Faculty and Staff

Although I was born in Queens, New York, my family moved to Sayreville before I was a year old.  My mom still lives in the house we moved to when I was 5, in the Parlin section of Sayreville.  I have family in South Amboy as well.  They and my mom all belong to St. Mary’s parish in South Amboy.

I have two younger sisters – Natalie and Christine – both of whom are married with grown (or almost grown) children.  Since one lives in Hillsborough and the other in Rumson, it’s easy for us to get together frequently.  My family is very close, and big gatherings with aunts and uncles and cousins are the norm.  After God, my family is the biggest source of strength and stability in my life.

Most of my education happened in the Sayreville public school system, following a couple of years in Catholic school.  I got a degree in history from Montclair State College (before it became a university) and completed my seminary studies at Mount Saint Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  I was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Edward Hughes on May 30th, 1987 and offered my first Holy Mass in St. Mary’s Church in South Amboy the following day.

My first priestly assignment was right down the road at St. Mary’s in Alpha, followed by terms as an assistant at Our Lady of Mt. Virgin in Middlesex and St. Matthias in Somerset.  I then served as pastor of St. Magdalen’s Church in Flemington for several years, and in St. Jude’s Church in Blairstown for a couple of months.  After serving three years as associate pastor of St. Bernard’s Church in Bridgewater, I became pastor of both Most Holy Rosary and Holy Spirit Churches in Perth Amboy.  I enjoyed four wonderful years in that assignment before coming to St. Philip and St. James in Phillipsburg, NJ.  I have been pastor of Ss. Philip and James since June 2009, and it has become my favorite assignment.

Believing that teaching the Faith is one of my most important priestly duties, I have taught school and CCD classes in all of my priestly assignments.  While studying history in Montclair State College, I took almost all of the teacher certification classes since I thought they might come in handy someday.  In Phillipsburg, I teach both 8th and 4th grade religion in our school every week, as well as 5th grade CCD.  I find great joy in this work, and am convinced of the importance of our Catholic Schools.

My hobbies include trains – in which I have been interested my whole life.  This hobby has led me to places like Altoona, PA and North Platte, NE – places with heavy freight train traffic that I love to watch and photograph.  I also enjoy working on my own model railroad, which I built several years ago.  I love going to the movies – and eating more pop – corn then I should.  The sports is the first – and sometimes the only –section of the paper I read.  Almost my whole family has a love affair with baseball, and we often get together to enjoy the games.  While a Yankee fan, I have come to enjoy minor league baseball a great deal in recent years and regularly frequent Trenton Thunder and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs games.

The priesthood, of course, is the greatest gift God has ever given me.  There are so many parts of being a priest that I enjoy – especially celebrating the sacraments and getting to know and serve different people.  I try to say a prayerful Mass that moves along with a short, ‘to the point’ homily.

I believe that my most important job as a priest is to help my people get to Heaven – while being sure to get there myself.  I ask my parishioners to help me in this regard by praying for me every day.  Specifically, I ask each of them to kindly pray one Hail Mary for me daily.  Pray that I will be the kind of priest God wants me to be for this parish – and be assured of my daily prayers for each of you.

• 20 Years Teaching Experience
• 20 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in Psychology from Stockton College. M.A. in Educational Leadership from Centenary College. NJ Certification in Elementary Education (K-8).

What I Love About Teaching

I feel honored and blessed to be the principal of Saints Philip and James School. Together, with our faculty, we can educate our students to their highest potential, and lead them to Christ, in all that they learn and in all that they do.

• 27 Years Teaching Experience
• 14 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in Education (K-8) from College of Staten Island. B.A. in Communications from Seton Hall University.

What I Love About Teaching

There are many reasons I love being a teacher. First, there is the feeling of accomplishment seeing students grow in knowledge, confidence, and social skills. I enjoy the collaboration with my peers and the creativity of teaching lessons. I “teach to reach” students by supporting, preparing, nurturing and encouraging them to be the best they can be.

• 23 Years Teaching Experience
• 17 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.S. in Health Physical Education (K-12) from West Chester University.Behavioral Assistant Certification with NJ Childrens’ System of Care from Rutgers University.

What I Love About Teaching

I love teaching PK through 8th grade at Saints Philip & James School! It gives me the opportunity to promote the development of active, healthy lifestyles for my students. I especially enjoy watching the students realize their talents when choreographing events and co-directing and producing plays. For me, it’s the kids. It’s all about the kids.

• 27 Years Teaching Experience
• 14 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in Education (K-8) from College of Staten Island. B.A. in Communications from Seton Hall University.

What I Love About Teaching

There are many reasons I love being a teacher. First, there is the feeling of accomplishment seeing students grow in knowledge, confidence, and social skills. I enjoy the collaboration with my peers and the creativity of teaching lessons. I “teach to reach” students by supporting, preparing, nurturing and encouraging them to be the best they can be.

