Kinnelon Pastor Celebrates 21 Years Leading OLM

For Msgr. John J. Carroll, pastor of  parish (OLM), in Kinnelon, last week marked two major anniversaries.

On May 28, Carroll celebrated 46 years in the priesthood and on June 1, he celebrated 21 years of service as pastor of OLM.

“This parish is wonderful,” Carroll said. “It’s the people that make the parish.”

Carroll, who refers to himself as Father rather than Monsignor, considers himself not only the pastor, but also a parishioner. He makes an effort to participate in every activity. He makes a point of being actively involved.

Born in Hawthorne, Carroll is one of four children. OLM is Carroll’s fifth parish since he became a priest. Early in his career, Carroll also served as the Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Paterson Diocese.

“I enjoyed that work, and I am very happy I did it when I was young,” Carroll said. “It was challenging then, but it is more so today.”

In July, Carroll will celebrate his birthday. He will be 72.

The monsignor said that the inspirational priests and nuns he met at St. Anthony’s Church during his youth encouraged him to become a priest. Carroll also credits his catholic education to his faith.

“Since fifth or sixth grade, I was always attracted to the priesthood,” Carroll said.

He was shocked when he attended his 25th high school reunion and found that so many of his classmates were surprised to learn of his vocation in the priesthood. Trained as a parish priest, it is his flair for fun and his joy of storytelling that has distinguished Carroll’s career and his homilies, which he tries to limit to five minutes.

“I’m very careful about the time,” Carroll explained. “Once in a while, I will say to somebody in the front row, ‘Give me five minutes. And then, I don’t care if you have to stand up on the pew, let me know it’s five minutes.’”

Known for singing, sailing and auctioneering, Carroll stands out among his colleagues, friends and parishioners.

“I have always tried to see the brighter side of things, rather than the darker side,” Carroll said. “I try to give people a little lift even when things are not too bright in their lives.”

Carroll enjoys interacting with others and strives to reach out to everyone he meets in some way.

“I feel sorry for those who can’t do it or won’t do it – affirm others,” Carroll explained. “I think we could all do more of that for one another.”

While the priest claims he sometimes “misses the boat,” he said he remains committed to trying to connect with people.

“This is it,” Carroll joked of his tenure at OLM. “From here on out, it is either the cemetery or retirement, one or the other, whichever comes first, and I don’t care.”

But, before he goes, the priest plans to continue working on making a connection with his parishioners.

“Somehow or another, I would like to be able to reach the minds and the hearts of more of our good people,” Carroll said.

Like many priests and pastors, Carroll finds it disheartening that so many attend services only on holidays.

“You need to worship the Lord to know him,” Carroll said. “And if you know him, I know that great joy, a much greater joy than is imaginable, comes into a person’s life.”

According to Carroll, the goal of reaching others has been a constant in his 46 years of religious service.

“I can’t say that I have gotten there yet,” Carroll said. “But, I am not giving up on it.”

To assist in his ongoing quest, Carroll hopes to launch a Facebook page this year. While he does not know for certain that social media is the answer to increased participation, he does believe in communication. He hopes to inspire others to make church a priority.

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