New pastor leads Pompton Lakes parish

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney installed Franciscan Father John Aherne as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes on Dec. 12 during a Mass the bishop celebrated.

Father Aherne joined Father John Alderson and Father John Coughlin, fellow Franciscan friars who also serve St. Mary’s, in concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sweeney. Deacon Tom Kimak assisted. Friends, family, including many from Ireland, and faithful filled the church. The Knights of Columbus and an Irish pipe band participated in the celebration.

A Queens native, Father Aherne entered the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province, now known as the Franciscan Friars of the Providence of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in 2010 and professed final vows in 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from New York University and a master of divinity degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he studied for the priesthood.

Father Aherne was ordained a transitional deacon in 2017. He was assigned to St. Mary’s after his priestly ordination in Manhattan in 2018. Father Aherne was the parish’s administrator until Bishop Sweeney appointed him pastor in October 2024.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

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