Former Chatham Clergyman Honored For Five Decades Of Service

CHATHAM, NJ - The Morris County Board of Freeholders have honored retiring Msgr. John J. Carroll with a special county resolution for 52 years as a valued clergyman, who served his final mass on Sunday at Our Lady of Magnificat Church in Kinnelon.

Freeholder Director Doug Cabana presented the county resolution to Msgr. Carroll at the event, and was joined by Morris County Sheriff James. M. Gannon, who presented Msgr. Carroll with a plaque declaring him an honorary Morris County Sheriff.

Kinnelon Mayor James Freda also presented Msgr. Carroll with a key to the borough.

“Msgr. Carroll’s final mass on Sunday truly was one of the warmest, most moving events I have ever attended," said Cabana. “The monsignor certainly is loved by the members of his parish in Kinnelon and by the thousands of people touched by his ministry over the years.”

Born in Paterson in 1940, Msgr. Carroll was ordained as a Catholic priest at St. John’s Cathedral in his hometown in 1966 and served that church as assistant pastor. His career included stops at Our Lady of Pompeii in Paterson, superintendent of schools for the Paterson Catholic Diocese, pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Chatham, and pastor at Our Lady of Magnificat in Kinnelon.

He earned his Doctor in Divinity degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, where he earlier completed his priestly training, and also earned Masters and Doctoral degrees in Education from Fordham University.

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