Bishop Sullivan announces priest assignments and retirements

Bishop announces new pastor appointments

Bishop Sullivan announces new pastor appointments. Each is effective July 1 for a six-year term.

— Father Sanjai Devis, V.C. from Director, Hospital Chaplaincy and In Residence, Saint Charles Borromeo, Sicklerville to Pastor, Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown.

— Father Edward M. Kennedy from Administrator, Saint Clare of Assisi, Gibbstown to Pastor, Saint Clare of Assisi, Gibbstown.

— Father Cadmus D. Mazzarella from Pastor, Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown to Pastor, Notre Dame de la Mer, Wildwood.

— Father Kevin J. Mohan from Administrator, Parish of Saint Monica, Atlantic City to Pastor, Parish of Saint Monica, Atlantic City.

— Father Joseph D. Wallace from Pastor, Notre Dame de la Mer, Wildwood to Pastor, Christ the Redeemer, Atco for a six-year term.

Father Devis, 50, has been director of Hospital Chaplaincy for the Diocese of Camden since 2015.

Born in India, Father Devis was ordained  Nov. 10, 1997. His first assignment in the diocese was serving as a chaplain at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, 2004-07. He was parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish, Sewell, 2007-15. He served as spiritual adviser to the South Jersey Catholic Medical Association, and he became a U.S. citizen in 2018.

Father Kennedy, 39, has been administrator of Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Swedesboro, for the past year. Previously, he served as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood; part-time parochial vicar at Saint Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, and Director of Catholic Identity at Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill.

He attended Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., and Saint Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore. He was ordained May 21, 2016, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden.

Father Mazzarella, 62, has been pastor of Our Lady of Peace since 2009 and before that was pastor of Saint Bridget, Glassboro, 2004-09.

He attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, N.J., and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, and he was ordained Nov. 9, 1985, at Saint Rose of Lima Church, Haddon Heights.

He was priest secretary to Bishop James T. McHugh; both director and moderator of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Camden; director of vocations and campus ministry at Rowan College (now University), Glassboro, and director of Nazareth House, Cherry Hill.

Father Mohan, 36, has been administrator of the Parish of Saint Monica for the past year. A graduate of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, he was ordained May 18, 2013, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden.

He has served as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Williamstown; Saint Mary, Gloucester City; and Our Lady of Hope, Blackwood, and he was Director of Catholic Identity at Gloucester Catholic High School.

Father Wallace, 62, was assigned to Notre Dame de la Mer in 2010 after serving as pastor of Christ the King Parish, Haddonfield, 2005-09, and Queen of Heaven, Cherry Hill, 2003-05.

He is a former executive editor of the Star Herald and current columnist, longtime director of Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs for the Diocese of Camden, and rector of Wildwood Catholic Academy.

He studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, N.J., and was ordained May 25, 1985, at Saint Joseph Church, Somers Point.

Bishop announces priest retirements

Bishop Sullivan announces the following priests will retire effective July 1.

— Msgr. John H. Burton, Pastor, Christ the Good Shepherd, Vineland. 

— Father Edward R. Kolla, Parochial Vicar, Christ the Good Shepherd, Vineland.

— Father Walter A. Norris, Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker, Haddon Township.

— Father Daniel M. Rocco, Pastor, Saint Stephen, Pennsauken.

Msgr. Burton, 74, has been a Vineland pastor for nearly 20 years: at Saint Isidore, 2002-11, at Sacred Heart, 2009-11, and at the parish formed from their merger, Christ the Good Shepherd, since 2011.

Before his years in Vineland, he was pastor of Saint Raymond Parish, Villas, 1996-2002.

Since 2005, he has been one of the Camden Diocese’s Vicar Generals, and over the years he has been heavily involved in the liturgical life of the local church, serving for a time as director of the Office of Worship and as chairman of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission.

Msgr. Burton attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, N.J., and was ordained May 20, 1972, at Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Vineland.

He was parochial vicar at Incarnation Parish, Mantua, 1972-76; Saint Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, 1981-87, and Our Lady of Grace, Somerdale, 1987-96.

Father Kolla, 74, has been serving as parochial vicar at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Vineland, since 2012.

After working as a public school teacher, he entered Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y., and was ordained June 2, 2001, at Saint Agnes Church, Blackwood.

He has been parochial vicar at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, Mays Landing, 2001-04; Saint Mary, Gloucester City, 2004-07, and Saint Damien, Ocean City, 2011-12, and administrator of Saint Francis Cabrini, Ocean City, 2007-11.

He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University and has been an occasional contributor to the Catholic Star Herald in recent years.

Father Norris, 75, has been pastor at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Haddon Township, for the past decade. Previously, he spent seven years at Saint Matthew Parish, National Park, first as parochial vicar, and then administrator and pastor.

Father Norris grew up in Baltimore and entered the Immaculate Conception Province of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines) in 1964, studying at Oblate College in Washington, D.C., before being ordained June 9, 1973, at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore.

From 1975-80, he was vocations director at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken.

In 1990, Father Norris received a law degree from Widener University.  From 1999-2007, he worked for South Jersey Legal Services and the Camden Center for Social Law and Justice.

Father Rocco, 73, has served as pastor of Saint Stephen Parish since 2010 and previously was pastor of Saint Jude, Blackwood, 2002-10.

He studied at the State University of New York, Binghamton, N.Y., and Maryknoll School of Theology, Maryknoll, N.Y. He was ordained on May 26, 1990.

He was parochial vicar at St. Vincent Pallotti Parish, Haddon Township, 1990-96, Christ the King, Haddonfield, 1996-2001, and Saint Agnes, Blackwood, 2001-02.

Bishop Sullivan announces the following priest personnel changes, effective July 1.

Administrators, Second Terms

Father Amadito Flores from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lindenwold, to Administrator, Christ the Good Shepherd, Vineland.

Msgr. William A. Hodge continues as Pastor, Saint Mary, Gloucester, until retirement.

Father Jaime E. Hostios is appointed to a second six-year term as Pastor, Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden.

Father Jose Manjakunnel from Parochial Vicar, Holy Angels, Woodbury, to Administrator, Saint Stephen, Pennsauken.

Father Mark A. Matthias from Parochial Vicar, Holy Trinity, Margate, to Administrator, Saint Joseph the Worker, Haddon Township.

Father Robert L. Sinatra is appointed to a second six-year term as Pastor, Saint Padre Pio, Vineland.

Newly Ordained

Father Steven J. Bertonazzi from Newly Ordained to Parochial Vicar, Incarnation, Mantua.

Father Carlo J. Santa Teresa from Newly Ordained to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph, Somers Point.

Transfers

Father Christopher T. Bakey from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown, to Parochial Vicar, Holy Trinity, Margate.

Father Naveen Borlakunta, V.C. from In Residence, Holy Family, Sewell to In Residence, Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown. Father Borlakunta continues as Hospital Chaplain, Jefferson Hospital, Washington Township, and Inspira Medical Center, Mullica Hill.

Father Hugh J. Bradley from PT Parochial Vicar and In Residence, Holy Angels, Woodbury, to PT Parochial Vicar and In Residence, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Collingswood. Father Bradley continues as PT Director of the Office for Ministry with the Deaf and Persons with Disabilities.

Father Joseph P. Capella from In Residence, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Collingswood, to In Residence, Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill. Father Capella continues as Rector, Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill.

Father John Buckthese Chinnappan, O.C.D. from Parochial Vicar, Saint Mary of Mount Carmel, Hammonton to Parochial Vicar, Saint Monica, Atlantic City.

Father John J. Dolan, OSFS from Outside the Diocese to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Cape May.

Father Anthony M. Infanti from Parochial Vicar, Incarnation, Mantua, to Parochial Vicar, Christ the Good Shepherd, Vineland.

Father Jerold Cruz Mariastanislaus from In Residence, Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden, and Chaplain, Cooper Medical Center, Camden, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Mary of Mount Carmel, Hammonton.

Father Shaji A. Muttathottil, V.C. from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph, Somers Point, to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown.

Father Jean V. Nicolas from Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart, Camden, to Outside the Diocese.

Father Cesar A. Rebolledo Ramirez from Parochial Vicar, Saint Monica, Atlantic City to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lindenwold.

Father Varghese Srambickal, V.C. from Outside the Diocese to Chaplain, Cooper Medical Center, Camden, and In Residence, Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden.