Father Gene
He’s been here just one month and already Father Gene, the Rev.Eugene Vavrick, has won the hearts of the parish.
Father Gene came to Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. Agnes parish at the request of Bishop David O’Connell, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Trenton. He was selected to serve as parochial vicar to the pastor, the Rev. Jarlath Quinn.
For several years, Father Quinn has been the sole resident priest at the parish that encompasses two churches, St. Agnes in Atlantic Highlands and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Highlands. Parishioners come from both towns, others from Sea Bright and many from Middletown.
Father Quinn has had several priests assisting him with Sunday masses over the years but has borne the daily work of a priest and pastor of the parish by himself.
With Father Vavrick now in residence along with Father Quinn, many aspects of church work can be shared, giving both priests more time to carry out both the spiritual and temporal duties in the parish.
While Father Gene may be new as pastoral assistant, but he is certainly familiar with the area. He grew up in the Bayshore.
A priest for 30 years, having been ordained in May, 1993, Father Gene graduated from St. Ann’s Grammar School in Keansburg and Holmdel High School. He lived in both Hazlet and Holmdel during his growing up years.
He went to King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa, graduating with degrees in government and business administration. Not enough for him to succeed in two majors, he then went on to the University of Notre Dame to begin graduate studies in theology.
He returned to Monmouth County in 1981 and taught religious studies at St. John Vianney High School. At the same time, he also became Director of the Christian Service program there and was active in the retreat program for students.
Father Gene still recalls that working with the Rev. William Bausch, the award winning author and former pastor. The two priests had a program where the students conducted their own version of a Church Ecumenical Council….he refers to that good naturedly as “our own Vatican III
Father assigned each of the students to be a Bishop, others as Cardinals, and one was elected Pope!
“We had some very interesting discussions and debates,” he says today, smiling, “The results of the Council were controversial then, and even more troublesome nowadays.”
After teaching at St. John Vianney, Father Gene returned to Notre Dame to take on more theology studies, completing his master’s degree in Liturgical Theology in 1988, then his Master of Divinity in 1989.
Quickly and proudly admitting he is a fan of Notre Dame football, Father was active with Campus Ministry and served on the staff of Residence Life, being the Assistant Rector of Holy Cross Hall. Even through today, he maintains warm relationships with many Notre
Dame Alumni, and still serves as Chaplain to the Notre Dame Club of the Jersey Shore.
Armed with experience, practical and theological knowledge, Father Gene was then ordained a priest in the Trenton diocese and served in several different parishes through the next many years, including St. Mary’s in New Monmouth. He also served at St. Mary of the Lake, Lakewood,Sacred Heart, Mount Holly, and St. Martha, Point Pleasant.
In 2004, Bishop Smith asked him to pastor the parish of St. Anselm in Tinton Falls, a position he held there for more than 20 years. Father Gene was also at Villa Vianney in Lawrenceville before the Bishop asked him to serve once again in the Bayshore.
Working as pastor of St. Anselm’s also brought numerous opportunities to serve the people, Father Gene said, and expressed his happiness that he “had the chance to walk with the people of St. Anselm for almost 20 years. I certainly learned a lot from that
wonderful, progressive community.”
It’s because of all those experiences in the past, the priest says, that he now comes to OLPH-St Agnes “with lots of gratitude for what has been,” adding “I look forward to sharing ministry with the people of this unique parish community. I pray that we can all grow into
becoming ever-faithful disciples of Jesus.”
Whether it’s his quick smile, gentle conversations, or booming baritone when singing in church, Father Gene has already been warmly welcomed by parishioners, offering masses, like Fr. Jarlath, in both churches during the week and on Sundays.
