Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 18, 1944, the son of the late Pio Serratelli and the late Eva Fasolino. Bishop Serratelli attended Ann Street School in Newark and completed his grammar school education at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Newark. He attended Seton Hall Preparatory School and Seton Hall University in South Orange. He studied for two years at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and then at the North American College in Rome. While in Rome, he did his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and Scripture studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute.
He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Seton Hall University in 1965, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in 1969, a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Biblical Institute in 1976, and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in 1977.
Ordained to the priesthood in St. Peter’s Basilica by Bishop Francis Reh on December 20, 1968, Bishop Serratelli served for one year as parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish, Belleville. He taught Systematic Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary for two years and then returned to Rome for higher studies. From 1977 until 2002, he taught Sacred Scripture and biblical languages at the seminary. He was Rector of St. Andrew’s College Seminary at Seton Hall University from 1997-2000.
He also taught at the Redemptorist Seminary in Esopus, New York; St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York; the Institute of Religious Studies, Archdiocese of New York; and the lay ministry program of the Educational Program Service of Trinity College, Washington. Bishop Serratelli has been active in giving retreats to priests and religious, diocesan convocations and lectures throughout the United States. He has also been a weekend assistant in Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Franklin Lakes, and served in Holy Family Parish, Nutley and Saint Anthony Parish, Passaic.
His Holiness, Pope John Paul II named him a Prelate of Honor in 1998. His appointment as Titular Bishop of Enera and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark was announced on July 3, 2000. His Episcopal Ordination was celebrated on September 8, 2000. He was appointed Vicar for Ministries, Regional Bishop for Essex County, and Vicar General for the Apostolates shortly thereafter. In March 2002, he was appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Newark. He was installed as Paterson’s seventh bishop on July 6, 2004 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Paterson.
At present, he is the Chairman of the International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). He is a member of the Vatican’s Vox Clara Commission. He also served as co-chair of the Vatican’s International Dialogue with the Baptist World Alliance.
As a member of the USCCB in Washington DC, Bishop Serratelli serves as chairman of the
Committee on Divine Worship. He is the past chairman and present member of the Ad hoc Sub-Committee for the Review of Scripture Translations. He is a present member of the Ad hoc Committee for the Review of the Catechism.
He served as past member and chair of the Committee on Doctrine, as well as past member of the Task Group on Liturgy with Children and the Committee for Women in the Church and Society. Bishop Serratelli also served on the Task Force for the Review of the Lectionary and the Ad hoc Committee for the Spanish Bible for the Church in America.
In addition, he is a member of the following: Board of Bishops of the New Jersey Catholic Conference; Board of Trustees at Assumption College for Sisters, Denville, NJ; Board of Regents and Board of Trustees at Seton Hall University; Board of Overseers at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, NJ; and Board of Directors for the Catholic Relief Services.