Staff Biographies

Rev. Msgr. Donald E. Guenther was born on December 30, 1936 in Long Branch and raised in East Orange and Newark with seven brothers. He was educated at Seton Hall Prep and graduated in 1954, then attended Seton Hall University and received a B.A. in 1958. After completing his studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1962 by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland.

Fr. Guenther's first assignment was at Sacred Heart Parish in Newark as Associate Pastor where he remained for six years. In 1968, he began a year as missionary to the Diocese of Ipameri in Brazil, returning in 1969 to Newark to become Associate Pastor of St. James Church. His next assignment was at St. Francis de Sales, Lodi for two years. He served at Immaculate Conception Parish in Montclair as Associate Pastor before returning to St. Francis de Sales in Lodi in 1976 for three years. In 1981, Fr. Guenther was appointed Pastor of St. Margaret of Cortona Parish, Little Ferry, where he served for six years.

His chaplaincy included positions at St. Barnabas Hospital, Livingston in 1972 and St. Michael's Hospital, Newark in 1975. He was also chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth from 1979-1981.

In 1987, Archbishop Theodore E. McCamck named Fr. Guenther Director of the Vocations Office.

In 1990, Pope John Paul II elevated Fr. Guenther to Prelate of Honor with the title of monsignor.

Two years later he became pastor of St. Joseph Parish in West Orange. In 1996 Fr. Guenther was named Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Secaucus where he remained for seven years. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Felician College in Lodi.

On October 21, 2003, Archbishop John J. Myers appointed Fr. Guenther pastor of St. Elizabeth Church

Fr. Fernando R. Po, the sixth of eleven children, was born on September 9, 1956 in the City of Tagbilaran of the Province of Bohol in the Philippine Islands. After high school, he took up his collegiate studies at the diocesan seminary, Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, graduating with Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Philosophy and a minor in English (1979). He pursued his theological studies at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, earning his baccalaureate degree in Sacred Theology. At the same time, he was taking up master’s studies in developmental education in the graduate school of the same University (1983). He received the Sacred Order of the Priesthood on June 23, 1984.

In 1985, he took up licentiate-doctorate studies in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy of the University of Saint Anselm in Rome. Every summer, from 1986-1992, he served as a summer assistant and, from 1992 until 1995, as Parochial Vicar at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Secaucus, New Jersey. His other pastoral assignments include: Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Balilihan (November 1995-November 1997); Assistant Parish Priest, Cathedral Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker in Tagbilaran City (November 1997-April 1999); Pastor Ad interim, Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagbilaran City (April 1999-May 2001) and, until lately, Pastor of a 200-year old Parish of the Most Holy Trinity of Loay (June 2001-June 2004). He was also official diocesan liturgist and master of ceremonies besides being Chair of the Ministry on Divine Worship (1997-2001) and Member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council (2001-2004).

Rev. JOSE HELBER VICTORIA was born in Colombia in December 27th 1975 in Tarqui-Huila. He is the sixth of the ten siblings. He went to the seminary when he was seventeen years old and studied at the Cristo Sacerdote in Yarumal-Antioquia. There he finished school majoring in philosophy. He completed his theology training in La Ceja-Antioquia. His degree is in Philosophy and Religious Education.

He arrived in the US in 2006 for the purpose of seeking acceptance for ordination into priesthood for the Archidiocese of Newark, New Jersey. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John Joseph Myers on May 26, 2007 and assigned to Saint Elizabeth Parish as Parochial Vicar.

Mrs. Constance McCue is a native-born New Yorker, who grew up in the Riverdale section of the city and the Bronxville area of Westchester county. The oldest of three daughters of an exuberant Irish family, Mrs. McCue is a product of Catholic education, kindergarten through college. She graduated from St. Gabriel's Elementary School, the Academy of Mount St. Ursula, the College of Mount St. Vincent, and Iona College. Mrs. McCue has earned her Master's Degree in education and is currently enrolled in a second Master's program in Administration and Supervision at Seton Hall University.

Before becoming principal, Mrs. McCue was the chairperson of the Social Studies department here at out St. Elizabeth's and had various leadership roles in the school. Mrs. McCue's previous educational experience includes teaching at Blessed Sacrament School in the South Bronx, Holy Family School in New Rochelle, New York, and St. Mary's School in Closter. She has been an adjunct instructor at Ramapo College in Mahwah, and has also served on school boards and chaired fundraising committees at St. Paul Interparochial School, Ramsey, the Academy of the Holy Angels, Demarest, and Don Bosco Preparatory High School, Ramsey. Mrs. McCue and her husband Jim have three college and post-college age children, Kristin, Erin and Ryan. The McCues enjoy traveling, skiing and the beach together.

A native of Bergen County, Marlene received a BA in Education from William Paterson College and an MS from Fordham University in Religious Education. She taught in the Paramus public school system for nine years. Upon receiving her graduate degree, she served on the parish staff of Our Lady of the Visitation Church, Paramus, for four years and joined the Saint Elizabeth's staff in 1983. She is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and a certified pastoral care specialist. Marlene lives in Allendale and has two adult children, daughter Jill and son Christian. She also has a grandson, William Thomas Bazzone, courtesy of Jill and husband Tom.

An accomplished performer, conductor, composer, arranger and teacher, Manfred was born in Heiden, West Germany, and studied at the University of Muenster. He received his BS and MS in Music from the Manhattan School of Music. He owns a professional recording studio, and has worked with many renowned jazz and pop artists, including Tony Bennett and Lesley Gore. Manfred joined the staff at St. Elizabeth's in 1985 as Music Director. He currently conducts two German choral groups that have performed all over the world. Under his direction, the combined choruses of the Ridgewood Singers and the St. Elizabeth Festival Chorale were privileged to perform at the Vatican. Manfred and his wife, Birgit, are the parents of beautiful and active twins, Kira and Nicholas.

Dorothy Mawhinney grew up in Glen Rock and is the youngest of four children. She received her associate's degree in nursing at Bergen Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Montclair State University. She worked as a registered nurse at Valley Hospital for twenty three years. Dorothy is an active volunteer for the Wyckoff and Ramapo-Indian Hills school systems and St. Elizabeth's Church. Dorothy is the Parish Nurse for St. Elizabeth's and coordinator of the newly formed Health Ministry. Dorothy and her husband Bill have three children, Luke, Caitlin, and Patrick.