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Bishop
Time to Reflect
Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski marked the 10th anniversary of his installation as shepherd of the Diocese of Metuchen by serving as principal celebrant and homilist at Mass at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway. The Mass was celebrated March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Bishop Bootkoski said he chose that feast for his installation because St. Joseph is patron saint of the universal Church. The bishop said St. Joseph is a role model for all because he trusted the will of God despite difficult challenges, such as accepting Mary and the child she bore; traveling to Bethlehem, where they could find not find comfortable lodging; and then into exile in Egypt to protect the child Jesus. He told the diocesan staff at the Mass that together they had to keep the Christ Child real and present, and ended his homily saying that he had found a home in Metuchen.
The diocese will celebrate the bishop’s 10th anniversary as Shepherd of Metuchen and his 15th anniversary as a bishop at Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, 3 p.m., Oct. 21. During the Mass, the bishop will bless new statues of St. Francis of Assisi and Blessed John Paul II, whose feast day is celebrated on Oct. 22. The events will also conclude the 30th anniversary of the diocese’s founding by then-Pope John Paul II.
The Most Rev. Paul Gregory Bootkoski was named the Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen by Pope John Paul II on January 4, 2002. He was installed as the Fourth Bishop of Metuchen on March 19, 2002.
Bishop Bootkoski was born in Newark July 4, 1940, one of two children of Peter and Antoinette Bootkoski.
The family's home parish was Queen of Peace, North Arlington, where young Paul attended Our Lady Queen of Peace School. He went on to St. Benedict Prep High School in Newark, where his desire to become a priest was nurtured by the Benedictine monks of Newark Abbey.
Following graduation from Seton Hall University, Bootkoski entered Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. Archbishop Thomas Boland ordained him a priest for service in the Archdiocese of Newark May 28, 1966.
Father Bootkoski's first parish assignment was as parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Bloomfield. He also served as parochial vicar in Holy Spirit Parish, Orange, and St. Michael Parish, Cranford. In 1972, Father Bootkoski was assigned to campus ministry at the Rutgers-Newark campus. He was named archdiocesan director of campus ministry in 1974, and served in that capacity until he was named assistant vice president for Student Affairs at Seton Hall University in 1980.
Father Bootkoski returned to parish ministry in 1983 as pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Elizabeth. He was subsequently appointed pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Saddle River, in 1990.
In 1991, Pope John Paul II named Father Bootkoski a prelate of honor, with the title reverend monsignor. In 1996, Msgr. Bootkoski assumed additional archdiocesan duties as vicar for priests - spiritual director for the clergy of the archdiocese - and resumed responsibility for campus ministry activities in the archdiocese.
On July 8, 1997, Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Bootkoski to serve as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark. He was ordained by Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick Sept. 5, 1997 in Sacred Heart Cathedral Basilica, Newark. He subsequently was named vicar general and moderator of the curia, responsible for daily management and operations of the administrative agencies of the archdiocese.
On Jan. 5, 2001, following Archbishop McCarrick's installation as Archbishop of Washington, the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Newark elected Bishop Bootkoski diocesan administrator, responsible for the temporary management of the archdiocese. He served the archdiocese in that capacity until the installation of Archbishop John J. Myers Oct. 9.
Bishop Bootkoski holds a bachelor of arts degree in classical languages from Seton Hall University, a master of divinity degree in theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary, and a master of arts degree in education from Manhattan College.