Conventual Franciscan Father Emmett Joseph Carroll, who will be remembered for his longtime ties to the Trenton Diocese as a native of Toms River, and a graduate of the town’s St. Joseph School as well as his many years of service as a priest in parishes in the Trenton Diocese, died Aug. 20. He was 93.
Funeral services, to be held in St. Catharine of Siena Church, 50 E Street, Seaside Park, will begin Aug. 24 with the Rite of Reception of the Body at 3 p.m. Calling hours will be held until 7 p.m. at which time there will be a Franciscan Vigil Service. The following day, Aug. 25, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. with interment following at 11 in St. Joseph Cemetery, Toms River. A reception will be hosted at noon in the parish hall of St. Catharine of Siena Church.
Born in Toms River Aug. 31, 1925, Father Carroll was the son of the late Joseph and Mary “Mollie” (Murphy) Carroll.
He attended St. Francis College, Staten Island, N.Y., and pursued work in Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.
Father Carroll prepared for the priesthood in St. Anthony-on-the-Hudson Seminary, Rensselaer, N.Y. He entered the Franciscan Friars Conventual Novitiate in Cohoes, N.Y. Feb. 4, 1947; professed his temporary vows March 19, 1948, and his solemn vows Aug. 19, 1951. He was ordained to the priesthood in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Albany, N.Y., June 12, 1954. His first assignment as a newly ordained priest was as a teacher in Trenton Catholic Boys High School, from 1954 to 1960. He was reassigned by his order to Toronto, Canada, where he served from 1960 to 1968 as associate editor and promotion manager of The Companion Magazine and as vocation director for his community in Canada.
In 1968, he was named to Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Albany, as parochial vicar, where he helped found two Samaritan shelters for underprivileged teenagers, one of which was named Emmett House.
Returning to the Trenton Diocese in 1975, Father Carroll served two terms as pastor of St. Catharine of Siena Parish, from 1976 to 1988, and from 1991 to 1997. Other parishes in the Diocese where he served as pastor included Immaculate Conception (now part of Our Lady of the Angels), Trenton, for three years from 1988 to 1991 and was named pastor and delegate superior of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Seaside Heights. He returned to St. Catharine of Siena Parish in 2005 and was named to sacramental ministry within the parish. On July 1, St. Catharine of Siena and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parishes were merged and formed the new St. Junipero Serra Parish.
On a diocesan level, Father Carroll served on the Council of Priests and as a judge on the diocesan tribunal for two decades. In 2000, while at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, he and the parish received the Archbishop Peter L. Gerety Award for Outstanding Parish and Priest.
In addition to his parents, Father Carroll was predeceased by a brother and two sisters. He is survived by another Sister, Eileen Garbe.
Father Carroll was recently featured in The Monitor’s annual “Lives of Faith” supplement for celebrating his 70th anniversary as a member of the Conventual Franciscan community.
Memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Education Burse, 12300 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City, Md. 21042.