Father Ed was born in 1952 in Trenton, New Jersey. He attended St.Hedwig Grammar and Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville. Ordained May 19th, 1979 after completing St. Mary's College, Orchard Lakes, Michigan and SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lakes, Michigan where he received a Master of Divinity degree. He also has a theology degree from the University of Detroit.
Father Ed's first parish was Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro NJ. He was asked by Bishop Reiss to further his education, and he received his license in Canon Law from The Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1983. Working in the Chancery Office, becoming vice chancellor of the diocese, and secretary to Bishop Reiss.
Msgr. Arnister has served in many capacitites in the Diocesan Tribunal, including advocate, and defender of the bond, prosynodal judge and notary, and judge, defender of the bond and advocate for Interdiocesan Tribunal.
1983 thru 1995 named Pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Trenton, 1993 honored as a Chaplain of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II. 1999, Msgr. was asked by Bishop Smith to become pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in Trenton, and administrator of Sts Peter and Paul in addition to his pastorate at Holy Cross. In 2005, Holy Cross with St. Stanislaus and Sts Peter and Paul were merged and became Divine Mercy Parish.
In 2007, he became Dean of Southern Mercer deanery.
In 2011, Msgr. Arnister became and remains the Pastor of St. Rose, Belmar and in 2013 assumed additional duties as he was made Vicar of Monmouth County by Bishop O'Connell.