Bishop Donato Celebrates Feast of St. John Bosco Student Mass
The Most Reverend Thomas A. Donato, DD, Auxiiary Bishop of Newark was the main celebrant for the student Mass held today in honor of the school's patron saint, St. John Bosco "Don Bosco".
Attended by the entire student body, faculty, former faculty and alumni, the Mass honored the founder of the Salesian order of priests and brothers and the schools and centers for youth that it administers.
Currently serving as the Regional Bishop of Hudson County and as the Pastor of St. Henry’s Parish in Bayonne, Bishop Donato graduated in 1961 from the College Seminary at Seton Hall University. He completed his seminary studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, NJ. He has served many parishes in Bergen and Hudson Counties and is known to many Don Bosco Prep students having served as Pastor of St. Paul’s Parish in Ramsey from 1988 to 2001. He also served as the Spiritual Director of Seton Hall’s Immaculate Conception Seminary. Monsignor Donato was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Newark on May 21, 2004 by Pope John II.
During his homily, Bishop Donato asked for a show of hands of the students he had baptized or confirmed while serving as pastor of The Church of St. Paul in Ramsey, NJ. He advised the students, "See the face of Christ in others and respond to them when they are in need."
Mr. Paul Guadagno, who was one of the primary founders of the school's Resource Room for Learning Needs, was presented by Bishop Donato with a plaque acknowledging him for his contributions in the area.
The Feast Day Mass capped off “Spirit Week” at Don Bosco Prep, which included an entire week of class competitions and games.
Bishop Donato posed with Don Bosco Prep students whom he had baptized and/or confirmed while he was Pastor of St. Paul's Parish in Ramsey, NJ.