 1989 he returned to the Island as Pastor of St. Joseph-St.Thomas Parish where he served for twelve years. Prelate of Honor was bestowed on him in 1990, and Msgr. Finn was named Co-Regional Vicar for Staten Island from 1998 to 2001.

In 2001 Msgr. Finn was appointed Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, and he also served on the Archdiocesan Priests Council and the Archdiocesan Board of Consultors. He was Rector of the Seminary for six years until 2007 when he was appointed Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish and, once again, Co-Regional Vicar for Staten Island.

Msgr. Finn holds current memberships in numerous organizations, both religious and community-oriented.

 

Msgr. Richard J. Guastella – Pastor, St. Clare’s Parish

Born in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan on December 22, 1946, Monsignor Richard J. Guastella is the second son of Coletta and the late Joseph Guastella. He attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs elementary school and graduated in 1960. He was active in the parish CYO and credits the priest moderators in helping to nurture his vocation to the priesthood. He graduated from Bishop Dubois High School in 1964 and attended Cathedral College and St. Joseph’s Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity Degree.

Father Richard was ordained on May 27, 1972. His first priestly assignment was at Holy Rosary Parish in the northeast section of the Bronx. Much of his ministry was directed toward youth as moderator of the parish teen club, teaching religion in the parish school, and helping to involve the young in the Sunday liturgies and life of the parish.

In 1980, Msgr. Guastella became the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of New York and in 1983 was assigned as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Manhattan where, in addition to his regular duties, he was involved with youth work.

Cardinal John O’Connor assigned him as pastor of Holy Rosary Church, Staten Island, in 1987 and gave him the mandate, “Help the people build the church they so greatly desire.” He did just that. The new church opened in 1991 and was followed by construction of a parish center which enabled Holy Rosary to expand its programs for various parish groups.

In 1995, Pope John Paul II named Fr. Richard a Prelate of Honor with the title Monsignor. He was the longest serving pastor in the history of Holy Rosary, serving a total of 21 years. The loving spirit of generosity and volunteerism enabled the parish to enter into partnership with Project Hospitality, which houses homeless women in the former rectory on Sand Lane. “Respecting the poor and assisting them in their needs is truly God’s work,” he maintains.

Msgr. Guastella was assigned as Pastor of St. Clare’s, Staten Island, the largest parish in the Archdiocese of New York, in July 2008. St. Clare’s reaches out to the sick and elderly of the Great Kills community and also provides help for the unemployed through its Employment Support Group, and counseling for individuals and families grappling with emotional problems. Monsignor looks forward to many happy years at St. Clare’s.

 

Fr. Joseph M. McLafferty – Pastor, St. Christopher Parish

Father McLafferty was born in Manhattan in 1969. When he was five years old his family moved upstate to Harriman/Monroe in Orange County. He is the youngest of three sons of James and Kathleen McLafferty. His mother died when he was in high school, and his father, who is still alive, remarried when Father McLafferty was in college.

Father grew up in a small parish in Harriman, St. Anastasia, which had no parochial school, and so he attended public schools through high school. During high school, he thought seriously about becoming a priest. He went off to college and lived in St. John Neumann Residence, a house in the Bronx for men considering the priesthood, and commuted to Iona College for classes. Father lived in the residence for four years, prayed and studied and did chores there with about 50 to 60 men, all considering God’s plan for their lives.

After graduating from Iona, Father McLafferty entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. He studied for a year in Rome and then two years at Dunwoodie. Not sure of where God wanted him, he did not finish his final year but went to live with his parents in Old Bridge, New Jersey. He worked in Manhattan for a not-for-profit housing development corporation headed by a priest in East Harlem. He worked with that priest for 3½ years, both for the housing corporation and for his parish, St. Francis de Sales, during which time he lived in the Bronx. It was that work for the parish, the priest’s encouragement, and enlightened with God’s grace, that led him back to the Seminary to finish his studies and formation for the priesthood. He spent two more years in the Seminary and was ordained on May 20, 2000, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“It was a long trip to the priesthood, from high school graduation in 1987 until 2000, but there are no regrets, and due to God’s grace, I felt it was the path that I needed to take.”

Fr. McLafferty’s first assignment was at St. Patrick’s, Yorktown Heights, from 2000 to 2004, and from 2004 to 2008 he was assigned to Our Lady Star of the Sea on Staten Island. He became Pastor of St. Christopher’s as of September 1, 2008.

