Father Leandro Dela Cruz, pastor of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, marked the 40th anniversary of his priestly ordination with a Mass of Thanksgiving Oct. 21.
Along with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., a number of priests from the Diocese were present to concelebrate the Mass and take part in the reception that followed, including Msgr. Dennis Apoldite, episcopal vicar for Mercer County and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton; Msgr. Casimir Ladzinski, a retired priest of the Diocese, who serves as a parish weekend assistant, and Msgr. James Dubell, also retired, who Father Dela Cruz served with in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, years ago.
Father Dela Cruz was born in 1955 in Gubat, Sorsogon, Philippines. He attended St. Gregory the Great Minor Seminary in the Philippines; Divine Word College of Legazpi and Divine Word Seminary Tagatay City.
He holds a licentiate in canon law from the Universita della Santa Croce (University of the Holy Cross), Rome, Italy. He was ordained a priest Oct. 23, 1983 in St. Gregory the Great Cathedral,Albay Philippines, by Bishop Concordio Ma. Sarte.
In the Philippines he served as parochial vicar in four parishes, as pastor in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, and rector of St. Gregory the Great Minor Seminary. For the Diocese of Legazpi, he served for six years as a judge in the metropolitan tribunal and as a member of the diocesan commission for liturgy, the laity, the synod, evangelization and canon law and the presbyteral council.
He arrived in the Trenton Diocese in 2004 and served as an adjunct priest or parochial vicar in the parishes of Holy Name (now part of Resurrection Parish), Delran; St. Mary of the Lake (now part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish), Lakewood; St. Raphael (now part of St. Raphael-Holy Angels), Hamilton; St. Jerome, West Long Branch, and St. Mary, Deal, now both part of Our Lady of Hope Parish, West Long Branch, and St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and served as administrator of St. Ann Parish before being appointed pastor.
Father Dela Cruz was incardinated into the Diocese in 2010.
Father Dela Cruz served as regional representative of the National Association of Filipino Priests in America and an officer in the Filipino Clergy Association of the Americas. He was appointed Vicar Forane (Dean) of Northern Mercer County on July 1, 2023.