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PastorFatherSTSgmail.comST Sutton (capital “S” capital “T” NO periods) was born a Roman Catholic and the youngest of eight (8) children to Delia Mary (Silvia) and Charles William Sutton from Coventry, Rhode Island. He matriculated to public primary and secondary schools in Coventry and finally earned a high school diploma from Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary in Providence, Rhode Island. ST then entered the seminary and graduated from Saint Joseph Benedictine Seminary in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology and philosophy.
After taking some time off from the seminary after his father’s death, he established his own advertising and fundraising businesses in Warwick, Rhode Island raising money for local charities. Meanwhile, he was also employed by two local police departments in Rhode Island. Having heard the call from the “Hound of Heaven,” ST returned to the seminary, where he graduated from the Dominican Pontifical College of Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island, earning a Masters of Divinity Degree.
In the summer of 1995, ST was introduced to the Syriac Catholic Church which (at that time) was located in Newark, New Jersey. After spending a summer in their mission church in North Hollywood, California, on August 30, 1995, ST received the minor orders of Porter, Cantor and Acolyte and was ordained to the rank of “shamass” (sub-deacon) at the hands of His Beatitude Mar Ignatius II Hayek, (then Syriac Catholic Patriarch) who was visiting the United States. On April 21, 1996 (with an Indult of Accommodation granted by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Deacon ST was permitted to adopt the Syriac Catholic Rite while remaining a Roman Catholic at the same time) sub-deacon ST was elevated to the rank of “shamass enjeel” (deacon of the Gospel) for the Syriac Catholic Diocese at Saint Anthony Roman Catholic Church in Union City, New Jersey, where he then resided with the bishop as his personal secretary at Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel (also in Union City).
On December 7, 1996 (the Feast Day of Saint Ambrose and “a day that will live in infamy”) Deacon ST Sutton was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ at Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church in Ware, Massachusetts and then became the Chancellor of Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese in the United States and Canada as well as the ecclesiastical secretary to the bishop of the diocese. Throughout the coming years, Father ST simultaneously held the positions of: Chancellor of the Diocese, Secretary to the Bishop, Itinerant Preacher, Moderator of the Curia, Director of Vocations, Financial Officer of the Diocese and in 2004, The Very Reverend Father ST Sutton returned to school at the Pontifical University of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where he earned a Licentiate in Canon Law, then becoming the Officialis (Judicial Vicar) of the diocese. For sixteen (16) years, Father ST served as personal and ecclesiastical secretary to the bishop of the diocese and in October of 2010 he requested to be transferred to his original heritage of being a Roman Catholic of the Latin Rite, in the Diocese of Paterson.
On November 30, 2010 (the Feast Day of Saint Andrew the Apostle) The Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, officially assigned Father ST as full-time Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross Roman Catholic Churches in Wayne, New Jersey.
On July 23, 2013 (the Feast Day of Saint Bridget of Sweden) Father ST was officially incardinated into the Diocese of Paterson by a decree from the Bishop. This means that Father ST became an official part of Diocese of Paterson as a member of the diocesan clergy.
On December 8, 2014 (the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception) was officially assigned as the full-time Administrator of Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross Roman Catholic Churches. During his time in Wayne, Father ST dedicated himself to the parishes’ pastoral, spiritual, educational and financial needs and made the motto “All Are Welcome” the parishes’ mantra and motto. Our Lady of the Valley and Holy Cross Churches were the only parishes in the Diocese of Paterson that could boast of no-tuition for Faith Formation. Father instituted a “Commitment Covenant” whereby he challenged parents/guardians of each child to worship as a family of faith weekly, to bring their child to Faith Formation on time and prepared and to support their parish family to the best of their ability. With the generosity of so many faithful parishioners, Father ST was able to pay off the 1.3 million dollar debt to the diocese in two years and two months, continued upkeep of the property; including new air conditioners for the church, three new boilers for the school and church, a new parking lot, new and updated lighting in the church as well as keeping on top of general maintenance of all church properties.
On June 29, 2015 (the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul) Father ST was assigned as Administrator of Saint Joseph Church in Newton, New Jersey where he continues his priestly ministry in service to the Lord and those entrusted to his pastoral care. It is with great joy and gratitude that he continues this new venture in his priestly ministry. Father’s personal mantra these past several years has been “Working Harder to Work Together to Make a Difference.” He continues with this philosophy with his new parish family in Newton. Father's second motto is not only inscribed on the bottom of his personal chalice but alson and on a sign which hangs under the balcony when leaving the church: “Oremus pro Invicem” which means “Let us pray for one another.” Father ST asks that you kindly remember him and the parish family of Saint Joseph in your prayers as he promises to remember you in his.
On August 5, 2017 (on the Dedication of the Basilic of Saint Mary Major; the vigil Mass of the Transfiguration), during his pastoral visit to Saint Joseph Church, Bishop Serratelli appointed Father ST as the 19th pastor of Saint Joseph Church. We pray that through the interecession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, the patron of our parish, Father will continue to lead us by example with great faith, hope, love, enthusiasm, courage, integrity, justice and assuring that "All Are Welcome" in our parish where we are committed to praying for one another.
