In a little nook area below the Palisades in Weehawken called The Shades, there stands the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Lawrence, whose steeple can be seen as one drives over the overpass bridges that link the City of Hoboken and the Township of Weehawken together, which houses a very spiritual pastor with strong convictions.
Reverend James Whelan, who has been the pastor there for three years, was born in Newark, and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey to loving parents Frank and Elizabeth Whelan who are now deceased. He is a graduate of Saint Benedict’s Prep in Newark, and went on to achieve an associate’s degree in general business from Essex County College in 1970. From there, he went on to Seton Hall University in South Orange and achieved a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1972. He went to work in the private sector in the accounting area until 1988, when he felt something was missing in his life and in his world of work.
Then he saw and read an advertisement in the Saint Joseph Church parish bulletin in Maplewood about entering the priesthood. He went to the meeting and realized that he found his “calling,” and went into the Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University and achieved a Master of Divinity Degree, became a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey in 1993, and never looked back. He left his family home in Maplewood since 1937, after a journey that began on Aug. 31, 1988 and five years of seminary study, which ended on May 29, 1993 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark and ordainment into the priesthood.
His first assignment was at the Church of the Assumption in Emerson in Bergen County for three years. Next, he went on to the Church of the Nativity in Midland Park, New Jersey for five and a half years, then on to Corpus Christi Church in Hasbrouck Heights for six years, until finally becoming the administrator for Saint Lawrence Church in Weehawken in March of 2007, where he was then was appointed pastor in April of 2008 by Archbishop John J. Myers of the Newark Archdiocese.
Thus far under his pastorate, the church has been renovated, and he has continued on with his religious and social ideals by implementing new ideas for the interest of parishioners and other members of the community. He has also updated liturgical ministries to be in line with guidelines of the Holy Church. Furthermore, he has kept up with the annual Feast and Mass of Saint Lawrence Church. Social events are important to parishioners; thus he has also kept up with the annual picnic, and pot-luck suppers, as well as Appreciation Night for parish volunteers. He even instituted a Weight Watchers program for interested parishioners, as well as for the rest of the community and surrounding areas. All are welcome to join!
Reverend Whelan also tells us that he has two sisters named Meredith and Maureen, and a pet dog named Goliath. He keeps in touch with his sisters regularly, and Goliath lives at the rectory with him. For pastimes, he likes to visit the Shore and walk the boardwalks. He also likes to watch home improvement television and game shows for education and enjoyment. He likes listening to classical and religious music whenever he can privately.
He always prays for his parishioners, and will say special prayers for individuals who request special intentions. He is always there for them; that is a “given” said Rev. Whelan. Moreover, he plans future regular holiday seasons meetings with youth groups for raising needed money, and for dinner events for the holy holidays.
What does Rev. Whelan desire for himself, if anything? He tells us that he desires to stay pastor of his new flock until retirement, and his Jubilee of 25 years ending in 2018. Reverend James Whelan, may GOD grant your wish!
The Edward McDowell V.F.W. of North Bergen has recently installed new officers for their group, and Clare M. Prevot is their president. Other elected officers were: Elizabeth Piccione, Patrice Hutchinson, Dorothy Duffett, Suanne Carlos, Joyce Prevot, Kathleen Nugent, and Clare E. Prevot. Congratulations to all!
Elaine Gomez and Ashley Cintron of Union City, who were accepted at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Montclair State University, respectively, have both received scholarships from the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of New Jersey, Inc. Best wishes to you both!
Checking in with Roseann Fischer of Secaucus, who is the Hudson County Superintendent of Weights and Measures, we hear that her department is quite the beehive as she watches over Hudson County’s residents like a mother hen, making sure that products they purchase are not under-scaled and overpriced. Way to go, Ms. Fischer!
U.S. Army First Lt. James Olivella will be coming home this September from South Korea, his excited mom tells us. West New York Board of Education employee and her husband Jorge, are putting out the welcome carpet. Welcome back, Lt. Olivella!
West New Yorker Tara Mantineo has been appointed the new principal of Public School No. 2 in West New York to the delight of legendary union leader and presidentof the Hudson County Area Vocational-Technical Education Association/NJEA, and his lovely wife Barbara, who is a former board member of the West New York Board of Education. By the way, Tara’s proud sister is Hudson County Superior Court Judge Maureen Mantineo of Guttenberg. Her proud uncle is attorney-at-law and Guttenberg’s Mayor Gerald Drasheff, who is married to Tara’s mother’s sister, Patricia, a retired registered nurse and educator. Thus, the roots of education and law run deep in the family. Best of luck to you, Tara!
And so it goes… until next time… see you around town… MATT.
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