Meet Archbishop John J. Meyers

His Grace, The Most Reverend John J. Myers, fifth Archbishop of Newark, was born on July 26, 1941 to M.W. “Jack” Myers and Margaret Donahue Myers.   He is the eldest of seven children.   

While a seminarian for the Diocese of Peoria, John Myers was offered the opportunity to prepare for the priesthood in Rome.  He was ordained a priest for service to the local Church of Peoria, Illinois on December 17, 1966, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome.   He then received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the North American College, Gregorian University, Rome, in 1967, and Doctorate in Canon Law from Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1977.

From the time of his ordination he served primarily in the Diocese of Peoria in both parish and administrative assignments.  In 1970-71, he served with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC in the Department of International Affairs.    He was named coadjutor Bishop of Peoria in 1987, and acceded to the See of Peoria in 1990.   

On July 24, 2001, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, named The Most Reverend John J. Myers as fifth Archbishop of Newark, and he was installed as Archbishop on October 9, 2001.

In addition to his duties at chief shepherd of the local Church of Newark, His Grace also serves as Ecclesiastical Superior, Missio Sui Iuris, of the Turks and Caicos Islands; as President of the Boards of Trustees and Regents of Seton Hall University; as President of the North American College, Rome; as a Member of the Papal Foundation and Chair of its Investment Committee; as a Member of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts; and as a Member Emeritus of the Board of Catholic University of the United States.  He also holds numerous posts on committees and task forces within the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and other Catholic organizations.

Archbishop Myers holds a Juris Doctor degree, honoris causa, from Seton Hall Law School; and Doctor of Humane Letters degrees, honoris causa, from Loras College, IA, Mount St. Mary’s University, MD, and St. Peter’s University, NJ.

His scholarly and pastoral writings on canonical affairs and on moral, social and theological topics have appeared in secular and religious publications nationally and internationally, and as pastoral messages to the faithful of the Diocese of Peoria and Archdiocese of Newark.

Archbishop Myers celebrated his 12th anniversary as Archbishop of Newark in 2013.