staff
bio's
Rev.John J. Paladino
Fr. Kevin A. Gugliotta
Deacon
Robert Gurske
Sr.
Louise Lauretti, M.P.F.
Sr.
Phyllis Vella, M.P.F.
Mrs.
Patricia Krema
Mr.
Paul Milan
Mrs.
Linda Attanasio
Brian and Monica Caldwell
Bartholomew
Rev. John J. Paladino
Pastor
Father Paladino was raised in Paramus, New Jersey
and was
No. 8 of 10 children.
Father Paladino graduated Seton Hall University in 1987 with
a degree in Psychology. He entered Immaculate Conception Seminary
and was ordained a priest and received a Masters Degree in Divinity
on May 25, 1991. Further studies included earning a Masters Degree
in Education Administration from St. Peters College in 1998.
Father Paladino´s assignments have included parish work,
education/campus ministry, and hospital chaplaincy.
Father Paladino was assigned as pastor to St. Bartholomew on
May 1, 2005.
Contact
Father Paladino
|
 |
Back to Top
Fr. Kevin A. Gugliotta
Fr. Kevin grew up in the St. Francis Xavier parish
in Newark, NJ where he was taught by the Filippini sisters and
participated in many church activities as a youth. His mother,
Mary, lives in Bloomfield, NJ and he has two sisters and two brothers.
He attended Essex Catholic High School, Newark, NJ and graduated
in 1980. After studying engineering for one year at the University
of Miami, Florida, Fr. Kevin transferred back to New Jersey and
graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s
degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s degree in
Management Engineering in 1987 and 1988 respectively. After working
as an engineer for a few years, he entered the Immaculate Conception
Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark
on May 25, 1996. Fr. Kevin was assigned to St. Rose of Lima Parish,
Short Hills, St. Elizabeth, Wyckoff, and most recently at St.
Joseph, West Orange. Besides his parish ministry, Fr. Kevin was
a campus minister at Seton Hall University for one year and was
active with the Archdiocesan Vocations Committee and the Catholic
Committee on Scouting.
Contact
Kevin A. Gugliotta
|
 |
Back to Top
Deacon Robert Gurske
Deacon Robert Gurske has been a member of St. Bartholomew
Church for more than fifty years, and is a graduate of St. Bartholomew
Interparochial School.
From early on, he felt that God was calling him to a vocation
in either the priesthood or brotherhood. He attended vocation
days in the archdiocese, developed a strong relationship with
the Marist Brothers, and attended early-morning Masses with the
Jesuits at St. Andrew´s on the Hudson.
The upheaval in the American society of the 60´s and 70´s,
however, caused him to reconsider his intentions and, on June
29th, 1974, Bob married his childhood friend Joanne, a lifelong
supporter of the Sisters of St. Lucy Fillipini. Together, they
have participated in nearly every ministry available to parishioners:
Baptismal preparation, Pre-Cana, food pantry and CCD, just to
name a few.
In 1998, Fr. Michael Merlucci approached Bob with the idea of
becoming a deacon. With Father´s support Bob entered the
diaconate program and was ordained a Permanent Deacon in June,
2002. His initial assignment was to both St. Bartholomew Church
and as a Catholic chaplain to Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center.
Today, Deacon Bob continues to live out his vocation with the
full support and encouragement of Joanne. They have two grown
daughters, Mary Beth and Kate, also graduates of St. Bartholomew
School.
Contact Deacon
Bob Deacon's
Website
|
 |
Back to Top
Sr. Louise Lauretti, M.P.F.
Sister Louise Lauretti received a B.A. in Modern
Languages, M.A. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in Administration
& Supervision from Seton Hall University.
Sister taught grades 4 through 12 from 1952 to 1966 in the Archdioceses
of Newark, Hartford and Cleveland.
Her experience as a principal spans 39 years and four schools.
Sister served as the principal of Saint Bartholomew Interparochial
School from 1966 to 1972; and from 1997 to the present day. Sister
has also served as the principal of St. Mary, New Brunswick, NJ,
St. Anthony, Bristol Ct., & St. Peter, Merchantville, NJ.
Sister´s motto: "When a work is of the Lord,
He will sustain it."-Saint Lucy Filippini
Contact Sister
Louise
|
 |
Back to Top
Sr. Phyllis Vella, M.P.F.
Sister Phyllis Vella, MPF was born in Newark, New
Jersey and grew up in Nutley, New Jersey. While attending the
Nutley public schools, her faith was nurtured through the Eucharistic
celebrations at Holy Family Church in Nutley. It was during this
time that she discerned her vocation to Religious Life by entering
the community of the Religious Teachers Filippini and was invested
on January 13 (the birthday of St. Lucy Filippini, the foundress
of the community).
