Mass celebrates selfless lives of priests, deacons who passed away

The solemnity of the month of November begins with the remembrance of All Saints and All Souls.

The Archdiocese of Newark held its heartwarming annual Mass for the deceased Archbishops, bishops, priests, and deacons on Wednesday, November 8, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The profoundly moving service, led by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, paid tribute to the selfless lives of priests and deacons who had passed away the preceding year.

The liturgy, organized by Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, the archdiocesan Worship Office, and Cathedral Music Ministry, was not merely a rite but a profound celebration of the indelible marks left by these servants of faith on their communities.

The Director of Archdiocesan and Pontifical Ceremonies, Father Joseph Mancini, reflected on the Mass’s profound significance.

“The Mass, for me, is significant because we get the opportunity to remember our deceased priests, especially those who died in the past year,” he said. “So many times, we priests are the ones who call the people to remember the faithful departed; we remember them ourselves in the intentions, both public and private, at each Mass we offer.”

*Clergy lead the Deceased Clergy Mass procession. (Maxim Almenas)*

The yearly remembrance is a chance to remember those who have served God and His Church. Many dioceses celebrate a Mass of Remembrance. The Holy Father in Rome recalls the Cardinals who have died in the last year, and he visits the tombs of his papal predecessors in the grottoes [caves] beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica.

“Remembering is something that Catholics do best and ought to always do, especially our beloved dead,” Father Mancini added. “I know that I would want to be remembered by others when I have passed from this world.”

When a pastor, resident priest, or deacon dies, it affects the parish or other institution he served in the same way as if a beloved family member has died. This transition is especially true if the cleric is still in active ministry or recently retired and his presence is still fresh in others’ minds.

“I remember when our parish lost one of our deacons in early 2019,” Father Mancini reflected. “There was great sadness because he had been active until just a few weeks before his death. His loss was felt for several months, especially at Easter, because he had been the director of the parish RCIA process. We priests become connected to so many individuals and families in our ministry, and I can imagine the hurt in people’s hearts when that priest dies.”

Fourteen priests and five deacons passed in the last 12 months. Father Mancini, who also serves as the pastor of St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny knows the significant contributions of priests and deacons when they serve local parishes, hospitals, and other ministries.

Cardinal Tobin blesses Mass attendees (Maxim Almenas).

He knew Father Brendan H. Quinn, who was assigned to Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth as a chaplain and was residing at Mancini’s home parish.

“Father Quinn had a wonderful sense of humor. He was quick with a joke and a laugh, and he wasn’t afraid to laugh at himself,” Father Mancini remembered. “And he had a serious side; he had a wonderful bedside manner that put people at ease, which is necessary in a hospital setting.”

Father Quinn had the unique distinction of having served both as a deacon and as a priest. According to his obituary, Quinn’s 50-year service to the Roman Catholic Church started as a deacon at St. Joseph of the Palisades, West New York, in 1973.

He was ordained a priest by John J. Dougherty, Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, on May 25, 1974, upon graduation from Immaculate Conception Seminary at Darlington, Mahwah.

He served as a parochial vicar at St. Joseph, West Orange, St. Agnes, Clark, Our Lady of Sorrows, South Orange, Holy Trinity, Hackensack, St. Mary, Plainfield, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Maywood, Corpus Christi, Hasbrouck Heights, St. Cecilia, Kearny, and Holy Rosary, Jersey City.

Another priest he knew before he entered seminary, whose disposition positively affected Father Mancini, was the late Father Michael J. Feketie, a Newark native remembered not only for his 66 years of devoted service but also for his fervent embrace of culture and adventure. A proud product of the Vailsburg neighborhood, Father Feketie’s journeys took him from local parishes to the heart of Puerto Rico’s mountains, where he deeply connected with the Hispanic communities, leaving an enduring legacy of devotion.

A linguist by passion, Father Feketie became fluent in Spanish while in Jayuga, Puerto Rico, a skill he later imparted to seminarians back in New Jersey. A unique blend of pastoral duties and cultural exploration marked his tenure in various parishes across the state. He also nurtured his deep connection to his Irish heritage through numerous incognito travels to Ireland, where he whimsically let the Holy Spirit lead his path, a testament to his adventurous soul and love for discovery.

Father Mancini remembers when Father Feketie was pastor of Saint Mary’s in Rahway. Father Feketie hired a good friend of Father Mancini as the youth minister in the early 1990s, and she was tasked with coordinating the altar servers. When she needed assistance training servers, she asked Father Mancini to complete the task without opposition from Father Feketie.

“Father Feketie was so welcoming and appreciative of what we were doing,” Father Mancini added. “I remember most his kindness and his gentle way with people. That has reminded me, as a priest, to do the same for others.”

The Deceased Clergy Mass was a time of remembrance and a beacon of inspiration, reminding current and future clergy of their profound impact on individual lives and the broader community.

The stories of Father Quinn’s humor and Father Feketie’s kindness testify to the powerful, positive influence these clergy have had—a legacy that will continue to resonate within the archdiocesan community for generations.

Priests and Deacons who died since the last Mass For Deceased Clergy

Deacon John “Fred” Smith

Reverend Alan F. Guglielmo

Reverend Monsignor Kenneth J. Herbster

Reverend John B. Baron

Reverend Brendan H. Quinn

Reverend Theodore W. Osbahr, III

Deacon John W. McKeon

Reverend Monsignor David C. Hubba

Deacon Miguel Loperena

Reverend Paul R. Manning

Reverend Frank J. McNulty