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Celebration in honor of Father Bob’s retirement

| 13 Jun 2016 | 03:57
    John Cawley of Highland Lakes, who assisted Father Bob for many years during the church's annual biker blessing, shakes hands with Father Bob after the retirement service.
    John Cawley of Highland Lakes, who assisted Father Bob for many years during the church's annual biker blessing, shakes hands with Father Bob after the retirement service.
    Monsignor Robert Carroll, 79, will retire as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church after serving for 16 years.
    Monsignor Robert Carroll, 79, will retire as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church after serving for 16 years.
    After having received blessings from Father Bob for 16 years, attendees of his retirement service give their blessings to him.
    After having received blessings from Father Bob for 16 years, attendees of his retirement service give their blessings to him.
    Attendees from as far away as Pennsylvania filled Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church to celebrate the retirement of Father Bob.
    Attendees from as far away as Pennsylvania filled Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church to celebrate the retirement of Father Bob.

VERNON — Last Saturday, the usual 5 p.m. mass at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church on Breakneck Road in Highland Lakes was not usual.
By 5 p.m. the large parking lot was full, forcing late arrivers to park elsewhere.
Attendees from as far away as Pennsylvania had filled the church to hear mass, join together in prayer, and celebrate the retirement of its pastor, Monsignor Robert Carroll.
Better known to Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the Sussex County community simply as Father Bob, the much-loved 79-year-old pastor decided not to ask the bishop for any more extensions to continue his service. He decided it was time to retire.
After having served in different capacities at a variety of Catholic institutions throughout New Jersey, Father Bob arrived at Our Lady of Fatima Church in 2000. The busy schedule, which included daily masses, home and institutional visits, meetings, serving as Chaplin to the fire and ambulance squads, saying mass at the county jail, and many other duties, could never be discerned in this calm and easy-going Father who had time for everyone. Indeed, he will be missed.
Upon retirement, Father Bob will relocate to Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania. The new pastor will be Father Ricardo Ortega.
— Photos by Chris Wyman