Eleven Priests Celebrate Silver Anniversaries

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Eleven priests of the archdiocese are celebrating their silver anniversaries this year. Cardinal Dolan celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving with them at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on May 11.
Cardinal John O’Connor ordained seven of the priests—six were ordained on May 11, 1991, and Father John Bonnici was ordained on June 22, 1991—at St. Patrick’s. The other four priests were ordained that year for other dioceses or religious orders and were later incardinated into the archdiocese.

Father John Anthony has served as administrator at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Poughkeepsie, since 2013. He was parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception, Tuckahoe, 2011-2013; St. Clare of Assisi, the Bronx, 2010-2011; St. Barnabas, the Bronx, 2000-2005; St. Joseph’s, Millbrook, 1997-2000; and St. Teresa’s, Staten Island, 1996-1997. Ordained in his native India on Oct. 1, 1991, he was incardinated into the archdiocese in 2005. 

Father John Bonnici is pastor of St. Columba’s parish, Chester, where he has served since 2008. From 2002-2008, he was the pastor at St. Philip Neri, the Bronx. He was director of the archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office, 1996-2002, and was assistant director, 1995-1996. In 1994-1995, he studied at St. John Paul II Institute for studies on marriage and family in Washington, D.C., and was on the faculty at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie. He served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Elmsford, 1992-1994, and studied at Pontifical North American College, 1991-1992.

Father Michael Challinor has been administrator of Our Lady of Mercy and Sacred Heart parish, Port Chester, since last year. He served as pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea, City Island, the Bronx, 2006-2015, and administrator, 2005-2006. He was parochial vicar at Sacred Heart, Hartsdale, 2002-2005; St. Denis, Yonkers, 2000-2002; Immaculate Conception, Stony Point, 1996-2000; and St. John the Evangelist, Mahopac, 1991-1996.

Father Herbert DeGaris has been parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception parish, Stony Point, since last year. He was administrator at St. Patrick’s, Highland Mills, 2013-2015. He served as parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s, Bronxville, 2010-2013; St. Patrick’s, Yorktown Heights, 2004-2010; St. Catharine’s, Blauvelt, 2000-2004; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Garnerville, 1994-2000; and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Manhattan, 1991-1994.

Father Richard Gill is pastor at St. Lawrence O’Toole and Sacred Heart parish, Brewster and Patterson. At St. Lawrence O’Toole, he was administrator, 2012-2015, and parochial vicar, 2011-2012. He was parochial vicar at St. Barnabas, the Bronx, 2010-2011. Ordained in Rome on Jan. 30, 1991, he was incardinated into archdiocese in 2015. 

Father Neil Kelly has been parochial vicar at St. Joseph-St. Thomas parish, Staten Island, since 2011. He was parochial vicar at St. Lucy’s, the Bronx, 1996-2011, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Bronx, 1991-1996.

Father Kazimierz Kowalski has served as parochial vicar at St. Agnes parish, Manhattan, since last year. He served as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Manhattan, 2003-2015. From 1996 to 2003, he was parochial vicar at St. Agnes. He was administrator at St. Francis of Assisi, Newburgh, 1995-1996. He was parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament, New Rochelle, 1993-1995, and St. Joseph’s, Manhattan, 1991-1993.

Father George Oonnoonny has served as pastor of St. Christopher and St. Patrick parish, Buchanan and Verplanck, since last year. He was administrator of St. Patrick’s, 2014-2015. He served in the Metropolitan Tribunal as associate judicial vicar, 2012-2014, and judge, 2002-2012. He was appointed to the Metropolitan Tribunal, 1998-2000, and was parochial vicar at St. Ann’s, Staten Island, 1991-1996.

Father Dessier Predelus has been parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Genoa parish, Manhattan, since 2013. He served as parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s, Spring Valley, 2003-2013. Ordained in his native Haiti on Jan. 25, 1991, he was incardinated into the archdiocese in 2012.

Father Richard Seagraves retired in 2010 after serving at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as senior priest, 2009-2010, and parochial vicar, 2004-2009. He was parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale, 1999-2004; St. Eugene’s, Yonkers, 1997-1999; Sacred Heart, Hartsdale, 1994-1997; and Notre Dame, Manhattan, 1993-1994. Ordained in Austria on April 1, 1991, he was incardinated into the archdiocese in 1997.

Father Dennis Williams has served as pastor of Holy Rosary and Nativity of the Blessed Mother parish, the Bronx, since last year. He was administrator at Holy Rosary, 2014-2015. He was temporary administrator at St. Mary’s, Marlboro, 2013-2014. He served as parochial vicar at St. Francis de Sales, Manhattan, 2011-2013; St. John the Evangelist, Mahopac, 2007-2011; St. Aedan’s, Pearl River, 2003-2007; Epiphany, Manhattan, 1999-2003; St. Gregory the Great, 1996-1999; and Our Lady of Assumption, the Bronx, 1991-1996.