ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
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Biography: Msgr. Timothy Shugrue Msgr. Timothy J. Shugrue became Pastor of St. Michael’s Parish on February 1, 2011. Born in Elizabeth and raised there and in Westfield, Msgr. Tim graduated from Blessed Sacrament School, Elizabeth and Seton Hall Prep, South Orange before attending Seton Hall University, where he received his B.A. degree in Classical Languages in 1969. After studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah, where he earned his M.A. degree in systematic theology, he was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark in 1973. He served as Parochial Vicar of St. Aedan’s Parish in Jersey City from 1973 to 1978, when he became Students’ Chaplain at Essex Catholic Boys’ High School, first in Newark and later in East Orange, remaining as Chaplain until 1984. While at Essex Catholic, in 1979 Msgr. Tim was appointed Director of the Permanent Diaconate Preparation Program for the Archdiocese, and in 1982 he became Director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. After taking part in a sabbatical program at the North American College in Rome in 1990, Msgr. Tim served briefly as Parochial Vicar of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Bayonne before being named Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Montclair in June, 1991. In 1996 he was named a Chaplain of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, with the title Monsignor. Upon completing three terms as Pastor in Montclair, Msgr. Tim was assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Michael’s Parish, Cranford in 2009 and was appointed Pastor upon the retirement of Fr. John P. McGovern. Besides his principal assignments, Msgr. Tim has served as Coordinator of Pro-Life Activities for the Archdiocese and was a member of the editorial board of The Catholic Advocate. He served as President of the Archdiocesan Senate of Priests and later was a member of the Presbyteral Council. In 1984, as President of the National Association of Permanent Diaconate Directors, and again in 2000, Msgr. Tim was a consultant to the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on the Permanent Diaconate, participating in the revision of the National Guidelines for the Permanent Diaconate; in 1987 he authored a monograph study for the Committee, “The Service Ministry of the Deacon”. From 1994 to 1997, Msgr. Tim served as a consultant to the Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry as regional representative of the priests of the dioceses of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. From 1996 to 2001, he was Executive Director of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Celebration of the Jubilee Year 2000. In addition to his parish duties, Msgr. Tim currently serves the Archdiocese as a member of the Priest Personnel Policy Board and of the Patrimony Commission, and as contact person for Courage, an outreach ministry to Catholics seeking to live in accordance with the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. “I am the eldest of three children of the late Timothy D. and Rita Murphy Shugrue. My close-knit family includes my brother Jim, a widower, who lives in Stratford, CT, and my sister, Mary Catherine, who resides in Westfield with her husband, John P. Ryan. I am the proud uncle of two nieces and four nephews and I now take delight in a new generation of grandnephews and grandnieces – three of each...so far! A piano-player of very modest ability, I regularly attend concerts of the New York Philharmonic, enjoy the classic music of Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and the Big Band era and am a devotee of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. I also enjoy watching old movies, reading world and American history and completing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle (but am no good at Sudoku). I like to travel – Ireland has been a frequent destination – and I succeeded in visiting all 50 U.S. states before I was 50! Possessing no athletic talent or inclination – and having no favorite teams (besides those of St. Michael’s School!) - I nonetheless appreciate the skill and discipline on display at events like the World Series, the Super Bowl, the NCAA Final Four, etc. – and I surprised myself by getting caught up in the excitement of a hockey game. It’s an interest – seeing the pairing of skill and discipline - that also leads me to admire the artistry and precision of dancers, especially those who perform classical ballet. I find it both fascinating and challenging to observe people’s talents engaged in all kinds of activities, particularly in relation to career choices. "First exposed to theories of talent-based success when working with the deacons of the Archdiocese, I have been intrigued by developments in applying the theory to the realms of Church vocations and congregational life, and I am eager to encourage implementing at St. Michael’s the ‘engaged member’ model of parish participation that is being promoted by the Gallup Organization and others. I look forward to building on the solid foundation of St. Michael’s great history by working with parish leaders and all our members to achieve our mission of proclaiming and celebrating the love of God in Christ, through the ministries of Word, Sacrament, Service and Community-building.”