After his parents immigrated to the United States he went on to continue his studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, the school of theology at Seton Hall University, then located in Darlington, NJ.

Father John was designated parochial vicar at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Newark, NJ.

Very quickly became a good communicator and helped the pastor at that parish to found a Portuguese language newspaper "Novos Rumos", that reached beyond the state borders.

The Archbishop of Newark, upon erecting a parish for the Portuguese speaking people in that city, he was elected as their pastor on May 13, 1973.

In September 1983 he was elevated to the distinction of honorary prelate with the title of monsignor by pope John Paul II.