Pastoral Staff

Rev. Herbert J. Stab, Pastor

Reverend Herbert J. Stab became pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish on March 16, 1975. He was born in Germany and raised in Sayreville, NJ. He prepared for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Fr. Stab received a Master's Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Iona College in 1971. He came to us from St. Luke's in North Plainfield.

Pastor's Message, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Parish:

Each Parish is, in a sacramental way, a miniature of the whole Church. A Parish is a sign of Christ's presence with His people in a particular place and community.

Our Lady of Fatima is celebrating fifty years as a Christian Community of clergy and laity of the Roman Catholic tradition of the Diocese of Metuchen. As Pastor, I remember the humble beginnings of the Parish. Msgr. Lease was the founding Pastor. The Parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima first met in the old New Market Fire House on June 29, 1948. At this meeting, Msgr. Lease outlined his plans for the infant parish.

I arrised as a student in the late 50's. At this time, there were only a few hundred families with a Church and Rectory. There was no school, no auditorium, no convent, no Fatima House and no Grottos of Our Lady of Fatima and San Lorenzo Ruiz, first patron saint. Msgr. Lease and I became personal friends. He was an excellent priest and role model. At the time, I had no thought of ever becoming Pastor. My goal at the time was to grow in spirituality and to meet the standards of Seminary Education. However, Our Lord has a sense of humor. Through divine providence, I was appointed Pastor by Bishop George W. Ahr.

By this time, the Parish had grown from a few hundred families to three thousand families. The plans before us gives us evidence of the tremendous faith on the part of many parishioners. You now have a School, Auditorium, Convent, Church, Chapel, Rectory, and two Grottos.

We are a worshipping community dedicated to being a sign of God's Kingdom on earth. A Christ centered community of faith which recognizes and attempts to integrate the uniqueness of our culture and the uniqueness of each individual's spirituality.

As disciples of Jesus, we reach out in service to those in need and stive to be channels of God's love to all.

I am grateful for your generosity, your understanding of Discipleship, your deep faith has made all of this possible. Together we are approaching a new millenium. Our task is to pass on this faith to those entrusted to our care.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Herbert J. Stab

 

picture goes here

Rev. Jose M. Marcelo, Associate Pastor

biography



email:

 

picture goes here

Rev. James A. Kyrpczak, Associate Pastor

biography



email:

 

picture goes here

Mr. Stanley Lorenc, Deacon

biography


email:

 

picture goes here

Mr. Lawrence Reilly, Deacon

biography


email: lpr-spirit@worldnet.att.net