Top photo caption: Father Folchetti smiles during a 2024 Mass marking his 50th anniversary of priestly Ordination. Hal Brown photos
From Staff Reports
From his earliest years, Father John T. Folchetti sensed the gentle tug of God’s call. As a boy in Brooklyn, he dreamed of becoming both a priest and a medical doctor — imagining a life of healing bodies and souls, perhaps even as a missionary in Africa. Christ’s invitation reached him through the witness of a parish priest and the quiet fidelity of religious brothers, planting seeds that would one day blossom into a full and impactful vocation.
For more than half a century, Father Folchetti has stood beside God’s people in their most defining moments – Baptisms, First Communions, marriages, and hours of grief, loss, and family fracture. He sought to have his ministry become a living testimony to the compassion of Christ.
Father Folchetti retired June 30 as pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, bringing to a close the pastoral leadership role he had held for 17 years. He celebrated his retirement Mass there in late May.
Faithful Examples
The 1946 Brooklyn, N.Y., born Father Folchetti’s vocation was shaped by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, by the priests in his home parish, and by teachers who recognized his gifts. He was especially encouraged by Sister St. Bernard and his aunt, Sister Mary Beatrice. He pursued seminary studies at Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, Douglaston, Queens, N.Y., and later at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he earned graduate degrees in dogmatic and pastoral theology.
On June 27, 1974, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn by Bishop James A. Hickey, rector of PNAC at the time, and it was a moment that set the course for a lifetime of service. With degrees in theology and psychology, he taught in seminaries, colleges and Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft where he also served as chaplain. His first assignment as a newly ordained priest was Immaculate Conception Parish, Astoria, N.Y. He then served in Star of the Sea Parish, Brooklyn. In 1982, Bishop Francis Mugavero assigned Father Folchetti to the faculty of Cathedral Prep Seminary, Elmhurst, N.Y., where he taught psychology and biology for three years. In 1985, Bishop Mugavero assigned him to Cathedral College, his alma mater, as the dean of students and professor of psychology. During this period Father Folchetti obtained a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Iona College.
In 1982, Father Folchetti began serving as a weekend assistant in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, where he continued that ministry until 2009. In 1988, he accepted a post as chaplain in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft. In 1993, he earned a doctor of ministry degree in counseling psychology from the Graduate Theological Foundation and continued to work on his second doctorate in psychology from the same institute.
In 2009, Father Folchetti was incardinated into the Diocese of Trenton and was appointed pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish.
His intellectual gifts and pastoral sensibilities made him a trusted counselor, confessor and teacher, someone who could speak to both the mind and the heart. In recognition of his fidelity, he was invested as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 2013 and elevated to Knight Commander in 2016.
Never Stop Serving
In retirement, Father Folchetti looks forward to continuing sacramental ministry, offering retreats, teaching the faith and writing.
Father Folchetti often reflected that people carry a deep hunger for God – sometimes visible, sometimes hidden – but always real. His priesthood became a lifelong response to that hunger. He remains eager to serve, teach, counsel, and bring Christ to his people.
His advice to those discerning a vocation might be described as simple and profound: “Embrace the call with all your heart. Never look back. Always look for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”