Father Eric P. Raaser

Father Eric P. Raaser was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1959, the third of four children of Frederick M. Raaser, Jr. and Clare McGowan Raaser.  His sister and her family live in New Jersey.  One brother and his family live in Texas and his other brother lives in Florida.

While growing up in Kearny, New Jersey, he attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Grammar School and High School in North Arlington, NJ.  In 1977, he attended St. Pius X College Seminary in Erlanger, KY and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1981.  He then attended St. Joseph Seminary in Dunwoodie, where he received a Masters in Theology.  He was ordained as Deacon on May 18, 1985 by Archbishop John O'Connor.  Later that year, on November 16, he was ordained a priest by John Cardinal O'Connor.

As Deacon, Father's first assignment was at Saints John and Paul Parish in Larchmont.  His first priestly parish was as Parochial Vicar at the Church of St. John in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx (December 1985 - November 1989).  His next assignment as Parochial Vicar was at Christ the King parish in Yonkers (November 1989 - June 1992).

In 1992, Father was asked to become part of a newly-formed priestly faculty at Archbishop Stepinac High School, where he was named the Dean of Students and Dean of Admissions as well as Moderator of Athletics.  Father taught Senior Theology and an Introduction to Philosophy (June 1992 - June 2000).

His work at Archbishop Stepinac helped prepare him for his next assignment: Dean of Men and Procurator at the St. John Neumann Residence, where he also taught Philosophy (January 2000 - June 2001).

Father returned to life as a parish priest at the Church of St. Benedict in the Bronx as Parochial Vicar (May 2001 - June 2005).

On July 1^st, 2005, Father Raaser became pastor of the Churches of Immaculate Conception and Assumption.  He looks forward to carrying on the great traditions of our past and has great hope and confidence in the love and power of God's grace.  In the Words of our Divine Lord, "Rise and let us be on our way."  Let us embark together, as God's family, the family of Immaculate Conception and Assumption, on a great adventure of faith.

Il mio cordiale saluto a tutti voi, miei cari amici e parrocchiani di lingua italiana.  Vorrei dire grazie di cuore per l’amicizia e l’affetto con i quali mi accompagnate.  Ci vedremo spesso.  Invoco la materna intercessione di Maria Santissima, nelle cui mani pongo il presente e il futuro della mia persona e della Chiesa.

Saludo con afecto a los fieles de lengua española.  Invito a todos a testimoniar el gozo de celebrar el día del Señor, escuchando su palabra y acudiendo a su mesa, la Eucaristía, alimento de vida eterna.  Os invito a escuchar con sosiego la palabra de Dios, acogiéndola en el corazón, como hizo la Virgen María.  Gracias por vuestra presencia aquí y bienvenidos a su iglesia, la casa de Dios, y su casa.