Bishop Dennis Sullivan announces the retirement of four priests:
– Father Patrick J. Brady, pastor of St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, Northfield, will retire June 30.
– Father James J. Durkin, chaplain of St. Mary’s Catholic Home, Cherry Hill, will retire June 30. He will continue in residence at Sacred Heart North.
– Father Robert J. Fritz, senior priest at St. John Neumann, North Cape May, will retire June 30.
– Father Edward J. Lipinski, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul, Turnersville, will retire June 30.
Father Brady, 74, has been pastor of several parishes: St. Joan of Arc, Camden, 1988-93; Our Lady Star of the Sea, Atlantic City, 1993-2004; Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Fatima, 2005-09; St. Bernadette, Northfield, 2009-10; St. Peter, Pleasantville, 2010; and St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Northfield, 2010-present.
Born in Longford, Ireland, he was ordained May 31, 1964, in Wexford, Ireland. He soon thereafter was appointed parochial vicar of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Atlantic City, serving there until 1967.
He also was parochial vicar at St. Bernadette, 1967-69; St. Isidore, Vineland, 1969-71; Assumption, Pomona, 1975-79; St. Vincent Pallotti, Haddon Township, 1979-82; and St. Joan of Arc, 1982-85. He was administrator of St. Joan of Arc, 1985-88.
Father Brady served in Costa Rica, 2004-05.
He has served in the Tribunal and as a member of the Common Policy Committee for Pastoral Marriage Preparation and the Committee for the Continuing Education and Spiritual Formation of Priests.
Father Durkin, 73, was pastor of St. Luke Parish, Stratford, 2000-06; Our Lady of Pompeii, Vineland, 1994-2000; St. Matthew, National Park, 1992-94; and St. Lucy, Blue Anchor, 1990-92.
He also was administrator of St. Lucy, 1988-90, and of Holy Saviour, Westmont, 2008-09.
Born in Woodbury, Father Durkin studied at Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., and was ordained May 18, 1968.
He was parochial vicar at St. Bernadette, 1968-71; St. Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, 1971-74; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Berlin, 1974-81; Christ the King, Haddonfield, 1981-86; St. Lawrence, Lindenwold, 1986-97; and Mary, Mother of the Church, Bellmawr, 1987-88.
He was secretary to Auxiliary Bishop James L. Schad and Bishop George H. Guilfoyle, assistant chancellor, and director of vocations. He also has served on a number of boards and committees, including the Liturgical Commission, Priests Council, Presbyteral Council and Priest Personnel Board.
Father Fritz, 69, a Woodbury native, studied at Glassboro State College; LaSalle, Philadelphia; and St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore. He was ordained May 23, 1975.
He was administrator of St. John Parish, Paulsboro, 2003-06, and Our Lady Queen of Peace, Pitman, 2007-10.
He was parochial vicar at St. James Parish, Ventnor, 1975-76; St. Teresa, Runnemede, 1976-78; St. Francis Cabrini, Ocean City, 1978; Maris Stella, Avalon, 1978-82; St. Rose of Lima, Newfield, 1982-85; St. Vincent de Paul, Mays Landing, 1986-91; St. Bridget, Glassboro, 1991-93; Holy Rosary, Cherry Hill, 1993-96; St. Augustine, Ocean City, 1997-99; Assumption, Pomona, 1999-2002; and St. Thomas, Brigantine, 2002-03.
Father Lipinski, 70, was adjutant judicial vicar for 20 years before serving as pastor of several parishes: St. Maria Goretti Parish, Runnemede, 1996-2001; St. Thomas, Brigantine, 2001-04; St. Joseph, Camden, 2004-08.
He attended Mount St. Mary’s, Emmitsburg, Md., and Mount St. Paul College, Waukesha, Wis. He was ordained May 22, 1971. Father Lipinski was parochial vicar of St. Bernadette Parish, Northfield, 1971-72; St. Joseph, Camden, 1972-77 and 1978-79; St. Agnes, Blackwood, 1979-82; and Holy Maternity, Audubon, 1993-95. He was administrator of Holy Maternity, 1995-97. He has been police and fire chaplain for the city of Camden and served on the Priest Personnel Board and the Diocesan Pastoral Council.