During the past twenty-five years, she has served in the Dioceses
of Philadelphia (St. Nicholas of Tolentine); Albany (Our Lady
of Mt. Carmel); Trenton (Holy Innocents and Villa Victoria Academy);
and in the Archdiocese of Newark (St. Francis Xavier, Newark;
Our Lady of Mt. Virgin, Garfield: St. Joseph, East Orange; Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel, Orange; and St. Bartholomew, Scotch Plains).
Within these parishes, she has served as Teacher, Religion Coordinator,
and Director of Religious Education.
Contact Sister
Phyllis
|
 |
Back to Top
Mrs. Patricia Krema
Associate Director of Religious Education
for Confirmation
Pat Krema and her family joined St. Bartholomew´s Parish
in 1995, after moving to Scotch Plains from Chicago. In Chicago,
Pat taught high school biology, middle school math and science,
and coached high school cross country and track and field. She
also married Rich Krema and had two children, Andrew and Madeline.
After several years of teaching, Pat went back to research, working
for an EPA contractor monitoring Great Lakes water quality. Her
work with the EPA led her to graduate studies in the Biology Department
at Loyola University Chicago. She also conducted research and
worked as a teaching assistant in field ecology at the University
of Michigan Biological Station. After moving to New Jersey with
her husband´s job transfer, Pat began working with the Confirmation
program at St. Bartholomew´s Parish in 1998. She also spent
time volunteering within the Scotch Plains Fanwood Schools as
a PTA President at Evergreen Elementary School and served as an
officer on the Scotch Plains Fanwood PTA Council. In 2005, she
became the Associate Director of Religious Education for Confirmation.
She currently holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from Bowling
Green State University, an M.S. in Biology from Loyola University
Chicago, and is currently working toward a Masters degree in Pastoral
Ministry at Caldwell College. When not studying or working at
St. Bartholomew´s, Pat enjoys spending time with her family
and friends, walking her dog, Champ, and running. She recently
completed two New York City Marathons.
Contact Patricia
Krema
|
 |
Back to Top
Mr. Paul Milan
Paul Milan was born in Bayonne NJ and grew up there,
attending Marist High School and St. Peter´s College in
Jersey City. He has been working in the field of liturgical music
full time since 1994. Prior to joining the staff of St. Bartholomew
the Apostle, he worked at St. Bernard of Clairvaux parish in Plainfield,
St. Joseph´s parish in East Rutherford and Our Lady Star
of the Sea parish in Bayonne.
Contact Paul
Milan
|
 |
Back to Top
Mrs. Linda Attanasio
I graduated from John Jay college of Criminal Justice in New
York City with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and a
Bachelor´s Degree Cum Laude in Government and Law. I later
attended Seton Hall University for Graduate courses in Religious
Education. In 1996, I graduated from Felician College with a Certification
in Religious Studies. In addition, I hold Certifications from
the Archdiocese of Newark as Lead Catechist in "Catechesis
with Children" and "Jesus Model of Catechesis".
For over 20 years I have lived in Westfield with my husband
Victor and our three children, Anthony, Michael and Victoria.
I have been working in Ministry for 15 years.
On a personal note, I love to read and cook in my spare time.
My husband and I also enjoy planning and taking vacations together
and with our children.
Contact Linda
Attanasio
|
 |
Back to Top
Brian and Monica Caldwell
“Thank you for welcoming us into your parish
community!”
The couple recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary,
and are excited at this opportunity to minister together as a
couple. Both have grown up serving in their parishes; for Brian
it all started with altar serving, with Monica it was playing
keyboard for mass. Youth ministry is something each have been
involved with for over 10 years – in fact, they met at the
National Catholic Youth Conference in Birmingham, AL! Prior to
getting married, Brian was Youth Minister at St. Ann’s Church
in Garwood, and Monica was Youth Ministry Coordinator at Sts.
Joseph & Michael’s Church in Union City. They look forward
to lending their respective experiences to the program at St.
Bartholomew this year.
In their spare time, Brian is a religion teacher at St.
Dominic Academy in Jersey City, while Monica works in the
corporate world as a chemical engineer. But their most important
moments are spent with family and friends, and in
ministry.
“We look forward to sharing our faith journey with
the community of St. Bartholomew.”
Contact
Brian Caldwell Contact
Monica Caldwell
|
 |
Back to Top
Bartholomew
Bartholomew comes to the parish from the ShakeA-Paw organization in Union, NJ. Although he arrived as a puppy, Bartholomew is now almost one year old and has become thoroughly familiar with his surroundings.
He loves to hide bones both in and outside the rectory. He enjoys chewing rawhide bones, slippers, pillows, his bed and a stuffed squirrel toy. His favorite pastimes include chasing rabbits and squirrels, visiting with Mr. & Mrs. Kovalcik (his adopted grandparents) and taking Fr. Lester for a walk.
Bartholomew (he’s too cool for a last name) loves gourmet meals and Frosty Paws ice cream for dogs.
Fr. Paladino is the love of his life and Bartholomew only responds to his master’s voice.
|
 |
Back to Top
|