We sadly report that Rev. Monsignor Michael Alliegro of St. Francis Cathedral passed away this morning after a long battle with leukemia. Arrangements are as follows:
Reception of the body: Thurs., August 20th at 2:00 pm
Public Viewing: Follows until 7:00 pm
Mass of Commemoration: August 20th at 7:30 pm,
Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, August 21st at 11:00 am,
Rev. Monsignor Michael Alliegro was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 24, 1947, to the late Anthony and Marie Pommier Alliegro. He attended Our Lady of Peace School, Edison and Mother of Our Savior Seminary High School, Blackwood, NJ. He earned a bachelor's degree in classical languages from Seton Hall University and a master's degree in systematic theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Mahwah, NJ. The Most Reverend George W. Ahr ordained Monsignor a priest on May 19,1973. His post-graduate work in Church History was done at Princeton Theological Seminary, Medieval Studies at Fordham University, and homiletics at Drew University. In addition, he received certification in secondary school administration from Seton Hall University.
Monsignor had served as associate pastor and pastor at various churches in the diocese of Trenton and the Diocese of Metuchen. Most recent, he was the rector of the Cathedral of St. Francis, Metuchen, NJ and the Executive Director of the Department of Worship and Liturgical Formation for the Diocese of Metuchen.
Monsignor served the church in many different capacities: vice-principal of St. John Vianney High School, principal of St. Thomas Aquinas High School (1976 - 1980), chairman of the Pastoral Theology Department, Immaculate Conception Seminary, and in November of 1981 he was called to serve as secretary to then- Bishop Theodore E. McCarrick for the new Diocese of Metuchen.
We sadly report that Rev. Monsignor Michael Alliegro of St. Francis Cathedral passed away this morning after a long battle with leukemia. Arrangements are as follows: 
Monsignor Alliegro was a very kind, gentle soul. His presence at St. Francis will be missed. We were blessed to have him.
Our Lady of Peace is my home parish and I was a pre-teen when a then, very young Fr. Alliegro exploded onto the scene. His "long hair" days (as he referred to them) completely changed my ideas about what a priest and other religious could be. He opened more eyes, more minds, and more hearts than he probably ever knew. His passing is a great loss but his life was surely a great blessing.
I am so saddened by the loss of Monsignor Alliegro. I feel truly blessed to have known him.
Those who were fortunate enough to work with him recognized his dedication to the end.
There was always something of inspiration to take from his Homily. He had a way of making you relate to whatever his subject matter was. He was as down to earth as any priest I have ever known and will be greatly missed.
We were blessed to have him, if only for short time.
His Spirit will always be a part of St. Francis for the difference he made in our Parish.
God Bless you Monsignor Alliegro.