By David Karas | Correspondent

For Father Robert J. Schecker, who will mark his retirement from the priesthood during a Mass June 30, the Church is about the people that comprise it.

“I would always welcome people to the house of the Church,” he said, recounting his many homilies and opening words during Masses over his 44-year vocation. “The Church is people; Church is not a ‘what’; Church is ‘who.’”

That emphasis on people, rather than place, has been a guiding principle throughout his many priestly assignments and pastorates, including his current assignment as pastor in Nativity Parish, Fair Haven.

Four Decades of Service

Father Schecker was born in Jersey City, May 28, 1945, to William and Anna Schecker, who were living in North Bergen until 1955, when his family moved and became members of St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish, West New York. In 1963, he graduated from Memorial High School, West New York.

Father Schecker attended Seton Hall University, South Orange, and St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore. During his studies for the priesthood he served as a religion teacher on both the elementary and high school levels; was involved in an inner-city program in Newark; worked in the apostolate for the Spanish-speaking community and participated in a clinical pastoral education program in Maryland Psychiatric Hospital.

He was ordained a priest by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Joseph of the Palisades Church, West New York, Dec. 11, 1971. On Jan. 5, 1972, Father Schecker began his first parish assignment as associate pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson. He was also named spiritual moderator of the Holy Innocents Society of Burlington County in 1973. In 1975 he was assigned to Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton.

After serving for six years in Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, Father Schecker was named pastor of Epiphany Parish, Brick, on Dec. 11, 1981. He spent 11 years as pastor of the young, growing parish before being named pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, from 1992 to 2004, when he was assigned to his current position as pastor of Nativity Parish.

In addition to his parish duties, Father Schecker has also served in a variety of diocesan roles. He has been a member of the Diocesan Council of Priests, spiritual director for the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society and dean of the Central Monmouth Deanery. In March 2011, he was appointed to a five-year term on the College of Consultors.

Looking forward to retirement, Father Schecker plans to continue his active reading of Scripture, and eventually to continue assisting in parishes after taking a brief reprieve to visit family, rekindle old friendships and travel. He also hopes to stay involved in religious education and working with children, and to catch up on his own reading and writing.

‘Be There’

Father Schecker recalled experiences with his various pastoral assignments – the first being in a relatively young Epiphany Parish. He was just the second pastor of the new parish community, and inherited a range of challenges – mainly involving the physical structure of the church as well as the task of building the faith community.

Perhaps his most powerful takeaway, he says, is the importance of those who help run a parish community.

“While I was there, the staff turned out to be some of the most meaningful ministers,” he said. “They were not just staff members; they were really ministers to the people, (and) that is what I was impressed with.”

From deacons to parish associates, he said that those who surrounded him carried themselves as ministers.

“It was a very effective medium of communication, of Gospel values put into action,” he said.

His 11-year tenure in Brick paved the way for his assignment to Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, which was experiencing its own struggles at the time of his transfer.

“It was a very challenging set of circumstances, to say the least,” he said, noting that the parish was on the verge of bankruptcy and had its own issues with its physical structure. He added that he never expected to enjoy being a pastor of such a community – one that included providing ministry to a county jail, a hospital, a nursing home and it also had a parish cemetery and CYO ball fields.

“It had everything that I did not want to be a pastor of,” he said. His initial feelings were changed, however, after he visited the community.

“I sensed something, although I didn’t really translate the message for two weeks,” he recalled, “Two words: ‘be there.’”

His 12 years in Mount Holly proved extraordinarily meaningful, in large part because of the people with whom he had the chance to work and serve.

“It was a meaningful experience of being a pastor of a church that had the potential that we were able to draw out from the faith community,” he said, noting that those who led the parish with him made it all possible. “You are as effective as the people with whom you surround yourself.”

His latest assignment, which brought him to Fair Haven, carried a similar experience in that it has allowed him to work with another dedicated team of ministers.

“Most of the staff here do more than what their job descriptions call for,” he said. “I have kind of an ‘triple-A’ guide for us here: We are available, affable and accommodating.”

‘The Parish Loves Him’

Barry Phelan, business manager in Nativity Parish, has been a member of the parish since 1978 and served in his current post since 2007. When speaking of Father Schecker, he said, “He is just a terrific guy, and a great boss. He is caring and generous, and gives the greatest homilies.”

Those feelings were shared by dozens of parishioners who submitted their own reflections to Phelan and parish staff, with many remarking that they were drawn to Nativity because of Father Schecker, and have continued going to Mass there because of his presence and leadership.

“He has built up the parish, financially as well as spiritually. He is going to be missed by everybody,” said Phelan.

Father Schecker’s legacy in Fair Haven was highlighted in 2013, when the parish celebrated its 60th anniversary. During celebrations and in subsequent media coverage then, he was praised for building up not only the parish, but the religious education ministry, as well. That’s not to mention the physical improvements he oversaw to the parish property.

His tenure is credited with growth in parish membership to more than 1,700 families hailing from some 30 different zip codes, as well as regular new members and daily Mass attendance often topping 100 faithful.

When asked about what he is most proud of when reflecting on his life as a priest, Father Schecker went right back to the people.

“I am proud of the manner in which the people respond to the Gospel messages about concern for the poor, and participation in public prayer,” he said, “(as well as) the way in which young families bring their children. That is what it is about.”