Priest 50th Anniversaries 

‘A’ is for…

Father Schecker shares advice as he marks 50th anniversary of his ordination PRIEST

ANNIVERSARY 50

�� YEARS ��

BY DAVID KARAS  Correspondent

Having served as a parish priest for 44 of his 50 years of ministry, Father Robert Schecker has quite the resumé , including five parish assignments and pastoral responsibilities for a wide range of ministries throughout his tenure prior to retirement.

Those experiences have left him with some advice – called the five As – that he offers to fellow priests striving to be servant leaders:

Be available, not absent.

Be approachable, not aloof.

Be accommodating, not adversarial.

Be accountable, not avoiding.

Be authentic, not authoritative.

“I think they are very applicable guides to putting into practice the Gospel message of Jesus,” he said. “It requires a lot of altruistic behavior and nonjudgmental, unconditional acceptance of people and their circumstances – helping to make their lives meaningful, and (strengthen) their relationship with God.”

Whether serving as a parochial vicar or a pastor, the same tenets apply, he said.

“I think that guide is even applicable to those in the secular world, in the business world,” he added.

This year, Father Schecker marks the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Since his retirement in 2015, he traveled to Italy and Ireland with groups of friends, and now lives in Brick with his sister. In retirement, he has had the chance to visit and reunite with family and friends. “I love every minute of it,” he said. He also assists a fellow priest with his weekly sermons. The priest is Colombian, and often asks Father Schecker for help to ensure that captures the right idioms and phrases.

Father Robert “I review his homily over the phone Schecker like a proofreader, (and) I am enjoying that,” he said. “It is also a part of my own spiritual life. It kind of enlightens my own spiritual life, too.”

‘BEING WITH THEM’

Father Schecker was born in Jersey City, May 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, N.J. In 1963 he graduated from Memorial High School in West New York. Father Schecker attended Seton Hall University, South Orange, and St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore. He was ordained a priest by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Joseph of the Palisades Church, West New York, Dec. 11, 1971. In January 1972, Father Schecker was named associate pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson. The following year, he was named spiritual moderator of the Holy Innocents

Father Schecker and parishioners stand by a display case of Nativity figurines found in Nativity

Father Schecker mixes with parishioners during a celebration held during his time as pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven. Rosemary

Daniels photo

Society of Burlington County. In 1975, he was assigned to Holy Angels Parish, Trenton, where he served until he was named pastor of Epiphany Parish, Brick, Dec. 11, 1981, 10 years to the date of his ordination.

He spent 11 years in Brick before being named pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, where he served from 1992 until 2004. He then began his final assignment as pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven.

Father Schecker said that living and serving in the parish environment was such an important part of the connection he would have with his parishioners.

“That fed into my ability to be what I consider an effective presider at liturgies,” he said. “I was being with them in our faith experience.”

‘IN THE BEAUTY OF NATURE’

In his retirement, Father Schecker has grown fond of spending time in his gardens, listening to birds and watching the clouds.

“I could just sit outside in my driveway in the middle of my gardens, and enjoy peace and quiet,” he said. “I am very reflective in silence. It becomes a prayer experience, of just sitting in silence in the beauty of nature.”

�� “I was being with them in our faith experience.”

Congratulations Congratulations Fr. Bob Schecker!!CongratulationsFr. Bob Schecker!!

on theFr. Bob ScheckerCongratulations on the !! Fr. 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR on the 50TH ANNIVERSARY Bob Schecker!! on the 50TH ANNIVERSARY 50TH ORDINATIONOF YOURANNIVERSARYOF YOUR O Church of the Nativity ORDINATIONF YOURORDINATION ORDINATION

Fair Haven, NJ Church of the Nativity Church of the Nativity Fair Haven, NJ Church of the Nativity www.nativitychurchnj.org www.nativitychurchnj.orgFair Haven, NJFair Haven, NJ

Happy Anniversary to All Those Celebrating Happy Anniversary to All Those Celebrating their years of serving the Lord Happy Anniversary to All Those Celebrating their years of serving the Lord their years of serving the Lord Happy 48th Anniversary to Fr. Edward Griswold Happy 48th Anniversary to Fr. Edward Griswold Happy 48th Anniversary to Fr. Edward Griswold Happy 10th Anniversary Fr. Carlos Florez Happy 10th Anniversary Fr. Carlos Florez Happy 10th Anniversary Fr. Carlos Florez Happy 5th Anniversary to Fr. Daniel Price Happy 5th Anniversary to Fr. Daniel Price Happy 5th Anniversary to Fr. Daniel Price

