Father Eugene Roberts is a bit of a philosopher.
“When you’re busy and doing what you love, the years go by in a flash,” he says of his 50 years as a priest. For 35 of those years, Father has been the pastor at St. Gabriel Parish in Marlboro.
PHOTO GALLERY: Father Eugene Roberts- 50 years
While at 76 many would think they are in the evening or sunset of their lives or careers, Father Roberts says: “There is so much more to be done. Don’t rest on your laurels.” Just as important is not being intimidated by what needs to be done.
‘Just do it’
“Each day I get up and pray to God to give me strength and grace to finish the day. Don’t think about it. Just do it,” he says, another hallmark of his priesthood.
All of this started in Philadelphia, where he was born and raised. He said that as he looked at the priests in St. Helena Parish and at Cardinal Dougherty High School, he “had an inner calling and feeling that maybe this is something for me.” He applied to study for the priesthood for the Diocese of Trenton and attended St. Mary’s College near Lebanon, Ky., and Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. In 1975, Bishop George W. Ahr ordained him at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Surrounded by brother priests, Father Roberts celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving for his golden jubilee. John Batkowski photo
Throughout the first 15 years of his priesthood, Father Roberts had a series of assignments as parochial vicar of several parishes: Our Lady of Fatima, Piscataway; St. Joseph, Toms River; Holy Spirit, Asbury Park; Holy Innocents, Neptune; and St. Catharine, Spring Lake. He was named pastor of St. Gabriel’s in 1990.
Father Roberts believes in being actively involved in parish work, and he speaks glowingly of the strong, vibrant ministries at St. Gabriel’s.
“You name the organization, we have it and it’s flourishing,” he says, but he does not take credit for this work.
“You do what you can do, and God does the rest. Just when you think you’ve done all you can, someone comes along to assist you.” While there is no parochial vicar, there are three deacons and three deacon candidates at St. Gabriel’s. Parishioners are very active.
“Everybody has expertise and God-given talent, and they go with it.”
People hunger to know God
This year, the parish had its largest number of people ever in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults program, formerly RCIA. Reflecting on why this was, Father Roberts says: “God sends these people to us, and we make faith come alive in their lives. There’s a hunger out there to be Catholic. There’s a hunger out there to know who God is. There’s a hunger out there to feel loved.”
A bonus of being at one parish for 35 years is that he is baptizing the children of people he baptized.
The energetic pastor relates two things at one event that helped him realize the impact he has had on those he has served.
In May, he celebrated Mass at St. Gabriel’s to mark the 50th anniversary of his ordination. As he prepared for Mass, a couple walked into the sacristy. They introduced themselves as the first couple he married in his first assignment at Our Lady of Fatima, Piscataway. At the same celebration, a man identified himself as one of his altar servers at Our Lady of Fatima.
Father Roberts says he thanks God for giving him good health and a positive attitude, and he adds a bit more philosophy: “You must be prayerful, spiritual, and focused on who you are. It’s not my vocation. It’s the Lord who called me by name.”