By Jared Kaltwasser
Home News Tribune
July 2, 2008
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/NEWS/807020388
PISCATAWAY —The township church whose priest resigned four months after sexual misconduct charges against him were dropped now has a new pastor.
The Rev. James F. Considine, 51, has been appointed administrator of St. Frances Cabrini Roman Catholic Parish, 208 Bound Brook Ave.
Considine had previously been a parochial vicar at churches in Woodbridge and Warren.
He succeeds the Rev. Edgardo Abano, who had been on voluntary leave since he was arrested in October on charges he engaged in illegal sexual contact with an adult male employee of the Diocese of Metuchen.
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| Rev. James Considine, the new priest at St. Frances Cabrini in Piscataway. |
The case against Abano was later dropped after a grand jury found insufficient evidence to send the case to trial. Most parishioners stood behind the priest and called on Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of the Diocese of Metuchen to let Abano return to the church.
After a meeting with Bootkoski in May, Abano announced last month that he would not return to the parish, but would instead take a year-long sabbatical in his native Philippines.
In a written statement Wednesday, Bootkoski said Considine was up to the task of leading the church forward.
"Fr. Jim Considine is a compassionate, gifted priest who has had a positive effect on many individuals," Bootkoski said. "As parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Mount parish in Warren and most recently, St. James parish in Woodbridge, he was highly regarded and respected. I believe Fr. Jim is now ready to shepherd a parish and am confident that as Administrator of St. Frances Cabrini he will help the parishioners begin a new chapter in their faith journey."
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| A parishioner hugs the Rev. Edgardo Abano before Abano celebrated his final mass June 8 with the St. Frances Cabrini parish. The Rev. Considine is succeeding Abano. |
Considine was ordained in 2002, according to Joanne Ward, director of communications and public relations for the diocese. Prior to entering the ministry, Considine worked as an office manager for an agricultural distribution business in Pennsylvania and as a logistics manager for the Navy.
Anne Carey, a member of the parish council and a vocal supporter of Abano, said she is optimistic.
"He seems very enthusiastic and warm and he's happy to be here," she said. "It is a new phase in the life of the St. Frances Cabrini community and now is the time for us all to worship and work as a unit. I think it's important to be unified and supportive because this is what Jesus wants us to do."
Considine could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Jared Kaltwasser can be reached at (908) 707-3137 or jkaltwasser@mycentraljersey.com
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