Obituary of REVEREND CHARLES JAMES PARR

Reverend Charles J. Parr, 68, entered into rest on Sunday morning, December 11, 2016 at St. Joseph' s Medical Center in Paterson following an extended illness. Born and raised in Paterson, NJ, Father Parr was a graduate of Don Bosco Technical School, Paterson, NJ. He attended Seton Hall Seminary, NJ before earning his B.A. from St. Bernard College, St. Bernard, AL in 1969. He later earned a M.A. from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ in 1975; an Ed.S. from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ in 1979; an MA from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC in 1986; and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies also from Catholic University in 1988. Father Parr was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Paterson on May 5, 1973 by Bishop Casey. During his ministry, he was a faculty member at various Catholic High Schools in the Diocese of Paterson, and served as Principal of Morris Catholic High School. He served as the Campus Minister at the College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Park, NJ; and Drew University, Madison, NJ. He served as a Parochial Vicar at The Church of the Annunciation in Wayne, NJ and Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Wayne, NJ. He served as a Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, a consultant to the Office of Family Life, and Director of the Ministry for Priestly Formation and Education for the Diocese of Paterson. He was also a past adjunct professor at St. Elizabeth College, Convent Station, NJ and Fordham University, NY, NY. The Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (CADEIO) awarded Father Parr the James E. Fitzgerald Award "for outstanding contribution and service in the work of Christian unity and interreligious understanding and cooperation" in April 2013. Preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mildred (nee Gould) Parr, and a brother, John W. Parr; he is survived by his aunts, Frances Gould and Jayne Sullivan; a sister-in-law, Barbara Parr; three nieces, Bryanna Parr Macadams, Tamara Parr Moore, and Jessica Parr Longshore; several grand nieces, a grand nephew, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Sisters of Charity, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961 or the College of St. Elizabeth, 1 Convent Road, Convent Station, NJ 07961 would be appreciated.