Mater Ecclesiae Parish

Father Robert C. Pasley, KCHS, a native of the Diocese of Camden, was born on November 20, 1955 in Woodbury, NJ.  He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary College from 1974 to 1978 and received a BA in Philosophy.  He then attended Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD from 1978 to 1982 and received an MA in Systematic Theology.

He was ordained by the Most Reverend George H. Guilfoyle in 1982.  Father Pasley was stationed as a parish priest in Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Berlin, NJ, 1982-1984, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Cape May, NJ, 1984-1987, Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Pennsville, NJ, 1987-1990, and Sacred Heart, Mount Ephraim, NJ, 1990-1992. In 1992, he became a resident at St. John, Collingswood, NJ were he lived for the next eight years.

In 1992 he was assigned to Paul VI High School, Haddon Township, NJ and taught all levels of Religion and reestablished a course in Latin.  In 1996, he was transferred to Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, NJ, were he taught Religion and French I.

In 1998 he was appointed Vice Principal of Academics and served in this post for two years.  During his time at Camden Catholic, Father received an MA in Education from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ.

On October, 13, 2000, he was appointed Rector, by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, of the newly established Tridentine Parish of Mater Ecclesiae, Berlin, NJ.  Mater Ecclesiae is the first diocesan run Tridentine parish in the United States.

Father Pasley is also the Chaplain of the Church Music Association of America and attends the Sacred Music Colloquium that has been offered by the Association since 1990. He also serves on the faculty at the Colloquium.  The Colloquium has been held at Christendom College, Front Royal, VA, Catholic University, Washington DC, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA and at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City, UT. He also served as Vice President and a member of the board of directors of Sacred Music Magazine.

Father Pasley, along with Dr. Timothy McDonnell, established the annual Mass of Thanksgiving on the Feast of the Assumption. This Mass features some of the greatest orchestral Masses ever composed for the Sacred Liturgy. Some Masses that have been used for the Assumption Mass are the Lord Nelson Mass of F.J. Haydn, the Missa Septem Dolorum of Carl H. Biber, The Mass in Bb Major of Franz Schubert and the Missa Brevis in C of W.A. Mozart. For the past several years the Mass has been held at the magnificent Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

In the Diocese of Camden, Father Pasley was a member of the Presbyteral Council.  He served as a county Pro-Life Chaplain, and as Chaplain to the Camden County Presidium of the Legion of Mary.  He also served as a member of the Diocesan Marian Commission, the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and an assistant vocations director for recruitment.

In September of 2004, Father was installed as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, NY, by His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan. In September of 2010,  Father was raised to the rank of Knight Commander by His Excellency, now Cardinal, Timothy Dolan.

Father Pasley would like to thank Almighty God for the establishment of Mater Ecclesiae. He also acknowledges the maternal love and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This place is a living miracle where the Faith is vibrant and totally Catholic. It truly is a site of the New Evangelization, a place that would make Pope Benedict very proud.  Father Pasley is honored and privileged to participate and serve at this wonderful parish.