Priest and Pastor – Servant and Shepard

Congratulation to Msgr. Charles for completing 40 years of priesthood. He is the pastor of my parish St. James. He is a very kind, generous and holy person. He has always offered the church and hall for our Gujarati Catholic Samaj of USA. We are very grateful for his generosity.   

Msgr. Charles Cicerale was born in New Brunswick, NJ to Lucile M. and Louis Michael Cicerale. He has one sister, Mary Alice Cicerale. He attended St. Mary of Mount Virgin School, New Brunswick and was a member of the first graduating class of St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, in 1965. He earned a bachelor’s  degree in philosophy and Master of Arts degree in theology from St. Bonaventure University, Olean, N.Y., according to the press release, which was written by Carolyn Hughes of the Catholic Sprit diocesan news-paper.

He also holds a Master of Social Work degree from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and a Master of Sacred Theology degree in marriage and family counseling from the New York Theological Seminary, New York City. He attended St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn., earning an associate degree and Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, N.Y.

He was ordained May 17, 1975, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary Cathedral, Trenton. He served as associate pastor in the parishes of St. Ann, Lawrenceville; Immaculate Conception, Somerville; and St. Ambrose, Old Bridge. He served as administrator of St. Ann Parish, Raritan, for three months, and at St. James Parish for more than six years, until he was installed as pastor Jan. 04, 2009.

He served as first director, diocesan office of Vocations, and worked from 1984-89 in the formation of future clergy at Theological college, Washington, D.C. He was appointed the first director, Office of Ministry to Priests, by Bishop-Emeritus Edward T. Hughes, a position he held for 12 years. He also served as dean of the Arthur Kill Deanery in 2009, and now is dean of the Cathedral Deanery.

He is on the diocesan Council of Priests and Board of Consulters. A licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey, Msgr. Cicerale is a member of Social Workers and the Association of Christian Therapists. He sists on the board of directors for the Center for Great Expectations, Somerset, and the Dombol-Vogel Foundation. He is also chaplain for the Knights of Columbus Council No. 857, Woodbridge, and assist the ministry to East Jersey State Prison in Rahway, by offering the sacraments to the men behind the walls.

He was bestowed with pontifical honors as part of the Diocese of Metuchen’s 30^th anniversary celebration on January 29, 2012.

Source: Woodbridge Sentinel, February 16, 2012.