Meet the Staff

  Father Jerome Johnson was appointed pastor of St. Cecelia’s July 21, 1999. He received a BA from St. Meinrad College in Indiana and an MDiv and MA from Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Fr. Jay was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1986 by then Bishop Theodore McCarrick.. Before coming to St. Cecelia’s, Fr. Jay was associate pastor at Immaculate Conception in Sommerville and St. Thomas the Apostle in Old Bridge. He was pastor of Sacred Heart in New Brunswick from 1995 to 1999.

  Fr. Alfonso R. DeCondorpusa was ordained to the Priesthood on May 27, 1995 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newark, N.J. by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. He has been in various assignments while he was in the Newark Archdiocese and he transferred to the Metuchen Diocese in 2004 to be closer to his mother and grandmother. Ha has served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bernardsville, N.J. and is currently serving at St. Cecelia Church, Iselin N.J. He received a B.A. from Seton Hall University in 1992; a M.Div. from Mt. St. Mary’s University/Seminary in 1995 a M.A. from Mt. St. Mary’s University/ Seminary in 1997 and has completed all his course work for his Doctorate at Fordham University in Pastoral Ministry. He is currently a Doctorate candidate and working on his dissertation. His ministry has involved R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian initiation for Adults), in Spanish and English, Youth Ministry, Spanish Ministry, Police Chaplain, Knight of Columbus Chaplain, Master of ceremonies for different Bishops. He is currently assisting Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski in different liturgical functions besides serving at St. Cecelia’s.

Deacon Rich Lutomski was ordained to the permanent Diaconate on June 9th 2007 at St. Francis Cathedral by Bishop Paul Bootkowski and was assigned by Bishop Paul to the parish since May of 2006 during the last year of his formation. A 1972 graduate of New Jersey City University, he was married to his wife Elizabeth in 1973. They have one daughter, Marianne, and reside in Colonia. Among his other liturgical & sacramental duties, he conducts the baptism preparation classes and is on the RCIA team. He is currently employed fulltime as an Information services manager for A & P supermarkets.

  Joan Abitabile has been the parish secretary at St. Cecelia Parish since September, 1997. Her primary responsibility is the maintenance of all tuition accounts for St. Cecelia School parents, kindergarten through 8th grade. In addition to general parish duties, Joan handles the payment of any property management expenses for the facility, Diocesan Assessments and Special Collections, and licensing for fundraisers or special events.

  Stephanie Setar has been the parish secretary at St. Cecelia Parish since October, 1998, warmly greeting all those who enter the Parish Office. Stephanie manages the payroll and benefits/compensation accounts for the church and school, arranges baptisms, orders papal blessings, maintains the parish calendar and assists in general office duties

  Mary Jane Kress has been our parish Cantor since September 1999. A graduate of Kean University, she has studied voice with Dr. Gordon Myers, Mr. Donival Brown, and most recently with Dr. Judith Nicosia, head of Graduate Music at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. In addition to her music ministry, she lends her talents to many other parish endeavors, particularly those that foster the ideas and ideals of Stewardship as our Parish – and individual – way of life.