Msgr. John B. Gordon installed as pastor of bilingual parish at Mass

CARTERET — Living and carrying out their ministry was not just a journey for Christ’s disciples, Bishop James F. Checchio told the congregation at St. Joseph Church, but “a way of life.”

“They faced many obstacles and challenges along the way… [but] God is always with us,” he added.

Msgr. John B. Gordon, who first arrived at the parish last Sept. 1, was installed as its newest pastor July 11. The bilingual faith community, founded in 1893, numbers about 2,000 registered families, 100 religious education students and 100 parish elementary school students.

Msgr. Gordon, a native of South Plainfield, earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at St. Pius X Seminary, Scranton University, Pa., and a Master of Divinity degree at Christ the King Seminary, Buffalo.

He was ordained to the priesthood May 18, 1985, at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen.

Early in his priesthood, Msgr. Gordon served in the parishes of St. Bartholomew, East Brunswick; Guardian Angels, Edison; St. Magdalene de Pazzi, Flemington, and St. Mary, Perth Amboy.

In the late 1990s, Msgr. Gordon worked for three years as a missionary in Ecuador with the Society of St. James the Apostle. He returned to the Diocese of Metuchen in 2000 and was named administrator, then pastor, of La Asuncion Parish and Our Lady of Hungary, both in Perth Amboy.

For five years, he served as multicultural director of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese. His ministry also included terms as chaplain for Bishop George Ahr High School, now St. Thomas the Aquinas High School, Edison; the now-closed S. Pius X High School, Piscataway, and the now-closed St. Mary High School, South Amboy. He was installed as Chaplain to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI with the title of Monsignor Jan. 29, 2012.

At the rite of installation, Bishop Checchio asked the parish staff, Finance Council and Trustees to stand, indicating their acceptance of the new pastor’s role.

During the presentation of bread and wine at the Offertory, representatives from these three groups brought forth tokens of their ministry: the tabernacle key, reflecting the spiritual life of the parish; the baptismal record, filled with the official sacramental history of the parish, and the parish seal, representing the school and parish communities.

Msgr. Gordon responded with “Remember, my brother, always be a loving father, a gentle shepherd and a wise teacher of your people,” Bishop Checchio advised the new pastor, “so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do.”

In his profession of faith and oath of fidelity, he proclaimed, “With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in God’s Word, written or handed down in tradition … accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by the Church… [and] adhere to the teachings [of] the Roman Pontiff and college of bishops.”

Bishop Checchio reminded the congregation that “there are three essentials of prayer: patience, perseverance, and persistence. Never become discouraged,” he told Msgr. Gordon. “We are grateful that all here work so hard to keep the faith alive, to keep feeding you. Continue to build up the kingdom, for if not us, who will do it? God is with us, He is for us, He helps us, and He never leaves us alone.”

In an interview following the Mass, Msgr. Gordon shared his four priorities for the parish listed in his pastoral plan. “We want to look at the legacy of the church, so it can be a gift for the parish pioneers to share their testimony; to see the growth of the school, which will be 100 years old in 2023; continue the outreach and charity ministries of the parish and try different models of evangelization with the Spanish and English families of the church.”

The monsignor’s advice to a young man considering the priesthood is to follow his instincts. “Feel like you have a second home in the parish,” he said. “See where your interests are. Ask God to not let the idea be dormant. Thoughtfulness is important -- think of what all that activity really means.”