Monsignor Lawler is the 16 Pastor of St. Mary Church appointed March 2005 and was installed April 2, 2005.  Monsignor Lawler was born in Phillipsburg, NJ and a graduate of St. Phillip & St. James Elementary School and Phillipsburg Catholic High School.  He attended St. Mary College Seminary in St. Mary, Kentucky following his college education.  He also attended Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus Ohio.

Monsignor Lawler was ordained to priesthood on May 24, 1974 at St Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Trenton.