• 5 Years Teaching Experience
• 5 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in English from Moravian College. Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education (K-6) from Moravian College.

What I Love About Teaching

I love planning fun lessons to meet the needs of all of my students. It is very rewarding helping each of my students work to their full potential.

• 35 Years Teaching Experience
• 1 Year at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

Ed. D in Reading from Widener University. M.A. in Theology from Seton Hall University. M.A. in Speech Pathology from Kean University. M. Ed. In Reading from East Stroudsburg University. B.A. in Speech Pathology from Rutgers University.

Certificates in the Following

Elementary Education, NJ Principal, Teacher of the Handicapped, Reading Specialist, Speech-Language Specialist. Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

What I Love About Teaching

I’m honored to be in a position to not only make learning fun, but also model Christian values along the way. If I’ve done that – if I’ve modeled how to use content knowledge in a quest to be a better follower of Jesus – then I’ve done my job as an educator. I love that about teaching!

• 27 Years Teaching Experience
• 26 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in Elementary Education (K-8) from Georgian Court College. Certificate in Early Childhood Education.

What I Love About Teaching

I love teaching at SSPJ because I am able to provide a traditional, faith-based Catholic education for my students. As a first grade teacher, I have the challenging responsibility of teaching the basic skills in reading and math needed for future successes. I am truly rewarded each year as I watch my first grade students become readers, mathematicians, adventurers, scientists, and stewards of their faith. My students and I get to do this each and every day where God can visibly be our guide!

• 26 Years Teaching Experience
• 25 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in Elementary Education (PreK-8) from St. Leo College.

What I Love About Teaching

Teaching is about showing a child you love and care about them as a whole person, and encouraging them to achieve their goals. Watching a student and finding that sparkle in their eyes when they reach success is truly an overwhelming experience as a teacher

• 10 Years Teaching Experience
• 10 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.S. in Business/Marketing/Math from Montclair State University. Certification for K-8 Middle School Math.

What I Love About Teaching

Teaching at SSPJ allows me to share my passions for Jesus and Math with students. My approach to helping them succeed is to build their confidence in a comfortable and safe atmosphere, motivating them and encouraging them every step of the way!

• 29 Years Teaching Experience
• 12 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in History from Dickinson College. M.A. in American History from New York University. Ph.D. in American History from New York University.

What I Love About Teaching

I love teaching middle school social studies because it helps kids make sense of their world. If our students know why the world is the way it is, they can be more effective in creating a better world for tomorrow. I take great joy in helping to shape our future.

• 5 Years Teaching Experience
• 4 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.S. in Elementary Education from Cedar Crest College. Masters in Curriculum Instruction from Concordia University.

What I Love About Teaching

Everyday is a blessing watching the students gain confidence as they work their way through academic hurdles, gaining knowledge and strategies to become life long learners.

• 28 Years Teaching Experience
• 21 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.S. in Elementary Education from Trenton State.

What I Love About Teaching

I love to teach children to read. I feel fulfilled when a student reads to me. Pure Joy!

• 13 Years Teaching Experience
• 3 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.S. in Business Administration from St. Joseph’s University. NJ Certification in Elementary Education (K-8) from St. Joseph.

What I Love About Teaching

I enjoy teaching math and showing students the connection to real world activities. I enjoy helping students achieve their academic goals. Also, model responsibility and proper behavior.

• 20 Years Teaching Experience
• 14 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.S. in Journalism with a minor in Spanish from the University of Maryland. Associates in Business Administration from Montgomery College. Associates in Social Studies from Montgomery College. NJ Teaching COE. Care Provider Certification with Dept. of Dev. Disabilities.

What I Love About Teaching

I love teaching students to see things in a new way and to not be afraid to try new things. I love to see the expressions on their faces as they grasp a new topic or accomplish something they thought they couldn’t do. I hope to teach them to strive to do their very best. I hope to inspire them to love learning about the world and about themselves and their purpose in it.

• 15 Years Teaching Experience
• 4 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.S. in Management & Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University. MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

What I Love About Teaching

I love watching the students learn and have “aha” moments. I enjoy planning lessons that the students will connect with and learn. I mostly enjoy learning from them.

• 33 Years Teaching Experience
• 33 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

B.A. in Art Studio from William Paterson University. NJ Teacher of Art.

What I Love About Teaching

What I love about teaching is the children. I love the excitement and creativity they bring into my class.

• 24 Years Teaching Experience
• 5 Years at SSPJ

Qualifications/Certifications

Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music.

What I Love About Teaching

Sharing my knowledge of music with my students, and learning about new music from them. Helping my students find and develop their talents and abilities. Linking my subject to all other subjects, and to life lessons. Hearing my students perform songs that I taught them!