On June 6, 2013, the Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, announced that The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, SDV, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, has been named Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Newark.
A Vicar General is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As Vicar of the Archbishop, the Vicar General exercises the Archbishop’s ordinary executive power over the entire Archdiocese.
In making this announcement, Archbishop Myers said: “Bishop da Cunha’s long history with the Archdiocese of Newark, both as a priest and pastor serving in urban parishes, and with his work in the fields of Evangelization and the New Energies Parish Transition Project, have given him a full understanding of the breadth and depth of the Archdiocese, its clergy and its people. Since his ordination as an Auxiliary Bishop in 2003, I have benefited from his expertise and counsel over the years, and look forward to his serving as my Vicar General.”
The Most Reverend Edgar Moreira da Cunha, SDV was born in Riachão do Jacuípe, Bahia, Brazil, on August 21, 1953. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Society of Divine Vocations, in the Church of St. Michael, Newark, by Bishop Joseph A. Francis, S.V.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, on March 27, 1982. Following his ordination he served as a parochial Vicar of St. Michael Church, Newark, and as director of vocations for his Congregation. In 1983, when the Archdiocese entrusted Saint Nicholas Parish, Palisades Park, to the Vocationist Fathers, Bishop da Cunha was transferred there to serve as Parochial Vicar and Vice Superior of the local community and at the same time continued his ministry of promoting vocations. In 1987 he was appointed Pastor of St. Nicholas Parish. In 1992 he was elected Secretary of the Council of the Vocationist Delegation in the United States.
From 1994 until 2000, Bishop da Cunha served as Novice Master and Director of the Vocationary, the house of formation that the Society maintains in Florham Park, N.J.
Edgar M. da Cunha’s appointment as Titular Bishop of Ucres and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark was announced by the Holy See on June 27, 2003, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was ordained a Bishop on September 3, 2003, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. He was appointed Regional Bishop for Essex County on October 15, 2003 and Vicar for Evangelization on May 4, 2005.
Bishop da Cunha is presently a member of the Archdiocesan Board of Consultors, Presbyteral Council, and the Clergy Personnel Board; the RENEW International Board of Trustees; the NJCC Board of Bishops and chairman of NJCC Public Policy Committee; member of the USCCB Sub-Committee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugee and Travelers and the Sub-Committee for the Church in Latin America. He serves as Episcopal Liaison to the Brazilian Apostolate (in the U.S.). He is also Chairman of the Executive Committee of the New Energies – Parish Transition Project in the Archdiocese of Newark, and Chairman of the Archdiocesan Evangelization Commission.
Posted 6th June, 2013 by RCAN Blog
We inform with joy the news that on July 3 of 2014, our Vocationist BISHOP EDGAR DA CUNHA has been appointed by Pope Francis the new Bishop of Fall River, Massachusetts. The Diocese of Fall River includes Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod, areas of large concentration of Brazilian immigrants.
Congratulations to Most Rev. Edgar da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
Let’s pray to God for the success of his new ministry