Msgr. Thomas P. Ivory

Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Ivory “Fr. Tom”, 82, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, after a courageous battle with heart failure. Fr. Tom died the way he lived, trying to make something better than it was. Fr. Tom was born and raised in Bloomfield, NJ and he and his family attended Sacred Heart Parish. He was a proud graduate of Seton Hall Prep and spent thirteen “life and faith forming” years at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, first as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Newark, then Spiritual Director and finally as the Rector of the American College at Louvain. Fr. Tom served as Pastor of Ascension Parish in New Milford and Pastor of Presentation Parish in Upper Saddle River before retiring in 2007 as their Pastor Emeritus. Fr. Tom was an educator, author, theologian, champion for justice and peace, colleague, son, brother, uncle, cousin and Roman Catholic priest. But most of all Thomas P. Ivory was a gentleman. A list of his many ministries, books and degrees can be found on the funeral home website listed below. Fr. Tom was humble and would cringe at having all of that listed in his obituary. He often commented that his blessings were his relationships. He used to share that his first job as a teenager, in a men’s clothing store, in his hometown served him well for the rest of his life. For there he was trained to say to those who walked through the door, “Hi, my name is Tom, how might I help you?”

Fr. Tom is survived by his nephew, Thomas Hoby of Colorado, niece, Catherine Wieting of Pennsylvania and many loving cousins and ordained brothers. He is now reunited with his mother and father, Thomas and Anne and his older sister, Patricia. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 12 at Presentation Church, 271 West Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, NJ from 3:15 – 6:45 PM. Evening Prayer will follow at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, October 13 at Presentation Church and live-streamed at churchofpresentation.org/presentationtv. Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, 712 Grove St., Montclair, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Fr. Tom’s memory to the Catholic parish/organization or Catholic charity of your choosing. 

Assignments and Ministries

1964-1969            Fourth Curate, St. Aedans Parish, Jersey City

1969-1974            Spiritual Director at The American College

                             (Seminary of Immaculate Conception)

                             Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium

Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Uccle, Belgium  

1974-1975            Campus Ministry – Rutgers University & NJIT, Newark

                             St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newark

1975-1986            Newark Archdiocesan Director of Religious Education/Catechesis

                             St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newark

                             Holy Name Parish, East Orange

                             St. Joseph Parish, Oradell

                             Notre Dame Parish, North Caldwell

                             Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Newark

1986-1987            Newark Archdiocesan Chancellor for Pastoral Ministry

1987                     Sabbatical Year

1988-1992            Rector/President of The American College

                             at Louvain, Belgium

Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Uccle, Belgium  

1992-1993            Parochial Vicar, Assumption Parish, Roselle Park

1993-1999            Pastor, Ascension Parish, New Milford

1999-2007            Pastor, Presentation Parish, Upper Saddle River

2007-2016            Retirement with Residency at St. Joseph, West Orange

                             St. Helen, Westfield

2017                     Residency at Sacred Heart, Bloomfield

2018-2020            Residency at Msgr. Kelly House, Caldwell

                             Longtime & active member of The Association of U.S.

Catholic Priests

Academic Degrees and Publications

Bachelor of Arts, Sacred Theology and Philosophy

Master of Arts

Licentiate of Sacred Theology

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Sacred Theology

Growing in Faith with Your Child (1978)

Looking at Our Faith: Catechesis for Adults: A Guide for the Parish Team (1983)

The Nature of the Church in the Thought of Yves Congar, O.P. (1986)

Conversion and Community: A Catechumenal Model for Total Parish Formation (1988)

In promoting the Adult Catechumenate, Msgr. Ivory travelled to over 50 dioceses in the USA and abroad and taught in graduate programs in various colleges and universities.

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