History of the Diocese of Metuchen
The history of the Diocese of Metuchen is a long and rich one dating back to the late 17th century when the first Catholics to settle in New Jersey were French and Irish immigrants. Many of these settlers established themselves in the territory known as East Jersey, which included the area now known as Middlesex County. The first priest to celebrate Mass for Catholics in this area came from Fort James, New York, around 1692.
Father Farmer ministers during the 18th Century
During the 18th century, the famous “Father Farmer”, Jesuit Father Ferdinand Steinmeyer, ministered to the scattered Catholics throughout the state with mission stops in “Basconridge” and Millstone, Somerset County and Changewater Furnace, Greenwich and Oxford Furnace, Warren County.
Catholic churches established throughout the area
With the establishment of the United States, the colonies, including New Jersey, began to prosper. By the 1820s, a number of Irish Catholics had settled in New Brunswick. The first recorded visit of a priest there was in 1820. In 1829, Father Joseph Schneller came to New Brunswick monthly. On December 18, 1831, the first Catholic church in New Brunswick, dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul, was blessed.
Father John Rogers, 1845-1887, established missions in Perth Amboy, South Amboy and Metuchen, which would become the see of a new diocese in 1981.
During the 100 years that the area was part of the Diocese of Trenton, tremendous growth occurred and parishes were established to meet the needs of immigrant groups.
The Diocese of Metuchen created by Pope John Paul II
Following the completion of the centennial celebration of the Trenton Diocese, the Diocese of Metuchen was created by Pope John Paul II on November 19, 1981. It included the counties of Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren.
Metuchen's founding bishop installed
Bishop Theodore E. McCarrick was named the founding bishop of the new diocese and was installed at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen, on January 32, 1982. Under his leadership several new parishes in Perth Amboy, Califon, Skillman, Old Bridge and Three Bridges were created; he also oversaw the development of the Metuchen Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and commissions for Hispanic and Black Ministry, Pro-Life Activities and the disabled. The year 1983 saw the development of the Diocesan Mission Statement and establishment of “Forward in Faith”, now the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
Bishop Hughes' episcopate: 
A time of growth
In 1986 Bishop McCarrick was transferred to the Archdiocese of Newark. Bishop Edward T. Hughes was installed in Metuchen on February 5, 1987. The years of Bishop Hughes’ episcopate saw much growth, with the erection of 11 new church buildings; the creation of the Office of Pastoral Care for persons with AIDS/ARC; the completion of the McCarrick Care Center and the Maria Regina Residence for retired priests, both in Somerset; and the founding of the Diocesan Eucharistic League and the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the former St. Bernard Church, Raritan.
The Office of Evangelization was created to welcome new members into the Catholic faith and to meet the needs of new immigrants to the United States. Ministries to Korean and Vietnamese Catholics were also established and the diocesan Youth Retreat Center in Plainsboro was opened. The diocese’s first official newspaper, The Catholic Spirit, began publishing on February 29, 1996.
Bishop Breen positions diocese for 21st century
Upon the retirement of Bishop Hughes in 1997, Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Vincent De Paul Breen of the Diocese of Brooklyn as his successor July 8, 1997. Msgr. Breen was ordained and installed as third bishop of Metuchen September 8, 1997 in St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral.
In February 1998, Bishop Breen increased the visibility and accessibility of the diocese by establishing a diocesan Web page.
In September 1999, he launched a diocesan capital campaign “In Service to the Kingdom,” with a goal of $60 million, to position the diocese and its many outreaches for the 21st century.
Among the projects funded by the capital campaign was renovation of the former St. Pius X High School, Piscataway, into the St. John Neumann Diocesan Center. The new diocesan center opened in November, 2001, uniting seven diocesan offices under one roof.
During the Jubilee of the Year 2000, Bishop Breen led more than 200 members of the diocese on a diocesan Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Florence and Milan, from Oct. 8-15.
Diocese's founding Bishop appointed as a Cardinal
On Nov. 21, 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed Metuchen’s founding bishop, Archbishop McCarrick, as local ordinary of Washington, D.C. He was installed in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Jan. 3, 2001. Shortly thereafter, the pope raised Archbishop McCarrick to the College of Cardinals at a Feb. 23, 2001 consistory of cardinals in Rome.
In September, 2001, Bishop Breen broke ground for the first Catholic school building in Hunterdon County, an effort begun by Bishop Hughes six years before. Immaculate Conception School, Clinton, opened its doors to students in grades pre-K through four for the 2001 school year. Upon completion of the new building in the fall of 2002, Immaculate Conception School expanded enrollment through eighth grade.
In April 12, 2001, Bishop Breen reorganized the diocesan structure to include several departments rather than vicariates, allowing for the future when lay people might assume some of the positions formerly held by clergy.
On Sept. 10, 2001, due to Bishop Breen’s ailing health, Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop John M. Smith of the Diocese of Trenton as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Metuchen.
Most. Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski appointed fourth bishop of Metuchen
On January 4, 2002, the Pope appointed Newark Auxiliary Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski the fourth bishop of Metuchen. The New Jersey native was installed on March 19, 2002, in the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison.
