Bishop Joseph A. Galante announces the retirement of Msgr. Russell L. Rock, pastor, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Runnemede, effective May 1.
Msgr. Rock, 73, spent many years serving in Catholic schools before his appointment to St. Maria Goretti in 2002.
He was principal of two high schools: Paul VI High School, Haddon Township, 1976-2002, and St. Joseph High School, Camden, 1973-76.
In 1963, a year after his ordination, Msgr. Rock joined the faculty of Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill. He was named vice principal of Gloucester Catholic in 1969, and served as acting principal there in 1973.
Msgr. Rock graduated from St. John’s Seminary in Little Rock, Ark. He was ordained on April 8, 1962, in San Francisco, Calif.
After serving briefly as parochial vicar at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Cape May, he pursued graduate studies at Villanova University.
He has served as a member of the Presbyteral Council, College of Consultors, and Diocesan Finance Council.