Six Camden priests to retire next month

Six Camden priests to retire next month

Bishop Dennis Sullivan announces the retirement of six priests of the Diocese of Camden next month.

— Father Mark R. Cavagnaro, pastor, Saint Brendan the Navigator, Avalon, will retire July 15.

— Father John A. O’Leary, pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Cape May Court House, will retire July 15.

— Father Michael P. Orsi from Outside the Diocese will retire July 1.

— Father Joseph A. Perreault, pastor, Saint Joseph, Sea Isle City, will retire July 15.

— Father Michael P. Rush, pastor, Saint Damien, Ocean City, will retire July 15.

— Father John J. Vignone, pastor, Saint Katharine Drexel, Egg Harbor Township, will retire July 15.

Father Cavagnaro, 74, has been pastor of Saint Brendan the Navigator since 2016. He was pastor of Resurrection, Marmora, 1994-2005, and then Saint Agnes, Blackwood, from 2005 until 2010 when it merged with Saint Jude to form Our Lady of Hope, where he was pastor until 2016.

Born in Vineland, he studied at Gregorian University and North American College, both in Rome, and at Saint Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore. He was ordained in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, on Dec. 18, 1970, by Bishop (later Cardinal) James Hickey.

He was parochial vicar at Saint Mary, Gloucester City, 1971-74; Saint Jude, Blackwood, 1976-81; and Saint Stephen, Pennsauken, 1981. He worked at Saint Joseph High School, Hammonton, 1974-76, and was assistant CCD director for youth and adult catechesis for the Diocese of Camden in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Father O’Leary, 70, has been pastor of Our Lady of the Angels since 2005 and previously served as pastor of Assumption, Atco, 2000-05.

Born in Philadelphia, he studied at The Catholic University of America, Washington; Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange, N.J.; Theological Seminary, San Francisco, where he earned a doctorate in ministry; and U.S. International University, San Diego, where he earned a doctorate in human behavior.

He was ordained in Saint Lawrence Church, Lindenwold, by Bishop George H. Guilfolye, on May 27, 1978.

Father O’Leary was parochial vicar at Saint Ann Parish, Wildwood, 1978-81; Transfiguration, West Collingswood, 1984-87; Saint Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, 1987-92; Saints Peter and Paul, Turnersville, 1992-93; and Saint Charles Borromeo, 1994-2000. He taught at Wildwood Catholic High School, 1981-82; was chaplain at Burdette Tomlin Hospital, Cape May Court House, 1993-94; and was a member of the Bishop’s Committee on Medical-Moral Issues for Catholic Health Care Facilities and the West Jersey Health System Bioethics Committee.

Father Orsi, 69, has been parochial vicar of Saint Agnes Parish in Naples, Florida, since 2014, after spending 14 years as chaplain and Research Fellow in Law and Religion at Ave Maria School of Law in Naples.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, he studied at Saint Charles Seminary, Philadelphia, and holds a doctorate in education from Fordham University. He was ordained by Bishop George H. Guilfoyle in Brooklyn on May 20, 1976.

In the Camden Diocese, he was director of the Family Life Bureau, 1993-2000; a teacher at Wildwood Catholic High School, 1982-86; and parochial vicar at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Haddon Heights, 1976-77, Transfiguration in West Collingswood, 1977-81, and Saint Thomas More in Cherry Hill, 1981-82. He was also a member of N.J. Gov. Whitman’s Advisory Council on AIDS.

Father Perreault, 70, has been pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, Sea Isle City, since 2008, and previously served as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Ocean City, 2005-08. He was principal of Holy Spirit High School, Absecon, 1993-2008, and spent the previous six years as a teacher and administrator at Camden Catholic, Cherry Hill.

Born in Philadelphia, Father Perreault studied at Saint Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, and was ordained May 21, 1975, in Holy Saviour Church, Westmont, by Bishop George H. Guilfoyle. He was parochial vicar at Saint Vincent Pallotti Parish, Haddon Township, 1975-77, and Saint Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, 1987. He was vocation director for the Diocese of Camden, 1983-87.

Father Rush, 74, has been pastor of Saint Damien Parish, Ocean City, since 2011. He previously was pastor of Saint Augustine Parish, 2002-11, before it was part of the merger that resulted in the establishment of Saint Damien. He was pastor of Holy Name of Jesus, Mullica Hill, 1996-2002.

Born in Philadelphia, Father Rush studied at Christ the King Seminary, Saint Bonaventure, New York, and Niagara University, New York. He was ordained in Saint Andrew Church, Gibbsboro, on May 19, 1973, by Bishop George H. Guilfoyle.

He was parochial vicar at Saint Patrick Parish, Woodbury, 1973-76; Saint Joan of Arc, Camden, 1976-79; Saint Cecilia, Pennsauken, 1979-84; Saint Joseph, Sea Isle City, 1984-87; and Saint Thomas More, Cherry Hill, 1987-96.

Father Vignone, 70, has been pastor of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, Egg Harbor Township, since 2004. After a year as administrator, he was pastor of Queen of Angels, Landisville, 2001-04, and pastor of Saint Michael, Minotola, 1999-2000.

He taught at Saint James High School, Carney’s Point, 1979-86, and Paul VI, Haddonfield, 1986-91.

Born in Jersey City, Father Vignone studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange, N.J., and LaSalle University, Philadelphia. He was ordained in Christ the King Church, Haddonfield, on May 24, 1975, by Bishop George H. Guilfoyle.

He was parochial vicar at Mary Mother of the Church Parish, Bellmawr, 1975; Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Absecon, 1975-79; Saint Agnes, Blackwood, 1991-92; Saint Mary, Cherry Hill, 1992-94; and Saint Teresa, Runnemede, 1994-99.