Compiled by Mary Stadnyk |Associate Editor

Six priests from the Trenton Diocese were invested as Knights in the Equestrian of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem during a Mass of Investiture in St. Patrick Cathedral, New York, Nov. 22.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was principal celebrant of the Mass. The priests from the diocese who were invested were: Msgr. Sam Sirianni, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, and director of the diocesan Office of Worship; Father Daniel Peirano, pastor of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch; Father Alberto Tamayo, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank; Father Ian Trammell, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and diocesan director of pilgrimages; Father John Folchetti, pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, and chaplain in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and Father Michael Lankford-Stokes, who is currently serving as chaplain for the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Archdiocese for Military Services.

According to the Order’s website (www.holysepulchre.net), the purpose of an individual joining the Order should be to serve the Catholic Church and to support the efforts of the Church and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in maintaining the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Usually, though not invariably, a candidate is introduced by an existing member of the Order. Suitable candidates are usually identified on the basis of their contributions (in all senses) to their parishes and to the wider Catholic Church, and of their interest in the specific aims of the Order. The candidate must be a baptized Catholic, in good standing with the Church.

Father John T. Folchetti

Father Folchetti was born July 17, 1946, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He attended Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, Queens, N.Y., and the Gregorian University at the Pontifical North American College, Rome. Upon his completion of theological studies during which he received a bachelor of sacred theology degree and a master’s degree, he was ordained a priest in St. Peter Basilica at the Vatican June 27, 1974, by Cardinal James A. Hickey.

From 1974 to 1988, Father Folchetti served in various capacities in parish and seminary assignments in New York. He then pursued post graduate studies in psychology, earning two doctorates in psychological counseling. In the Trenton Diocese, he has served as chaplain in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, as well as a teacher of psychology. He also served as a weekend assistant in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold. In January, 2009, he was named administrator of St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, and then pastor of the parish three months later. He continues to serve as chaplain in Christian Brothers Academy.

Of his investiture in the Knights, Father Folchetti said he has “taken a deep interest in the Holy Land ever since my retreat for priestly ordination in April 1973.  I hope to make pilgrimage to the Holy Land next year, God willing.”

Father Michael G. Lankford

Father Lankford was born July 1, 1958, in Athens, Greece. He is the son of the late Charles Lankford of Green Cove Springs, Fla., and Carol Stokes of Atlantic Highlands and Gig Harbor, Wash.

Father Lankford is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He also pursued graduate studies in The Catholic University of America, Washington, and prepared for the priesthood in Pontifical College Josephinum Seminary, Worthington, Ohio. He was ordained a priest May 16, 1992, by Bishop John C. Reiss. As parochial vicar, he was assigned to St. James Parish, Red Bank, and St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, where he also served as administrator. He was named administrator of St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch, in 2000, then was appointed pastor of the parish in 2001.

After a three-month sabbatical in 2005, Father Lankford received permission to serve in his current capacity with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, which provides pastoral ministries and spiritual support to members of the United States armed forces.

Father Juan Daniel Peirano

Father Peirano was born Jan. 9, 1969, in Lima, Peru. He attended Pontifcia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, and Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange. He was ordained a priest May 15, 2004, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop John M. Smith. As parochial vicar, he served in Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton; Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton; St. James Parish, Red Bank; Holy Trinity, Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. John the Baptist Parishes, Long Branch. In 2009, he was named administrator of the three Long Branch parishes and was named pastor of the newly merged Christ the King Parish, Long Branch, which comprises two worship sites – Holy Trinity Church and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.

Msgr. Sam A.  Sirianni

Msgr. Sirianni was born Feb. 17, 1954 in Long Branch. He attended Juniata College, Huntington, Pa., and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor of arts degree in history from the former, and a master of arts degree in student personnel services.

Msgr. Sirianni prepared for the priesthood in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. He was ordained a priest by then Auxiliary Bishop Edward U. Kmiec Nov. 10, 1984, in Holy Trinity Church. His first parish assignment was Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown. He then moved to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Mercerville, where he served intermittent terms as both associate pastor and as temporary administrator. He was also administrator of St. Catherine Parish, Middletown.

As pastor, Msgr. Sirianni has served in six parishes: Holy Angels, Hamilton (now St. Raphael-Holy Angels); St. George, Titusville; Holy Trinity Parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. John the Baptist, all in Long Branch, and since December, 2008, as pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold.

In 1992, Father Sirianni was appointed by Bishop John C. Reiss to become director of the Office of Liturgy, a position which he continues to hold, although the office has since been renamed to the Office of Worship.

Of his investiture into the Order, Msgr. Sirianni reflected on how “very humbled” he was to receive the honor.

“I am most grateful to Bishop O’Connell for nominating me for the Order.

“I have been to the Holy Lands twice, so on a more personal level, this honor has connected me in a special relationship with the Tomb of Christ. It has also reminded me to focus on how I can, through prayer and by works, help to build up and support the work of the Church in the Holy Land, and develop a deeper sense of the history and faith of all the people that call the Middle East home,” Msgr. Sirianni said of his investiture.

Msgr. Sirianni shared that his brother, Father Anthony Sirianni of the Diocese of Metuchen, became a Knight of the Order several years ago.

Father Alberto W. Tamayo

Father Tamayo has assumed a variety of responsibilities in his five years as a priest in the diocese. From his home parish of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Linden, he went on to attend Seton Hall University, South Orange, and then St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore. Before entering the seminary, he worked as an assistant to the president of a design firm in New York City. He then served in foreign missions in Haiti and Mexico, where he worked with Catholic poverty and homelessness agencies, serving as interim director of a homeless advocacy organization.

Father Tamayo was ordained a priest by Bishop John M. Smith May 19, 2007, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and became parochial vicar in St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, the following month. He was simultaneously appointed to a three-year term on the diocese Vocation Recruitment Committee. In June, 2010, he was named parochial vicar of St. James Parish, Red Bank. In July of 2011, he was named priest-secretary to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.; episcopal master of ceremonies and vice chancellor, and in September, 2011, was re-appointed to a three-year term on the Vocation Recruitment Committee. In January, 2013, Father Tamayo was named administrator pro tempore of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, where he remained for five months until he was named to his current post as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank.

Father Tamayo has also served as moderator of Catholic Athletes for Christ in the diocese and on the (St. Mary of the Assumption) Cathedral Renovation Committee.

Father Ian Trammell

Native to the Diocese of Trenton, Father Trammell was born Sept. 27, 1977 in Neptune and grew up in St. Michael Parish, West End. A graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, in 1995, he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fordham University, New York, before beginning his studies for the priesthood in The Catholic University of America, Washington, from which he graduated in 2005. He was ordained a priest May 21, 2005 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop John M. Smith.

As parochial vicar, Father Trammell served in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, and St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, where he served as temporary administrator prior to being named to his current position as pastor.

On a diocesan level, Father Trammell was appointed to the Grant/Scholarship Board in the Office of Catechesis; coordinator of the diocesan Respect Life Ministries, and director of the diocesan Office of Life and Justice Ministries.

 In 2007, he was assigned to pursue advanced studies in moral theology at The Catholic University of America and the following year, he was named director of Catholic Campus Ministry and chaplain at Rider University, Lawrenceville.

Along with his pastorate in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Father Trammell was appointed by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to serve as diocesan director of Pilgrimages in Aug. 2012.