In June 2002, Bishop Bootkoski made a series of changes to diocesan administration, appointing two priests and one layman to his top leadership team. The new structure allowed for two vicars general – one who serves as moderator of the curia and another in charge of development and planning. In addition, the position of general secretary for administrative and legal services, dedicated to overseeing the administration of the diocese’s central operations, was created.
The changes were prompted, in part, by a desire to include a member of the laity in diocesan leadership, and to take a collaborative, or team, approach to the management of the diocese.
Bishop convokes the first diocesan synod
Changes continued in 2003 with a newly constituted Diocesan Pastoral Council which held its first general assembly in June. During the gathering, history was made when Bishop Bootkoski signed a decree convoking the first diocesan synod, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Church of Metuchen’s establishment.
Diocese mourns the loss of Bishop Breen
On March 30, 2003, the diocese mourned Bishop Emeritus Vincent De Paul Breen, who died at age 66 of pneumonia following a long illness. Bishop Breen will long be remembered for his dedication to Catholic education and his steadfast belief in the sanctity of all human life.
In keeping with the diocese’s ongoing commitment to the safety of children, Bishop Bootkoski announced the formation of the Office of Child and Youth Protection in September 2003. The office brought together many of Bishop Bootkoski’s initiatives under experienced leadership to address the issue of sex abuse within the Church.
The year 2004 saw significant advances in the Church of Metuchen. St. Peter’s University Hospital announced two affiliations, one with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, ranked the best pediatric hospital in the country by U.S.News and World Report and Child Magazine; the other with Drexel University College of Medicine, the largest private medical school in the country.
Sister diocese relationship inaugurated
In early 2004 Bishop Bootkoski led a nine-member delegation to Guatemala as part of the diocese’s first international humanitarian mission. The visit inaugurated a “sister diocese” relationship with the Diocese of Santa Rosa in Guatemala under the auspices of Catholic Relief Services Global Solidarity Partnership.
Also in 2004, the Office of Child and Youth Protection of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops awarded four commendations to the diocese and announced the diocese was in compliance with the U.S. Bishops' charter for addressing the problem of sexual abuse in the Church. Diocesan training for the Protecting God’s Children program surpassed 2,000, thus ensuring a safe environment for youth by teaching parish staff and volunteers and parents how to eliminate those conditions where sexual crimes can occur.
Bishop Bootkoski hosted an Evening of Legislative Dialogue – the first of its kind for the diocese, with 12 elected officials attending. The goal was to encourage better comunication with state legislators about issues that concern the Catholic community.
Diocese aids tsunami victims
On December 26, 2004 a catastrophic tsunami devoured parts of Asia. It set the stage for Bishop Bootkoski’s first actions in 2005 when on January 9th he announced the Diocese of Metuchen would focus its relief effort on the Thanjavue Diocese in India. Parishes and schools throughout the Metuchen Diocese raised more than $800,000 for their adopted diocese.
Addressing the need for more vocations, Bishop Bootkoski appointed Father Randall J. Vashon as full-time vocations director beginning January 3. In late March he approved a new Formation Program Class to train candidates for diaconal ministry in the diocese. Twenty-four candidates in the 2007 diaconate class celebrated the Rite of Lector.
Pope John Paul II mourned
In April 2005, the Diocese, together with the rest of the world, mourned the loss of Pope John Paul II, who had created the Church of Metuchen in 1981. A few weeks later, Bishop Bootkoski celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the installation of Pope Benedict XVI.
The diocese’s first teen chastity program, “Because I’m Worth It,” was held on April 26. Approximately 500 eighth grade students from across the diocese attended the program designed to empower young people and encourage them to accept chastity as a lifestyle.
May brought the announcement that the Rutgers Catholic Alumni Association had been formed by the Catholic Campus Ministry at Rutgers University. The association is open to all former members of the Newman Club and the Catholic Center and to all Catholic alumni from the campuses of Rutgers University.
“The Lighting of the Watch Fires,” a history of the founding of the Diocese of Metuchen and a chronicle of its early years, was released in June. The book was written by Monsignor John B. Szymanski, who has served as vicar general under all four bishops of Metuchen.
Diocesan Youth Day established
September 17 marked the first Diocesan Youth Day, which was attended by over 300 teens who gathered for a day of prayer, worship, fellowship and fun. The end of the month saw tragedy strike again, as a natural disaster devastated the Gulf Coast. Once again parishes and schools responded generously, this time contributing $1 million for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
After a lapse of many years, Bishop Bootkoski reinstituted the diocese’s Red Mass. Celebrated on November 6, the Mass honored lawyers, judges and others involved in the judicial system.
First diocesan synod opened
The highlight of 2005 came for the diocese on November 19, when Bishop Bootkoski officially opened the diocese’s first synod at a Mass and inaugurated the year-long celebration of the diocese’s 25th anniversary. During the liturgy, 249 clergy and laity were commissioned for their role as synod delegates.
In December, the diocese took a major step towards promoting the Gospel when the Bishop reestablished an Office of Evangelization. As the year came to a close, the diocese’s 25th Anniversary Book, “Of This We Are All Witnesses,” was published.
Diocese prepares for Silver Jubilee
2006 is a year focused on the diocesan synod, which will continue into 2007, and the diocese's Silver Jubilee.
Since its founding almost 25 years ago, the Diocese of Metuchen has experienced remarkable growth and has made significant achievements in its mission -- to serve well the People of God in the counties of Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren.