Father Timothy E. Byerley has served as pastor of Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church since 2016. Father Byerley also serves as vice-postulator for the beatification cause of Maria Esperanza, a responsibility he has been devoted to full time since 2010.

​

Esperanza was a visionary and the central figure in the Marian apparitions at Betania, Venezuela, which were approved by the Catholic Church in 1987. After she died in Long Beach Island, N.J. in 2004, her beatification cause was initiated by the Diocese of Trenton.

 

Father Byerley knew Maria Esperanza and her family since 1994, and he has worked with the Roman postulator, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, in attending to the legal, procedural and monetary matters related to the cause.

 

Father Byerley served as pastor at Mary, Queen of All Saints Parish, Pennsauken, from October 2013-June 2016; and St. John Vianney Parish, Deptford, from 2004-10. He has been parochial vicar at St. Jude, Blackwood (1985-88); St. Peter, Merchantville (1988-93); Mary, Mother of the Church, Bellmawr (1993-94); St. Pius X, Cherry Hill (1994-2000); and Our Lady of Grace, Somerdale (2000-01). He also served as administrator of Our Lady of Grace, 3003-04

 

Father Byerley was born in Woodbury, and studied at Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., and St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. He was ordained on May 25, 1985.