Bishop Emeritus Arthur J. Serratelli, 81, is beating back aging one “rep” at a time. An avid weight lifter, he stays in shape by working out three times weekly, like he has done since high school.
But recently, Bishop Serratelli, the retired seventh bishop of the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey, stopped lifting heavy weights — doctor’s orders.
“My doctor said, ‘Art, it’s time to accept your age,’” Bishop Serratelli, who uses a Bowflex home gym in his residence at Holy Family Parish in Florham Park, N.J.
Bishop Serratelli complied with the doctor’s order, but it seems to go against his nature to “accept” his age. Since retiring from active ministry in 2020, he spends his time lecturing and writing books on Scripture and spirituality, serving local parishes, gardening, cooking, spending time with family, and weightlifting. The bishop said he is busier than ever.
“I’m happy in retirement,” said Bishop Serratelli, who halted his activities temporarily while recovering from his open-heart surgery in November 2023. “That reminded me of my morality. The secret of life is to do what you love. I’m doing that. I’m glad God has given me time and health to serve him all these years.”
On Sept. 8, Bishop Serratelli celebrated the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination. He was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey on Sept. 8, 2000. Later, he was installed as the seventh bishop of the Paterson Diocese on July 6, 2004. In 2020, Bishop Serratelli retired as Paterson’s spiritual leader, succeeded by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, the eighth and current bishop.
Bishop Serratelli serves as a weekend assistant at Holy Family and at St. Rose of Lima in East Hanover, his “second home,” where he also officiates funerals. He also has assisted at St. Catherine of Bologna Parish in Ringwood. The bishop celebrates daily Mass for the Religious Teachers Filippini in Morristown. He credits the Filippini Sisters for nurturing his priestly vocation as a youth.
“It was my dream to become a priest. I will carry out my ministry as a priest until God calls me home. It’s fulfilling,” Bishop Serratelli said.
Occasionally, the bishop performs confirmations for Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney in Paterson and for Bishop James F. Checchio in the Diocese of Metuchen, also in New Jersey.
A former seminary professor and Scripture scholar, Bishop Serratelli teaches in the diocese’s three-year Certificate in Catholic Evangelization (CCE) program, which forms local Catholics in the faith and motivates them to spread the Gospel in their lives and parishes.
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Bishop Serratelli also gives presentations on various Scripture and religious subjects at parishes and other locations, including an upcoming talks at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, where he used to teach, and Assumption College for Sisters in Denville.
Among Bishop Serratelli’s presentation topics has been his latest book, Living Our Faith Day by Day, which helps the faithful utilize the Nicene Creed for daily spiritual benefit. He has also written several books about Scripture and spirituality, including his latest, for Catholic Book Publishing Corporation in Totowa, N.J. The bishop said his next book will be a daily meditation on the Scriptures.
On Sundays, Bishop Serratelli enjoys spending time with his family. At St. Rose of Lima, the O’Connor family, with four children, has “adopted” him as an “honorary grandfather.”
In Florham Park, Bishop Serratelli enjoys gardening, which he started in 2004 while at the bishop’s residence in Paterson. Over the years, he has grown vegetables and fruits, such as squash, zucchini, strawberries, and tomatoes, as well as herbs like oregano, sage, mint, and basil.
“Keeping a garden really goes back to Genesis (the first book of the Old Testament), God gave man the earth to cultivate it. We need to be aware of the green earth,” said Bishop Serratelli, who also makes his own pasta sauce and cooks most of his meals.
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How’s retirement? Bishop Serratelli says he’s busier than ever