By David Kilby | Correspondent

In celebrating his 50 years as a priest, Msgr. Peter J. Zaccardo is inspired by the excitement of the parishioners in the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Trenton to whom he still ministers in his retirement years.

Msgr. Zaccardo was born in 1937 in Orange, one of two children of the late Pete and Clara Zaccardo, and baptized in Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Orange. He attended Our Lady of the Valley Grammar School and High School. After graduating from high school in 1955 he was a divinity student in Seton Hall College (now Seton Hall University), South Orange, where he studied in preparation for entrance into Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. He was ordained by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland of Newark May 23, 1964.

As a parochial vicar Msgr. Zaccardo served in Holy Trinity Parish, Westfield, from 1964-65, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Newark, from 1965-68; St. John the Evangelist Parish, Bergenfield, from 1968-75, and Our Lady of the Visitation Parish, Paramus, for six months. He then went on to serve in Epiphany Parish, Cliffside Park, where he was part of a “team ministry,” working with a team of three priests as co-pastors, as part of a vision of  Archbishop Peter L. Gerety.

Msgr. Zaccardo served as pastor in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Newark, until 1981; St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish, Scotch Plains, from 1981-88; Holy Family Parish, Nutley, from  1988-97, and Queen of Peace Parish, Maywood, from 1997-2004.

Msgr. Zaccardo has also served as the Bergen County director of the Catholic Youth Organization, head of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission and on the priest council for the Archdiocese of Newark.

“During that time period we were going through Vatican II, putting ministries together in the parishes,” he shared. “The excitement of the youth Masses, teaching the kids in grammar school, it was a full time job … Every parish was just very active. They were great, exciting years trying to fulfill the vision of Pope John XXIII with the Second Vatican Council, and Pope Paul VI with the new order of the Mass.”

Under Pope John Paul II, he was named a Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor in 1998.

Archbishop John J. Myers officially granted Msgr. Zaccardo retirement July 1, 2007 from Queen of Peace Parish, and he now resides in Brick. He celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for his 50th anniversary of ordination June 1 in Our Lady of the Valley Parish, where he received all of his sacraments.

In his retirement, he has served in the Diocese of Trenton, ministering to parishioners as a weekend assistant in Nativity Parish, Fair Haven – assisting Father Robert Schecker, the pastor – since 2009. Since 2012, he has helped out as a weekend assistant in St. Anselm Parish, Tinton Falls, assisting Father Gene Vavrick, the pastor. He also helps out in Christ the King Parish, Long Branch, as a weekday assistant.

Msgr. Zaccardo shared, “When I had my anniversary Mass, being able to realize that there were so many people involved in the celebration – there were 45 priests, the choir from St. Bartholomew, Scotch Plains – everybody was so excited to be a part of the celebration. That was key, being excited about ministry. It’s just a very fulfilling 50 years.”

He said it has also been a pleasure to work with Trenton Diocesan pastors Father Schecker and Father Vavrick, saying their parishes are very active as well. “They like to participate. This is the whole encompassing vision that is part of the Church today.”