Rev. Marc A. Vicari, Pastor
Rev. Marc A. Vicari became the 15th Pastor of St. Michael Parish, Cranford on July 1, 2023. Prior to coming to St. Michael's, Father Vicari was the Pastor of St. Cassian Parish, Upper Montclair, NJ.
Born in Newark, the son of Marcia and Salvatore Vicari and the brother of three siblings, Father Marc attended Bloomfield High School and graduated from Seton Hall University with a B.A. in English Literature. He continued his studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall, and was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark in 1997.
Prior to his appointment as Pastor of St. Cassian’s, his assignments in ministry include serving as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, South Orange; Director of Campus Ministries at the colleges in Newark (Rutgers, NJIT and Essex County College); Director of a Vocation Discernment House for men considering the priesthood; and Vicar for Family Life Ministries of the Archdiocese.
Father’s interests include sports, history, cooking and wine tasting, music (especially classic rock) foreign cinema and study—particularly Bible study--and travel.
“After 26 years as a priest, I am grateful for all of my experiences serving the People of God and I look forward to all that the Lord has in store for me in my new assignment.”
A heartfelt welcome to St. Michael’s, Father Vicari!
Fr. Sebastian Valencia Obando
Born in Medellin, Colombia, Fr. Valencia received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Seton Hall University. He says that his mother and local priests in Colombia inspired him to become a priest. Prior to entering the seminary, Fr. Valencia helped in the catechetical formation of children, and became involved in the dynamism of the charismatic renewal movement, which “contributed a lot to form the man and servant I am.”
We were fortunate to have Deacon Sebastian here at St. Michael's for the year before his priestly ordination. On May 26, 2018 Fr. Sebastian was ordained to the priesthood for service to the Archdiocese of Newark and offered his First Mass of Thanksgiving here at St. Michael's later that day.