By MARY STADNYK
Associate Editor
St. Luke Church, Toms River, was filled with parishioners, friends and brother priests who came to witness the installation of the new parish pastor, Father Michael Kennedy.
The installation took place July 13 during a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.
“What a joy it is to be with all of you,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“There’s something very moving about seeing someone enter the seminary and following them through to Ordination to becoming a pastor of a parish – a beautiful parish – such as this one,” the Bishop said, as the congregation applauded.
PHOTO GALLERY: Pastor Installation in St. Luke Parish
In his homily, Father Kennedy thanked Bishop O’Connell for his trust in Father Kennedy’s ability to serve as pastor of St. Luke, a parish with more than 10,000 parishioners, 20 active ministries and 233 children in the religious education program.
Reflecting on the day’s Gospel, Father Kennedy spoke about Jesus’ instruction to the two disciples whom he asked to follow him and carry on the ministry of evangelization.
Noting the “sense of urgency” with which the disciples seemed to be called to follow Jesus, Father Kennedy said it’s his hope and prayer that the people of St. Luke Parish will serve their parish with the same sense of urgency and desire as the disciples.
Father Kennedy was born in 1969 in Philadelphia and grew up in Manasquan. Though he was nine years old when he had his first thoughts of priesthood, he did not begin his seminary studies until 2011 when he entered St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, at age 42, where he received a master of divinity degree. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in English from Monmouth University, West Long Branch.
Father Kennedy was ordained a priest June 3, 2017, by Bishop O’Connell in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. Since his ordination, he served as parochial vicar in St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington, and Visitation Parish, Brick, before he was named temporary administrator of St. Luke Parish last July 1, and was appointed pastor of the parish as of July 1, 2024.
Of the past year at St. Luke, Father Kennedy said he has found the parishioners to be “very prayerful, very faithful and very loyal to the parish.”
He has also been edified by the openness of most parishioners to some of the new things he’s introduced.
While some of his goals have to do with certain issues with the church itself, his ultimate vision for the parish is “that St. Luke’s become a center of prayer,” he said, referencing to Scripture passages Is. 56:7 and Mt. 21: 13. He added that in particular, he plans to focus on liturgical prayer, along with Adoration and Reparation and “a healthy dose of catechesis, all with the intention of glorifying God in all things,” he said.
Father Kennedy said he was humbled by the many congratulatory greetings he received at his installation. But it was his intention to emphasize it as “our day, a day for the parish family.
“What it means for me is that I have an even more imperative mission to speak the truth of Christ and especially live the truth of Christ for the people entrusted to my care,” he said.
From The Faithful
Kathleen Muzzio, the parish business manager and SAFE Environment coordinator, said she appreciates the “great deal of energy and fresh perspective” that Father Kennedy has brought to St. Luke Parish in the past year. “He introduced a regular schedule of Adoration and with the hiring of a new parish catechetical leader, Lisa Ann Limongello, and he has increased engagement with the youth of the parish.”
Father Kennedy has also initiated the monthly “Community Comfort and Fellowship,” a ministry which feeds people in need and he has “increased participation in all ministries and seeks to ensure that they are recognized and know that they are important to the mission of the parish,” Muzzio said.
“He has introduced me and the parish to a more expansive and well-rooted view of the fundamentals of Catholic teaching,” she said.
Of the Installation Mass, Muzzio felt that the most moving part was when Father Kennedy was formally introduced to the parish clergy, staff, finance council and trustees.
“I see him almost every day,” she said. “He’s my boss, but now he’s the shepherd to whom we have been entrusted.
“What a wonderful thought that is,” Muzzio said.
JoAnna Romano Maguire, a parishioner for 15 years, said she finds Father Kennedy to be “very uplifting” and said that he has “brought a spirit of hope and renewal” to the parish.
“He’s always available and very kind,” she said. “We’re beyond blessed to have him as a pastor.”
About St. Luke Parish
St. Luke Parish was established in 1982 by Bishop John C. Reiss in response to the growing Catholic population in the Toms River area. Masses were celebrated in area school, firehouse and VFW Hall until the construction of the parish center and rectory were completed. Construction of the church began in 1995 and was finished in 1997. Father Louis Kralovich was the parish’s founding pastor. He was succeeded by Father Robert Grodnicki, who served as pastor from 2009 until he retired last year. Father Kennedy is the parish’s third pastor.