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Fr. 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.

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Fr. Ray P. Cho
Parochial Vicar

Fr. Cho was born in Seoul, South Korea. He graduated from Rutgers College (Computer Science, 1997), Columbia University (Computer Science, 1999) and Stevens Institute of Technology (Mathematics, 2006). He entered Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University in 2006. He continued his studies in theology at the Gregorian University in Rome (2007-2012) and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark in May 28th, 2011. Fr. Cho was assigned at St. Theresa's Church in Kenilworth for the summer of 2011.

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Fr. Kevin A. Gugliotta
Parochial Vicar

Fr. Kevin grew up in the St. Francis Xavier parish in Newark, N.J. He graduated from Essex Catholic High School, Newark, NJ in 1980. He holds two degrees from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, B.S. Industrial Engineering (1987) and a M.S. Management Engineering (1988). After working as an engineer, he entered the Immaculate Conception Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark on May 25, 1996. Fr. Kevin was assigned at St. Rose of Lima, Short Hills, St. Elizabeth, Wyckoff, St. Joseph, West Orange and Seton Hall University campus ministry.

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Deacon Bob's Website

Deacon Robert Gurske
Director of Operations and Social Outreach

Deacon Robert Gurske has been a member of St. Bartholomew Church for more than sixty 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, with Fr. Michael Merlucci'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.

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Deacon Don Hessemer
Director of Outreach

Don was born in Brooklyn and grew up in North Merrick, Long Island. He attended Maria Regina Diocesan High School in Uniondale NY and the College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse. He also received a Master’s Degree in Environmental Health Science in 1985 from the Polytechnic Institute of NY.

Don and his wife, Joan, moved to Edison, NJ J in 1985, and have two grown children, Brittany and Kenny. They joined St. Bartholomew Parish in 1991 after moving to Fanwood.

Don has taught Religious Education to 3rd and 4th graders for 6 years and has served as Extraordinary Minster and Lector. He also has lead the Social Outreach Ministry since its inception in 2005. It was during this time that he discerned his call to the Diaconate. Don currently works as a Senior Project Manager in the Environmental Group of a NYC architecture and engineering firm. Among Don’s interests is his love for running. You might catch him running through the streets of Fanwood and Scotch Plains.

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Sr. Elizabeth Calello, M.P.F.
Academy Principal

Sister Elizabeth Calello received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Felician College in Lodi, NJ, and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Sister has her certification in School Administration and Supervision.

Sister Elizabeth has taught grades K through 8 in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Newark, and in the Dioceses of Trenton, Camden, Cleveland and Albany. Her experience as a principal spans 16 years and five schools. Sister served as the principal of St. Anthony School, Akron, OH; Villa Victoria Academy, Trenton, NJ; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Schenectady, NY; Holy Innocents School, Neptune, NJ, and St. Peter School, Merchantville, N.J.

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Mrs. Patricia Krema
Director of Religious Education, Grades 7-8

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.

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Mr. Paul Milan
Director of Sacred Liturgy

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.

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Mrs. Linda Attanasio
Director of Adult Education and Formation

Linda 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. She later attended Seton Hall University for Graduate courses in Religious Education.

Linda graduated from Felician College with a Certification in Religious Studies. In addition, she holds Certifications from the Archdiocese of Newark as Lead Catechist in "Catechesis with Children" and "Jesus Model of Catechesis".

Prior to her ministry at Saint Bartholoew the Apostle Linda was Director of Religious Education at Saint John the Baptist in Hillsdale and and Saint Helen's in Westfield. Linda was Confirmation Coordinator and headed up the RCIC and High School Special needs religious education programs at Saint Helen's as well.
 
On a personal note, Linda loves to read, cook, spend time with her  family, friends and Cornerstone sisters. Linda also enjoys planning and taking vacations with her husband Victor and when possible with their adult children as well.

