Our Lady of Guadalupe – the breakaway group that has joined the American National Catholic Church – has its first official pastor.
The Most Rev. George R. Lucey, presiding bishop of the American National Catholic Church, installed Father Anthony Testa as the pastor of the Long Branch-based church, which was formed when the Trenton Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church made the decision to close St. John the Baptist, whose membership contained many Hispanic members and other minorities.
The church ultimately was demolished and church members trying to save their church say they were never given an opportunity to argue to save their spiritual home.
The diocese says a thoughtful process went into the decision of which local parishes had to merge and St. John the Baptist had structural problems that would have had to be addressed.
A new parish – Christ the King – was born out of the merger of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Holy Trinity and those members of St. John the Baptist who accepted its closure.
Testa graduated from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore and was ordained a priest by Trenton Roman Catholic Bishop George Ahr, before leaving the church. He has been married for the past 32 years and his children are Christian music recording artists.
“When called by Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, Father Testa responded immediately with grace and generosity to their need for a priest” Lucey said in a release.
“He has led the community as their pastoral administrator for the past year,” Lucey continued. “Father Testa is a welcome addition to the ANCC clergy and as the permanent pastor of the parish.”
The American National Catholic Church has parishes across the U.S. and a host of ministries to serve what it describes as the alienated, underserved and forgotten.