 

Fr. Austin E. Titus III – Pastor, Holy Family Parish

Fr. Austin was born on May 13, 1951 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Austin II and Eileen Titus. Father has an older brother, Leo, and a younger sister, Eileen, completing the Titus family. His parents moved from Bay Ridge to Long Island when he was a young child. He grew up there and had a Catholic education from elementary school to college

Fr. Austin knew from the time he was in second grade that he wanted to become a Priest. In 1965, when it was time for high school, he entered a high school seminary on Long Island. He did not continue his studies for the priesthood after high school because most of his friends left, and he wanted to be with them. He entered St. Bonaventure University to continue his education. After graduation he worked as a CPA on Wall Street and for Price Waterhouse from 1984-1987. In 1987 he entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers to continue his studies for the priesthood. It took him almost 20 years to return, and he was ordained on May 16, 1992.

Fr. Austin was assigned to St. Francis of Rome in the Bronx for 5 years, St. Rita’s on Staten Island for 6 years, and he is presently the Pastor of Holy Family Parish here on Staten Island.

Fr. Austin enjoys camping, swimming, boating, the beach, people, and “peace and quiet” …. and dislikes disunity.
 

Fr. Alan F. Travers – Pastor, Holy Child Parish

Fr. Travers is a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Stonehill College in 1972 and was awarded the Master of Divinity Degree from St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, whence he and his classmates were ordained for the Archdiocese of New York by Most Reverend Joseph T. O’Keefe in 1983.

Since then, Fr. Travers served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory, Mount Vernon, where he significantly advanced ministry to the Portuguese speaking community. Subsequent assignments were Our Lady of Victory, Manhattan; St. Patrick, Yorktown Heights; and St. Anthony, Nanuet.

Tours of duty during ten years of chaplaincy as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy included: Amphibious Squadron 4, Little Creek, Virginia; Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina; U.S.S. Essex LHD-2, Sasebo, Japan; and Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Washington.

He now goes forth as Pastor of Holy Child Church, Eltingville.
 

Fr. Richard Veras – Pastor, St. Rita’s Parish

Fr. Veras was ordained in 1996. He discerned his vocation to the priesthood through his involvement with the Catholic lay movement, Communion and Liberation, which has a great emphasis on the importance of Christian education. The movement was begun by a priest, Msgr. Luigi Giussani, whose full time assignment was teaching high school.

Fr. Veras has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Hofstra University and a Master of Arts in Scripture from St. Joseph’s Seminary.

His first assignment was Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Bronx, and his second assignment was St. Joseph-St. Thomas in Staten Island. In both of those parishes he would teach the upper grades in the school once a week. His third assignment was teaching religion full time at Archbishop Stepinac High School from 2004-2008. In his last three years at Stepinac, Fr. Veras was the Religion Chair.

Fr. Veras has written two books for Servant Books that are based on the freshman and sophomore religion lesson plans he developed at Stepinac. The first book is called “Jesus of Israel: Finding Christ in the Old Testament”. The second is a commentary/ reflection on the Book of Revelation which Servant Books will publish later this year and which has not yet been titled. He is also a regular contributor to Magnificat Magazine. He has received a number of awards from the Catholic Press Association for his Magnificat articles as well as a CPA award for his first book. “Jesus of Israel”.

Fr. Veras adapted Bishop Patrick Ahern’s book, “Maurice and Therese; Story of a Love”, into a stage play which has been performed since 2003 in parishes, seminaries, and convents on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

Fr. Veras is currently the Pastor of St. Rita’s in Staten Island where he teaches the 7th and 8th graders once a week and organizes educational trips for them. He visits the other classes whenever possible. He also teaches one class on the Old and New Testaments for sophomores at St. Joseph by the Sea High School.
 

Msgr. Edmund J. Whalen – Pastor, St. Joseph-St. Thomas Parish

Msgr. Whalen was raised in Blessed Sacrament Parish, Staten Island, where he attended the parish school and then went to Msgr. Farrell High School. He then entered the seminary system, beginning with Cathedral College, Douglaston. From there he was sent to Rome to live at the North American College and study at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Further studies continued at the Academia Alfonsiana, from which he received his licentiate in moral theology in 1985. While at Rome, he taught religion in the high school department of Marymount International School.

Msgr. Whalen was ordained by John Cardinal O’Connor in 1984. From 1985 to 1987, he served at Resurrection Parish, Rye, where he taught at the parish high school, Resurrection Academy. He then was assigned to Msgr. Farrell High School where he chaired the religion department and, in addition to religion, taught foreign languages. He also taught at the Archdiocesan Catechetical Institute, Dunwoodie. In 1990 he became secretary to Cardinal O’Connor. In 1992, he returned to Rome and finished his doctorate in moral theology at the Alfonsianum in 1995, writing his dissertation on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He then joined the faculty of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, as Professor of Moral Theology, a post he held until 2007. While there, he served as Vice-Rector until being named Rector of St. John Neumann Seminary Residence, the college and pre-theology program for men studying for the priesthood. In 2001, he was named pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish, Throgg’s Neck, The Bronx, and in 2007 was named pastor of St. Joseph-St. Thomas, Staten Island.
 

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