Pastor enjoys helping faithful ‘live authentic Christian discipleship’

SOMERVILLE — Msgr. Joseph G. Celano arrived more than a year ago at Immaculate Conception Parish to become its pastor.

“When I first got here,” Msgr. Celano said to his congregation, “you gave me such a welcome that was warm and accepting, and I will be forever grateful.”

Reflecting on that time, he added, that those heartfelt greetings happened during the midst of the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic, which curtailed face-to-face exchanges.

“With ministries shut down, my interactions were quite limited,” Msgr. Celano said during an interview with “The Catholic Spirit,” noting he only knew his new parishioners “from the bridge of their noses up.”

However, on Sept. 26, at a Mass of installation of Msgr. Celano as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, that had been postponed because of  COVID-19, he scanned the pews of the faithful who came to worship at Immaculate Conception Church and declared, “It’s good to see your faces and to get to know you.”

Msgr. Celano is the eighth pastor in the parish’s 138-year history.

Bishop James F. Checchio presided at the liturgy and the Rite of Installation and gave the homily.

“We pledge our pastor our support and our constant prayer for him and his ministry,” parishioner Judy Hancock said during the Introductory Rite, “and we make the same pledge to you, Bishop Checchio, on this happy occasion.”

In his homily, Bishop Checchio asserted Msgr. Celano “is the right person for this parish,”  which serves about 3,500 registered families. “There’s no handbook on how to run a parish during the pandemic,” the bishop said, adding he was grateful for Immaculate Conception’s staff, congregation and in particular its pastor for their “extraordinary effort.”

“You’ve gotten to know the reasons he’s here,” Bishop Checchio said, citing the new pastor’s prayerfulness, energy, enthusiasm and dedication. “I certainly thank him for taking on the pastoral responsibilities of this parish and schools [Immaculate Conception and Immaculata High].”

The Rite of Installation included the presentation of the parish parochial vicars, deacons and staff, its finance committee and pastoral council, and the trustees. Bishop Checchio also addressed Msgr. Celano, saying, “always be a loving father, a gentle shepherd, and a wise teacher of your people, so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do.”

After all prayed the “Nicene Creed,” Msgr. Celano faced the bishop and recited an oath of fidelity, part of which says: “With firm faith I also believe everything contained in God’s word, written or handed down in tradition …”

After applause from the congregation, Msgr. Celano received well-wishes from the bishop and other clergy from the altar, including parochial vicars Father Joseph M. Curry and Father Joseph Illes, and Father Timothy A. Christy, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia.

Hancock and John Tegeler, both longtime parishioners who are the parish’s civil trustees, agreed Msgr. Celano is the right man to shepherd Immaculate Conception. Despite a transition after nearly 20 years under Msgr. Seamus Brennan, both said the new pastor brings new life.

And, noting the parish schools need updating, Tegeler said Msgr. Celano’s administrative experiences will be valuable.

Before the Mass concluded, Msgr. Celano acknowledged Msgr. Brennan, who has retired and is in residence at St. Matthias Parish, Somerset.

“This parish owes him a great deal of gratitude,” Msgr. Celano said, “and so I commend to you that we’ll never forget him, and that you will constantly hold him in your prayers.”

Msgr. Celano, 61, also serves the diocese as episcopal vicar, Vicariate for Administration, a role that covers everything from overseeing its cemeteries to stewardship and development.

In 2016, during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis sent out Msgr. Celano among priests worldwide as “Missionaries of Mercy,” who were given special grace to forgive sins only the Apostolic See can lift.

And, callers to the diocese’s main telephone number will hear the rich, recorded voice of Msgr. Celano’s gracing the line. He also once hosted a diocesan religious radio program, “Proclaim the Good News.”

“Some people say I’m the voice of God. I get a lot of kidding about that,” the affable priest said.

But for all his other roles, Msgr. Celano said he has always felt at home as a diocesan priest in a parish community.

“I see the parish where the rubber of the Gospel meets the road,” he said during the earlier interview. “And you are with people in the happiest and most difficult and tragic moments of their lives.

“There’s something about accompanying people with the Gospel and helping them to live authentic Christian discipleship that really is at the heart of any priest’s mission,” he said. “And to do that in a stable community is just something that’s always been in me.”

Msgr. Celano was born in Newark to the late Mary L. Kennedy and Marino J. Celano. He attended St. Matthias School, Somerset, and the now-closed St. Pius X High School, Piscataway.

He earned an associate’s degree in social-behavioral science at Somerset County College, Somerset; a Bachelor of Arts degree in human resources at the University of Scranton (Pa.); and a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts in Biblical studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. He was ordained to the priesthood May 30, 1987, at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen.