Fr. Peter Cebulka, CO

I am a proud native of South Jersey, having grown up in rural Chesterfield Township in Burlington County. Dad was a veterinarian and Mom was an educator. After attending both Catholic elementary and high school, I attended Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA from which I graduated with a degree in religion. After college I entered the Franciscan Order as a brother, during which time I completed a Master of Liturgical Music degree at Catholic University. After leaving the Franciscans, I worked in nearby St. Joseph Church in Bound Brook as director of music and as a faculty member at the parish school where I also served for several years as vice-principal. In addition to the M.L.M. degree, I hold an M.A. in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University and have done graduate studies in liturgy and church history. Teaching is one of my deepest passions and it was no easy decision to give up the classroom when I began to discern the Lord calling me to priestly service.

 

I entered the seminary in September of 1990, pursuing theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall. I was ordained on May 22, 1993 at which point I was assigned to St. Bartholomew Church in East Brunswick where I served as parochial vicar and, for three years, as principal of the parish school.

In September of 1998, I became a founding member of the New Brunswick Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and since that time I have served the Congregation as Provost (superior). In 2001, along with other members of the Oratory, I began my ministry here at the Catholic Center at Rutgers.

St. Philip Neri, the founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, had a great love for young people and enjoyed being in their company. Ministry with college students is a work that is truly in keeping with the spirit of St. Philip and the tradition of the Oratory. My entire adult life has been spent in working with young people in one way or another and I have been greatly enriched by the experience. I am grateful to the Lord for giving me the grace to work in campus ministry and to be of service to the student community here at Rutgers.