Bergen church says goodbye to a 'priest's priest' as monsignor retires after 50 years

Richard Arnhols seemed destined for religious life from early on. As a second grader, he created a makeshift altar on his bedroom bookcase in his West New York home. He fashioned vestments from an old bedsheet and practiced saying Mass.

He was inspired by "wonderful role models" at his Catholic schools, he recalled recently: There was Father Joseph Murray, who was dedicated to sharing Catholic teachings with his students, and Father Paul Nolan, whose zeal for the faith was as evident as his desire to spread it.

His mother was secretary at St. Joseph of the Palisades School and a daily Mass-goer who stressed compassion for others. His father, an electrical engineer for Con Edison, sang and played hymns on the home piano and "taught us to lead honest lives and strive for excellence."

The son would go on to fulfill those lessons for decades. Now Monsignor Arnhols, he has been a priest for a half-century and spiritual leader for at St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield for the last 25.

A clerical career that includes honors from the Vatican in Rome will come to a close on July 1, when the 75-year-old will retire from his post. St, John's was scheduled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination on Saturday as well as his 25th anniversary as pastor of the church on Washington Avenue, with a special Mass of Thanksgiving as well as a gala dinner.

When he arrived at St. John's, Arnhols' parishioners were primarily Irish and German immigrants who lived in the working-class neighborhood near the church, which was constructed in 1905. Over the years, as the demographics evolved, the faces in the pews changed as well.

A church 'filled with life'

The 3,500 families who comprise the parish today include over 55 different nationalities who speak an array of languages.

"It's a good representation of the community as a whole and speaks volumes about the positive interaction of people with one another who share a common faith and love of their community," the priest said.

"We have a greater variety of groups practicing a multiplicity of shared prayer experiences and a spectrum of spiritualities from the more traditional to the more charismatic. It is a place filled with life."

Arnhols, who speaks Spanish fluently, has tried to adapt to his changing clientele while maintaining Catholic traditions: Some Masses are conducted with hymns in Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines. In the days before Christmas, a Misa del Gallo − a "rooster's Mass" − is held early in the morning to honor the tradition in some Spanish-speaking cultures that a rooster's crow at dawn symbolizes the daily triumph over darkness.

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"Since my ordination, I have experienced a variety of changes in worship and ritual, greater ecumenical interaction, and having to deal with more contemporary, challenging moral issues," he said. "Having to ask yourself `What would Jesus do?' isn't always as simple as it seems, as we try to meet people where they are and bring them closer to Him."

Arnhols said he's looking forward to spending time at the Jersey Shore after he retires and assisting parishes there for Sunday Mass. He also plans to return to his Bergenfield parish for special events as Pastor Emeritus.

He will miss the parishioners who came weekly to worship at St. John's, he said. But he is grateful to have spent years "celebrating the sacraments with people − baptizing both children and adults, giving them communion and confirmation, reconciling people with God, anointing the sick, joining couples in marriage."

His long career includes several recognitions from Pope John Paul II in Rome, including his designations as a monsignor and later as a Chaplain to His Holiness and Prelate of Honor.

Honoring 'a priest's priest'

James Detura, a deacon at St. John the Evangelist, has known Arnhols since he arrived in the parish. He praised the monsignor as "a priest's priest."

"He lives his vocation through and through," Detura said. "He's an excellent listener. He's got a calming persona and a way about him. He has a presence where people can quickly become comfortable sharing with him and being able to express what's on their minds."

Along with such triumphs, there have been challenges, Arnhols said. Like many priests, he's been forced to merge and later close Catholic schools − in his case, St. Mary's in Dumont and Ascension in New Milford − as enrollment has declined.

And Arnhols has had to help parishioners keep the faith amid the ongoing clergy abuse scandal. "Not only do I have sympathy with those harmed but there's a sense of communal guilt projected by many of the faithful," he said. Still, he believes "the steps that have been taken by the church have significantly reduced these horrible crimes."

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Arnhols graduated from St. Joseph's Boys High School and Seton Hall University and entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1973 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark and after several assignments, arrived in Bergenfield.

Growing up in West New York, he considered many occupations focused on serving others, including police officer, firefighter and doctor.

"But priesthood always seemed to be the strongest calling," he said. "I felt my mission was to make the large institutional church understandable to the average person and helpful and useful in practical ways."

"I believe I've been able to do that for the majority of my priesthood."

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: yellin@northjersey.comTwitter: @deenayellin

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergenfield NJ Catholic church priest retires 50 years