Msgr. Charles C. Cassidy

Msgr. Charles Cassidy was born on Oct. 19, 1923 in Paterson and grew up as a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in the city. He was graduated from the former St. Joseph High School in Paterson and attended Seton Hall University, South Orange. He interrupted his studies to join the U.S. Army and served as a medic during World War II. After the war ended, he went back to Seton Hall followed by theology studies at the former Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington.

He was ordained by Bishop James McNulty on May 25, 1957 in St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Paterson.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Peter the Apostle, Parsippany, where he served until 1960 when he was assigned to St. Therese, Paterson, as assistant pastor. He also served as assistant moderator of the Catholic Deaf Society.

In 1962 and 1963, he went to serve at the Diocese's former mission in Bolivia. When he returned to service in the Diocese, he was assigned to St. Monica Parish in Sussex and later in the year, was re-assigned to St. Peter's.

He then served as pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic and then St. Therese in Paterson before being named pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Sparta where he served for 23 years until he retired in 1995 from active ministry.

Msgr. Cassidy also served as religion teacher at DePaul Catholic, Wayne; Morris Catholic, Denville; Pope John XXIII, Sparta, and the former Don Bosco College, Newton. He also served as Vicar of Sussex County and diocesan Consultor and as Dean of the Western Sussex Deanery. He also was chaplain of the Sparta Fire Department and is past president of the Sparta Ecumenical Council of Churches. He was instrumental in the planning and building of Knoll Heights Village and Knoll View, the senior housing complex in Sparta. He was named a monsignor in 1989 by St. Pope John Paul II.

In lieu of flowers a donation in memory of Monsignor Cassidy to your family parish would be appreciated.

Burial was private in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery, Paterson, NJ.

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