It was a day for sharing insight and offering words of encouragement when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., brought together seven new priests who were appointed first-time pastors for an orientation meeting June 20 in the Diocesan Chancery, Lawrenceville.

During the meeting, the new pastors, Fathers Alberto W. Tamayo, Joseph A. Jakub, Alcides Castro-Lopez, William J. Lago, Michael Wallack, Brian P. Woodrow and Thomas F. Maher, heard from Bishop O’Connell, who shared his vision of what it means to be a pastor. It was the second year that Bishop O’Connell conducted the new pastors’ orientation.

The priests also participated in information sessions designed to help prepare them as they begin their new role as parish shepherds. Among the topics presented by diocesan staff included a temporal overview of the workings of a parish by Anthony Mingarino, diocesan chancellor, and Joe Bianchi and Angela Gitto from the diocesan department of administrative services. Presentations were also given by Terry Ginther, diocesan executive director of Pastoral Life and Mission; Father Douglas Freer, diocesans vicar for Catholic education, and Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy personnel and consecrated life, who reviewed with the priests their assignments and responsibilities in ministry.

Discussions were also led by four “veteran pastors” who reflected on their experiences of ordained ministry and “best practices” in serving as pastors, according to Msgr. Mullelly. The four pastors were Msgr. Michael J. Walsh, pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington, and administrator of St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell; Msgr. Leonard F. Troiano, pastor of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Lavallette, and episcopal vicar of Ocean County; Father Robert Schecker, pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven,a nd Msgr. Eugene Rebeck, who retired as pastor of St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, as of June 29.

Msgr. Mullelly said a most poignant moment of the day occurred before the celebration of Mass by Bishop O’Connell when the ne pastors “made oaths of fidelity and professed the Creed as part of their requirements to assume the role as pastor in the Church.”

Parish assignments for the new pastors are: Father Tamayo, St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank; Father Jakub, Corpus Christi, Willingboro; Father Castro-Lopez, Our Lady of the Angels, Trenton; Father Wallack, Holy Innocents, Neptune (whose pastorate took effect March 24); Father Lago, St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Highlands; Father Woodrow, St. John, Allentown, and Father Maher, St. William the Abbot, Howell Township.