By Berit Ollestad
“You’re one of us now brother. Our firehouse is now your house, too.”
With those words, Morristown Firefighter Mike Cirelli presented a chaplain’s helmet to the Rev. Hernan Arias of St. Margaret’s Church. Father Arias becomes the first chaplain for Morristown career firefighters in more than 20 years.
“They have a difficult job and it’s an honor that they would ask me to serve as their chaplain,” said Father Arias. “My primary responsibility is to be there to look after their spiritual and emotional needs.”
Photos by Berit Ollestad. Please click icon below for photos.
During the presentation at a recent Sunday Mass, Cirelli said he always has held this tradition close to his heart.
“We need to have someone to talk to, and now we have that,” said the fireman, president of the local firefighters’ union.
Father O’Grady was the union’s last chaplain, a voluntary position, in the 1980s. Newark, Paterson, New York City and other larger fire departments customarily have chaplains on staff.
Over breakfast with firefighters, Father Arias asked about the full scope of his duties. Cirelli assured him that his only responsibility was to “be there if they needed him.”
Cirelli said his role as union president is “more than just putting on a uniform or wearing my fire department t-shirt around town. It’s about upholding the traditions that I hear from the old-timers.”
Although there are many different faiths within the department, Cirelli said St. Margaret’s Church was the obvious choice for its chaplain.
The church is right across the street from the firehouse, which has called 161 Speedwell Ave. home since moving from Market Street more than four decades ago.
Originally from Colombia, Father Arias has called Morristown home for more than 40 years, graduating from Morristown High School in 1977.
