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	Edison Church Parishioners Plan Protest to Retain Pastor By Lalita Aloor Amuthan Home News Tribune July 1, 2008 http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/NEWS/807010412 EDISON —A group of parishioners at St. Helena Roman Catholic Church is stepping up efforts to retain the church's 78-year-old pastor by proposing a suspension of contributions to the church as a protest. On Sunday, the group circulated petitions asking parishioners to hold off on contributions to the church until the Bishop meets with the parishioners and addresses their strong desire that their pastor remain at St. Helena for as long as he has the ability to do so. "We hope this will get the attention of the Bishop," said Mike Lombardi, one of the organizers of the petition drive. Monsignor Armando Perini, who served as pastor at St. Helena for 36 years, is set to leave the church in August. According to parishioners, Perini had requested to serve for two more years and to continue to live at the rectory, both of which were declined by the Diocese of Metuchen, which accepted Perini's resignation. Last month, the group collected about 200 signatures on petitions from parishioners that were mailed to the Diocese requesting that the pastor be allowed to stay for two more years, Lombardi said. "We did not get any response in writing," he said. Diocese of Metuchen spokesperson Joanne Ward said Bishop Paul Bootkoski responded to individual letters that he received but she believed the number was way below 200. She noted that it is only a small group which is involved in the protests — pointing out that a total of 1,941 families are parishioners at St. Helena. She said, according to Canon law, the retirement age for priests is 75. Beyond that the Bishop can extend service on a year to year basis, as was done in Perini's case. Perini turned in his resignation in April 2005. Because of construction at the school and a dedication, he was allowed to stay longer, Ward said. "He was allowed to enjoy the fruits of that project," she said. According to Lombardi, the parish has approximately $4 million in debt incurred by construction of the addition to the school. He said that as enrollment in the school went down, there was some fingerpointing which led to the current decision about the pastor's move. "This thing started over money and may have to end over money," he said referring to the move to suspend donations. Ward dismissed that argument. "The money part is not the factor. The key is he's 78 and has been given three additional years," she said. She added that Perini has reached an age where the Bishop believes he should no longer be burdened with the administration of the parish. Perini can continue to be active in his priestly ministry and can serve as a senior priest helping out in different parishes, Ward said. Some parishioners had raised concerns over where Perini would go with such short notice. Ward said the Diocese has a beautiful priest retirement home called Maria Regina in Somerset, which is open to all retired priests. Perini did not return calls seeking comment. Lalita Aloor Amuthan Contact: laloor@mycentraljersey.com, 732-565-7271.
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