Hundreds of members of St. Lucy's Church in Newark rallied Sunday to protest the forced retirement of 80-year-old Monsignor Joseph Granato.

Granato, who served as priest during the Newark riots of the 1960s, was permitted to remain in his position an additional five years past the mandatory retirement age of 75. His supporters, however, say Archbishop John Myers, of the Newark Archdiocese, should change his mind and allow Granato to continue on as priest because of his unique connection to the Italian-American community.

Granato has served as priest of St. Lucy's for 54 years. He is scheduled to deliver his final Mass Tuesday morning.