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Mrs. Diane McGee
Director of Religious Education and Family Faith Formation

Diane McGee was raised in Roselle, New Jersey along with her 3 younger siblings who all attended Saint Joseph the Carpenter Grammar School. Their family moved to Mountainside, New Jersey during their high school years and Diane graduated from Jonathan Dayton High School. She and her future husband, Tom, met at Rutgers University in New Brunswick where Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She entered the business world and worked for Federated Department Stores and Automatic Data Processing for many years. She and her husband, Tom, married shortly after college and had three children, Erin, Michael, and Connor. They moved to Mountainside just prior to the birth of their son, Michael to be closer to her parents and extended family. Diane, Tom, and their children attended Saint James the Apostle Parish in Springfield where they became involved in parish life.

Diane became a catechist during that time, at the request of her daughter, and then felt the call to participate more fully in the life of the Church. She became the Director of Religious Education over ten years ago developing the faith formation program from grades k – 8, the sacramental programs of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation as well as their Special Needs catechetical program. With the encouragement of her Pastor Father Bob Stagg, Diane enrolled in the Masters Degree program at Caldwell College in Pastoral Ministry. She graduated in the spring of 2009 and her dissertation titled: Widening the Door of Inclusion for Children with Autism through Faith Communities was recently published.

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Paul Kobliska
High School Youth Minister

Paul was raised in Fanwood and has two younger brothers.  Paul attended the University of Scranton and graduated with a degree in Accounting and a minor in History.  Later, he received his Masters in Educational Leadership from College of Saint Elizabeth in 2009.  Paul is currently enrolled in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at College of Saint Elizabeth.

Paul has been a middle school math teacher in Scotch Plains for 9 years and has coached soccer during that time at a variety of levels.  Currently he is the Scotch Plains Fanwood High School Boys Freshman Soccer Coach.

Outside of work, Paul has been married for 4 years to his amazing wife Angela.  He has a 2-year old son Paul Santino.  Paul enjoys spending time with family, friends, and watching/participating in sports in his spare time.

Paul feels his ministry has helped him tremendously grow in his own faith and feels blessed that he can assist the youth of the parish grow in each of their own.

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Mrs. Elaine Coupe
High School Youth Minister

Elaine was raised in North Massapequa, Long Island.  After graduating from SUNY Oneonta with a degree in Elementary Education, Elaine focused her career in Human Resources for CS First Boston managing their training and development and compensation programs.  She attended Columbia University for Organizational Development.  She married Kevin Coupe and with the birth of her children, Elaine turned her focus to Kelsey and Kyle while settling in Scotch Plains.  Over the years, Elaine has been very active in various volunteer efforts, including; Welcome Wagon, Newcomers Club,  Evergreen and Park Middle School PTA and serving as an Ombudsman for the State of NJ, representing nursing home residents at Runnels Hospital.

Elaine joined St. Bartholomew in 2007 after her family experienced a tragedy which brought them to St. Bartholomew.  They joined the RCIA program and the family was welcomed into the Catholic Church.  Elaine believed she needed to help with our youth and jumped right in by teaching Confirmation classes. While teaching, Elaine helped to coordinate the student’s service project with Homefirst Interfaith Housing by hosting a Christmas Party for homeless families.  She continues to help coordinate the ministry that supports Homefirst and assists United Presbyterian with their hosting as well as organizing various fundraisers for Homefirst.  Elaine will be attending Seton Hall for classes in Youth Ministry and is devoted to building a growing youth ministry here at St. Bartholomew.   Elaine enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, music, Book Club, swimming and her weekly Coffee Group.

Bartholomew
Minister of Hospitality

Bartholomew came to the parish from the Shake-A-Paw organization in Union, NJ. He is now four years old and has firmly established his position on the sofa in the foyer as the "Minister of Hospitality." Although he has outgrown the puppy stage of his life, Bartholomew still enjoys chasing squirrels, visiting with Jack & Joanne Kovalcik (his adopted grandparents) and taking leisurely walks with his BFF, Fr. Lester.

Fr. Paladino is the love of his life and, although you won't hear Bartholomew say it, he knows that the pastor is the "Top Dog."

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