Msgr. Malovetz advises remember the past, look to the future

Msgr. Gregory E. S. Malovetz
Celebrating 40 years

“I always say to people that I have been the pastor of probably three different parishes over the past 30 plus years,” said Msgr. Gregory E. S. Malovetz, who has served as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Skillman, since 1989.

“When I first came [here] there was no church; we had a little mission church and we worshipped in the local high school.  [Montgomery Township] was still the remnants of a farming community,” he said.

The 1990s saw a housing boom including many Catholics moving into the area. During COVID, many residents sold their homes, resulting in a “much more ethnically diverse parish than we ever had before,” Msgr. Malovetz explained, noting that St. Charles Borromeo holds large celebrations each year for the Hispanic-influenced feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and for Our Lady of Vailankanni, beloved by the country of India.

As pastor, he led the parish through construction and the retirement of debt on a new church, built in 1993, and an attached pastoral center, constructed in 2006.

Msgr. Malovetz said the parish expanded from between 500 to 600 families to 1,800 at its highest point. There are currently some 1,400 families in the parish.

Leading a parish for over 30 years has given Msgr. Malovetz the chance to know his parishioners. “You’re sort of the holder of the parish’s history,” he said.

Msgr. Malovetz was born in Elizabeth and grew up in Carteret. His family were parishioners in Sacred Heart Church, a Slovak parish. He and his twin brother and a younger sister attended the town’s public elementary and high schools.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Scranton, Scranton, Pa., and a master’s degree in theology from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Msgr. Malovetz was ordained on May 14, 1983, in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, and has served as parochial vicar in St. Joseph Parish, Bound Brook; St. Peter the Apostle, University and Community Parish, New Brunswick, and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Old Bridge.

He was a representative for the County Seat Deanery to the Priest Council and served nine years as diocesan director of evangelization and as a delegate to the first diocesan synod. He also co-chaired the Commission for Synod Implementation.

“If I were to say anything I have learned in ministry, (it is that) you have got to know where you came from (and) you’ve got to know what’s ahead,” Msgr. Malovetz said.

When asked what advice he would give to someone considering a vocation to the priesthood, he said: “My first advice is to know yourself. What are your gifts, what are not your gifts. …The grace of God in priests is going to help you perfect those gifts” and develop new talents,” he added.

Msgr. Malovetz noted the challenge of priesthood now is interacting with people of diverse experiences and opinions, saying, “You’ve got to listen and find a kind of courage to move forward, but at the same time, [understand]… where people are at.”

He said going to church and attending Mass can offer Catholics grace, wisdom, strength and insight “to just give you a little push back into whatever you are going through” in life.