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Nativity of Our Lord |
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Pastor Page |
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Father Edward R. Flanagan
Father Edward R. Flanagan was born in Jersey City on January 7, 1962. He is the youngest of three children of the late Edward and Muriel (Hayes) Flanagan. Fr. Ed attended Saint Nicholas Grammar School. As a fourth grader, he started attending daily Mass. In the sixth grade, he was encouraged to attend a vocation retreat at St. Francis Preparatory High School Seminary. He attended Hudson Catholic High School and continued to go to daily Mass and be active in his home parish. As a high school student, Fr. Ed was an altar server, lector and choir member. He also worked in the rectory answering phones and cleaning up after bingo. Fr. Ed continued along his path to priesthood and received his BA in religious studies from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York and served his diaconate year at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Whitehouse Station, NJ. Fr. Ed was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Metuchen on May 28, 1988 and celebrated His Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Nicholas Church, Jersey City on May 29, 1988. Fr. Ed served in the following parishes: Immaculate Conception, Somerville; St. James, Woodbridge; Sacred Heart, South Plainfield; Immaculate Conception, Spotswood; and St. Bernadette, Parlin. In 2002, Fr. Ed was named administrator of Nativity of Our Lord Parish. He was installed as pastor of Nativity of Our Lord on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul in June 2003. Since then, the parish seems to have exploded with growth. Today the parish comprises more than 1801 registered families. The church’s pews and its parking lot are filled to overflowing for each of its four weekend Masses. Fr. Ed is excited about the growth and credits the parishioners. “We’ve gotten a lot done in four years and that’s all thanks to the parishioners.” Fr. Ed is very proud of his Irish Heritage and was privileged to travel to Ireland and to lead pilgrims to Italy.
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Fr. Ed after celebrating Mass |
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Fr. Ed speaks to children at Mass |
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Nativity of Our Lord |
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Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words. -Saint Francis of Assisi |
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“A good shepherd, a pastor after God’s heart, is the greatest treasure which the good Lord can grant to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy.” St. John Vianney |
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Saint John Vianney, pray for us. |
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Dear Lord, we pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry. We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5). May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse. May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross. May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your love seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls. Amen. |