April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Parishes and schools may engage students with a resource packet including Pinwheel projects and coloring pages, as well as Prayer of the Faithful and Homily suggestions.
- Access a bilingual prayer for Victims of Abuse.
Mission Statement
The Office of Child and Youth Protection
The Office of Child and Youth Protection supports the Archdiocese of Newark’s mission to be a living sign of Jesus Christ’s presence by fostering a safe environment where youth can build a relationship with God. To this end, the Office will implement and enforce compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
The Office of Accompaniment
The Office of Accompaniment shares in the Archdiocese’s mission to offer God’s merciful and loving providence to all. We are committed to identifying and addressing the needs of both the Catholic and broader communities with an open mind and generous heart. In support of this mission, the Office will provide outreach to victims/survivors and their families, prioritizing their spiritual and emotional well-being. For victim assistance information and services, please contact Gina Criscuolo, LCSW, the Coordinator of this Office.
The Office of Investigations
The Office of Investigations conducts external, independent investigations into allegations of impropriety by clergy and lay employees, following the principles set by Pope Francis and Cardinal Joseph Tobin to “follow the path of truth wherever it may lead.”
Introducing
Empowering God’s Children
Learn about the Empowering God’s Children (EGC) program through two videos featuring Cardinal Tobin and Karen Clark, Executive Director of Protection of the Faithful. This initiative focuses on helping our youth stay safe and aware, ensuring they are protected and nurtured in faith communities. Along with the videos, we’re excited to introduce new printed materials to support this effort. Together, they offer practical insights on creating safe, supportive environments for children within the Archdiocese of Newark
Conduct Policies
The Archdiocese participated in an onsite audit on November 6-9, 2023, as part of the regular audit cycle that occurs every three years. This audit measures our compliance with the USCCB’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This comprehensive audit included numerous interviews with staff, rectors, priests, principals, and local safe environment coordinators, as well as detailed record reviews. The auditors determined that the Archdiocese of Newark is compliant with the mandates set forth in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
– Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. (June 22, 2024)
| 2019 Code of Conduct | 2019 Conducta Profesional y Ministerial |
|---|---|
| Normativas Suplementarias para el Clero | Supplemental Norms for Clergy |
Archdiocesan Review Board Members
Select a member’s name to read their bio
The ARB’s role is to act as a consultative body that advises the Archbishop in his assessment of allegations of sexual of minors by priests and deacons.
Filomena D’Amico
Lisa Dressner
David Fulton
Michael McGarrity
Sister Rosemary Moynihan
Fr. Phillip Waters
Thomas P. Olivieri
Thomas P. Olivieri was appointed as a Superior Court Judge in 1992, and served in the Family, Criminal and Civil Divisions until 2002, when he was named as Presiding Judge of General Equity, Hudson County. He served as the Chairperson of the Conference of General Equity Judges and is the longest serving Chancery Judge in Hudson County Superior Court history. He retired from the bench in 2012 and currently serves as Counsel to the law firm of Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC. Judge Olivieri has a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from the University of Richmond.
Fr. Philip Waters graduated from St. Benedict’s Prep, Seton Hall University and Woodstock Theological Seminary; he was ordained in 1972. He taught and coached track at St. Benedict’s for the next fifteen years and earned a MA in English from NYU. After a three-year assignment in Kentucky, he returned to St. Benedict’s. In 1995, he was appointed Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, a position he has held since. He is in his fourth term as Dean of Central Newark Deanery 20.
Sister Rosemary Moynihan is Vice President, Mission Integration, Trinitas Regional Medical Center. At Trinitas, she is responsible for the integration of an organization-wide mission plan as well as serving as a clinician in the Adult Outpatient Mental Health Clinic.
From 2011 to 2019 Sister Rosemary served as the General Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Under her direction several efforts were developed and implemented including a Congregation sustainability plan, a structure to expand the responsibility for Sponsorship of Congregational Works to lay women and men, and growth of the Congregational ministry in Haiti.
Prior to that, Sister Rosemary served as Director of Ecology and Global Ministry for the Bon Secours Health System in Marriottsville, Maryland, where she was responsible for their international HIV/AIDS outreach programs to Haiti, Peru, and South Africa as well as enabling the health system to go “green.” She has also served on the Catholic Hospital Association’s International Outreach Committee. Her ministry history includes several years as Manager of Community Mental Health at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey, working with those affected by HIV/AIDS, and 16 years in Social Work and Social Work Administration at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. From 2011 to 2019 she chaired both the Board of Trustees of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey and the Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. Sister Rosemary holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the College of Saint Elizabeth, a Master of Science degree in Social Work from Columbia University, and a PhD in Clinical Social Work from New York University.
Michael McGarrity has spent a career protecting others. Michael currently provides Fortune 500 businesses with tailored risk management and security services. Previously, Michael served as the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division where he led all counterterrorism operations and investigations, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI New York Office, Director of the U.S. Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council and Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Michael is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Leadership Award – Distinguished and Department of Justice Victim Assistance National Award.
Ordained in 1967, David Fulton is pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Victories Church, Baptistown, NJ (1988-2012) and retired associate professor of moral theology at St Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore (2006-2020). He was a member of the NJ Supreme Court’s Advisory committee on Professional Ethics (1990-2009) and served as Promoter of Justice for the Diocese of Metuchen (2002-2019). He holds doctorates in moral theology and in canon law.
Lisa Dressner is the Vice President in the Department of Behavioral Health and Psychiatry at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. There, she establishes strong collaboration and communication across a department of over 500 employees. She develops and implements strategic planning in coordination with system and service line vision, manages and tracks budgets, ensuring programs are delivered in compliance with regulatory bodies, and works closely with the executive management team to improve and sustain hospital outcomes on patient care, safety, quality, employee retention, and efficiency.
Her previous role, from 2020 to 2022, was as Executive Director of Behavioral Health Operations.
She has an MSW from Rutgers and a BA in Psychology, with a minor in Social Work from LaSalle University.
Filomena D’Amico began her career as an educator at the Academy of Our Lady of Grace in 2005. The past ten years she has served in the role of School Principal. A few accomplishments during this time included Academy status, enrollment increase, and a beautiful addition of a full science lab. Filomena received her Master’s in Educational Leadership at Saint Peter’s University and is in her second year at Fordham pursuing her PhD in Educational Policy and Supervision for Catholic School Leadership. Filomena resides in Washington Township with her husband, Joe, and two daughters, Catherine and Valentina.