Father Lawrence K. Kunnel, who served in the Diocese of Trenton since 1986, died Sept. 6 in his native India. A memorial Mass was celebrated Sept. 17 in Holy Innocents Church, Neptune, with Father Michael Wallack, former pastor who now serves as priest secretary and master of ceremonies to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrants included Father H. Todd Carter, current parish administrator.
Born Jan. 25, 1933 in Ayarkunnam, India, Father Kunnel was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 11, 1960, by Bishop Thomas Pothakmurry in Bangalore. As a young priest, he traveled widely on behalf of the Capuchin Franciscan priests, serving in a number of capacities including: pastoral student and assistant in St. Francis Cathedral, Nagpor, India; diocesan chaplain for Young Christian Workers, Young Christian Students and the Newman Club at St. Francis Friary, Cochin, India.
Also while in India, he was named pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Bhopal, in 1968. He then served as guardian and assistant novice master in St. Louis Friary, Palmaner. He was the guardian, rector and pastor at Franciscan Philosophical and Theological Seminary, Bangalore, and guardian and pastor of St. Francis Friary Church, Hyderabad.
At the invitation of Bishop John C. Reiss, Father Kunnel arrived to the United States in 1986 and was incardinated into the Diocese in 1990. He served as parochial vicar of St. Raphael Parish, Hamilton, or five years. He also served as parochial vicar of St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Middletown, before being assigned to Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, where he was parochial vicar until his retirement at the age of 75 at which time he returned to India. He became a U.S. citizen Aug. 20, 1993.