With faith and heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Lyons, who entered eternal rest on February 25, 2026. A dedicated servant for over 50 years, Monsignor Lyons served as a longtime Pastor of St. John the Evangelist and Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal. Please join us in prayer for the repose of his soul. Please see his full obituary at the bottom of this page for details and funeral arrangements.
Mass ScheduleWeekends
Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM and Noon (Spanish) Second Sunday each month: 3:30 PM (Kiswahili) Weekdays Daily 8:00 AM (Chapel) Tuesday 7:00 PM (Spanish) Confession Saturdays: 4 PM to 4:45 PM Holy Days of Obligation 8 AM, Noon, and 7 PM |
Eucharistic Adoration (Lenten Schedule)
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Liturgies and Services for Lent
Liturgias y Servicios de Cuaresma
- Fridays during Lent (excluding Good Friday)
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- 8:30 AM - 6:50 PM
- Stations of the Cross
- 6:15 (en español), 7:00 PM (English)
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- February 18: Ash Wednesday
- Lent begins
- Mass & Distribution of Ashes: 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 7:00 PM
- Eucharistic Service & Distribution of Ashes: 3:00 PM
- March 29: Palm Sunday
- Commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
- April 2: Holy Thursday
- Mass of the Lord's Supper: 7:00 PM
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (in Church Auditorium)
- Rosarians: 8:30PM-9:00PM
- Adoration Group: 9PM-9:30PM
- Parish Youth: 9:30PM-10PM
- Parish Liturgical Ministers (Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors): 10PM-10:30PM;
- Spanish Charismatic Group: 10:30PM-11PM
- All others are welcome to join any of these groups in Adoration
- April 3: Good Friday
- Celebration of the Lord's Passion: 3:00 PM
- April 4: Easter Vigil
- The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night: 8:00 PM
- April 5: Easter Sunday
- Mass in the Day: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:00 PM (en español).
Liturgias y Servicios de Cuaresma
- Viernes de Cuaresma (excepto el Viernes Santo)
- Adoración del Santísimo Sacramento: 8:30 AM – 6:50 PM
- Viacrucis: 6:15 PM (Español), 7:00 PM (Inglés)
- 18 de febrero: Miércoles de Ceniza
- Inicio de la Cuaresma
- Misa y Distribución de Cenizas: 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM y 7:00 PM
- Servicio Eucarístico y Distribución de Cenizas: 3:00 PM
- 29 de marzo: Domingo de Ramos
- Conmemoración de la entrada de Jesús en Jerusalén.
- 2 de abril: Jueves Santo
- Misa de la Cena del Señor: 7:00 PM
- Adoración del Santísimo Sacramento (en el Auditorio de la Iglesia):
- Rosarianos: 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM
- Grupo de Adoración: 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Jóvenes de la Parroquia: 9:30 PM – 10:00 PM
- Ministros Litúrgicos (Ujieres, Ministros Eucarísticos, Lectores): 10:00 PM – 10:30 PM
- Grupo Carismático Hispano: 10:30 PM – 11:00 PM
- Todos son bienvenidos a unirse a cualquiera de estos grupos durante la Adoración.
- 3 de abril: Viernes Santo
- Celebración de la Pasión del Señor: 3:00 PM
- 4 de abril: Vigilia Pascual
- La Solemne Vigilia Pascual en la Noche Santa: 8:00 PM
- 5 de abril: Domingo de Resurrección
- Misa del Día: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM y 12:00 PM (en español).
Obituary for Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Lyons
Please remember in your prayers the repose of the soul of Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Lyons, a retired priest of the Diocese of Metuchen, and a former pastor of St John the Evangelist, who passed away on February 25, 2026. Monsignor Lyons was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1974. He served for many years as Pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Dunellen as well as Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Metuchen. He retired in 2020. He was 78 years old.
Msgr. Lyons was born in Red Bank, NJ, and attended Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Trenton on May 18, 1974. He served at Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville, Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield, and St. Matthew Parish, Edison. In 1986, he was named Administrator of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Dunellen, becoming Pastor in 1989 and serving there until 2008. After the formation of the Metuchen Diocese, he was asked to pursue a License in Canon Law to establish a diocesan Tribunal. Monsignor served as Associate Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal for 15 years before becoming Judicial Vicar in 2001. In 2016, he was named a Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Francis. He retired from active ministry in 2020.
Let us be joined in prayer that Msgr. Lyons will find the fulfillment of his faith and the reward of his priestly labors in the presence of the Risen Lord. May our prayerful support be a source of comfort to his family. May he rest in peace.
Please remember in your prayers the repose of the soul of Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Lyons, a retired priest of the Diocese of Metuchen, and a former pastor of St John the Evangelist, who passed away on February 25, 2026. Monsignor Lyons was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1974. He served for many years as Pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Dunellen as well as Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Metuchen. He retired in 2020. He was 78 years old.
Msgr. Lyons was born in Red Bank, NJ, and attended Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Trenton on May 18, 1974. He served at Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville, Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield, and St. Matthew Parish, Edison. In 1986, he was named Administrator of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Dunellen, becoming Pastor in 1989 and serving there until 2008. After the formation of the Metuchen Diocese, he was asked to pursue a License in Canon Law to establish a diocesan Tribunal. Monsignor served as Associate Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal for 15 years before becoming Judicial Vicar in 2001. In 2016, he was named a Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Francis. He retired from active ministry in 2020.
- Msgr. Lyon’s body will be received by Rev. Msgr. John Fell on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 317 First Street, Dunellen, with public visitation to follow.
- Very Rev. Robert Kolakowski, Judicial Vicar, will preside at the Mass of Commemoration at 5:00 p.m. and Rev. Sean Winters will be the homilist.
- Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski, Bishop Emeritus, will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s, and Rev. Brian Nolan will be the homilist. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Piscataway.
Let us be joined in prayer that Msgr. Lyons will find the fulfillment of his faith and the reward of his priestly labors in the presence of the Risen Lord. May our prayerful support be a source of comfort to his family. May he rest in peace.