A great vocation story, from NJ.com:
As a Jersey City policeman for 25 years, Stephen Sansevere answered many calls. But on Saturday, he will answer the most consequential of his life.
Bishop David O’Connell, Bishop of Trenton, will call him to the priesthood.
After serving as a Catholic deacon for 20 years and losing his wife, Susanne, almost three years ago, Sansevere, now 66, decided to take the next step. He recalled his brother, Larry, saying to him as a boy, “You will be a priest or a cop.‘’
“I wound up with both,” he said.
And though his priestly career will be shorter than most because of his age, he is looking forward to parish work in St. James in Pennington.
“I like working with people, especially in difficult situations,” Sansevere said.
Living in Freehold, Sansevere was assigned as a permanent deacon at St. Gabriel’s in Marlboro and became their business administrator, immersing himself in all aspects of parish life. He liked to be at the weekend Masses where he would occasionally preach and help with Communion. He did sick calls and visited hospitals and nursing homes. Plus, he worked the parish carnivals and other social events.
“He is a great man, selfless, always available if you needed to talk to, a man of the people,” said Kenneth Moore, a Jersey City native who lives in Marlboro and worships with his family at St. Gabriel’s.