Thank you for your support and dedication Thank you for your support and dedication

www.nativitychurchnj.orgwww.nativitychurchnj.org

The Parishioners and Staff of Thank you for your support and dedication St. Barnabas Church The Parishioners and Staff of Bayville, NJ St. Barnabas Church Bayville, NJ The Parishioners and Staff of St. Barnabas Church

August 2021  THE MONITOR MAGAZINE Bayville, NJ Lives of FAITH 19

Ministering to All

BY DOROTHY K. LAMANTIA  Correspondent

Reflecting on his vocation as a Franciscan religious order priest from the Holy Name Province and the assignments he has held over the past 50 years, Father Andrew Reitz said what he has found to be most gratifying is “the different kind of people I could minister to in the various places I was stationed.”

And what he regards as the greatest challenge, is when it’s time to move from one assignment to the next and starting over.

“You got established, knew the people,” he said. “Even though we know as friars we had to move on, it still wasn’t easy.”

Father Reitz currently serves as parochial vicar in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Brant Beach, a parish with which he is most familiar, having been assigned to the parish multiple times. His first time followed his January 1971 ordination, and he served in Brant Beach for 13 years until 1984. His second appointment occurred in 1996 when he was named pastor, serving until 2005. His third time came last year in 2020 when he was again named pastor but now serves as one of three associate priests.

“The people here were always wonderful to work with,” he said. “It’s a wonderful community near the seashore,” he said, adding how moving it is to encounter parishioners who remember him from his previous assignments and he finds it amazing when he officiates at weddings of the children whose parents he married.

The now 78-year-old Father Reitz was born in 1943 in Olean, N.Y., and he and his family lived in nearby Allegheny. He attended public schools, but every Wednesday afternoon under New York state law, public schools would shorten the school day so children could receive religious education in their parish communities. One of his first encounters with the

Serving different people in different places has enriched Father Reitz’ 50 years of priesthood Franciscan religious was in his family’s parish, St. Bonaventure, which was staffed by Franciscan priests and the Sisters of St. Francis of Allegheny PRIEST ANNIVERSARY 50 who taught the religious education �� YEARS �� classes. Father Reitz recalled the deep impression the Franciscans made on him, saying, “They seemed to be happy, enjoyed mingling with people, and were approachable.” He attended Allegheny Central School from kindergarten through 12th grade, and it was in his senior year when he felt the first stirring of a priestly vocation. Upon graduating high school, he was set to enter St. Bonaventure University, Allegheny, also operated by Franciscans, on a scholarship to study modern languages. “During my freshman year, I decided I couldn’t wait,” said Father Reitz said. “I spoke to a friar about it, then the vocation director tracked me down to talk about it. I was invited to a meeting, which 10 other students attended. Three of those guys also became Franciscans and still are priests.” With the support of his family, Father Reitz enrolled in St. Joseph Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., about 230 miles from home, and despite the distance, his parents visited every visitor’s day. Father Andrew Father Reitz recalled the transition to seminary life as Reitz being tough. “I hated the con�� “Even though we finement and being told what to do. But I was determined to know as friars we be a friar, so I stuck it out.” had to move on, it Two years later in 1964, still wasn’t easy.” he entered the novitiate and received his habit, and then in 1967, he decided on a vocation to the priesthood. He studied theology in Washington Theological Union and in January, 1971, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Joseph Bernardin, who went on to become a cardinal. Other assignments he has held included serving as novice master and director of Initial Formation for the Franciscans of

the East Coast, during which he worked with 60 seminarians and noted that the formation program was the only one for the entire United States.

He also recalled an assignment in Tampa, Fla., where he and three friars oversaw the refurbishing of a church that had formerly belonged to the Jesuit order, which had been struggling because of a shortage of vocations. The team of Franciscans revitalized the parish ministries that ranged from hospital ministry, a women’s group, prison ministry, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and marriage preparation program.

Father Reitz also enjoyed serving as pastor of St. Francis Parish, Manhattan, to which he was assigned around 2011. The busyness of celebrating six Masses daily and making Confessions available at three different times each day, was energizing, he said of St. Francis, which was staffed with six full-time friars and four part-timers who ministered to the 2,000 faithful.

Now back in Brant Beach, Father Reitz said his task is to seek out people who are not being attended to by the Church.

For some reason, “I learn they cannot attend church” so it’s up to the Church to go to visit them,” he said. “It’s a new ministry to show people we are neighbors.”

Gracious and loving God, D––––––––––––––––––––––––––––d we thank you for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence in the Sacraments. Help our priests to be strong in their vocation. Set their souls on fire with love for your people. Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom. Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen.

–USCCB

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