By EMMALEE ITALIA
Contributing Editor
While 50 years of priesthood is certainly an occasion to celebrate for Father William Dunlap, retired priest of the Diocese, a poignant moment many years prior stands out for him.
“I made the choice at three years old, 72 years ago, that I wanted to be a priest,” he recalled. “We were longtime residents of Trenton and went to Sacred Heart Parish; the priests there impressed me so much, the way they preached, and they were so nice… that just stayed in my mind all those years.”
Solid Foundation
Father Dunlap was born in the Diocese in 1947 and attended Sacred Heart School, which reinforced the Catholic values his family espoused.
PHOTO GALLERY: Father Dunlap marks 50 years of priesthood
“I guess I wanted to grow with the Church – in depth of personality, intelligence, spirituality,” he said of his early calling to the priesthood. “That growth encompassed teaching. When I was little, I wanted to be a priest-teacher. The sermons [from my childhood] taught things, encompassing funny stories … that ‘Ah-HA’ moment – that’s what I wanted to do, to teach the Gospel of Christ to those with open ears.”
After a recommendation to the bishop from his parish priest, young William went to the School of St. Philip Neri in Boston to complete high school Latin and prepare for the seminary. He then attended Trinitarian College, Baltimore, and St. Bonaventure University and Christ the King Seminary in New York. Bishop George W. Ahr ordained him to the priesthood May 18, 1974, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Fulfilling Ministry
His first assignment – for 10 years – was at St. Mary of the Lake (now part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish), Lakewood; it was a testing ground for his teaching desire.
“I would use object lessons as part of the homily,” he explained. “A stalk of wheat, a sword, a plank – something attached to the object that would relate to the Readings.”
Father William Dunlap greets parishioners following Mass. Joe Moore photo
Although not a teacher by profession, Father Dunlap enjoyed any opportunity to impart the love of God to parishioners and students in at Holy Family School, Lakewood. One setting he particularly enjoyed was working with engaged couples.
“Part of the teaching aspect was teaching [them] how to write a marital mission statement, which included lessons on communication, how to read body language, how to share a vision of what is most important,” he recalled.
His ministry continued in Ocean County as temporary administrator in Epiphany Parish, Brick, and later in St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River. After serving briefly as temporary administrator of St. Jerome Parish (now part of Our Lady of Hope Parish), West Long Branch, Father Dunlap returned to Mercer County as parochial vicar in St. Anthony Parish (now part of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish), Hamilton, from 1989-1990. He became pastor of Visitation Parish, Brick, serving there for 19 years before being named pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands. In 2013 he became parochial vicar of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake.
Figuring out how each parish functioned was “all part of the experience – the faith expression of the parish … seeing different traditions born … I’m so impressed with the musical variety at each. And good pastors encourage the laity to participate.”
Father Dunlap also served three-year terms on the diocesan Priest Personnel Committee, in 1991 and 1995, and served a decade as spiritual director of the diocesan Cursillo Movement.
Through it all, the genuineness of parishioners encouraged his ministry. “How sincere they are about their faith,” he noted, “and how important it is to them to have good music, a good homily, and that they’re serious about their prayer life – that was really bolstering. To encounter all these people who wanted to be there – that sincerity gives you wings.”
Coming Full Circle
Life has taken a simpler course in retirement for Father Dunlap, who enjoys growing a variety of tomatoes in the courtyard of his home in Villa Vianney, Lawrenceville. But he travels the Diocese to celebrate Masses for different parish communities, revisiting parishes in which he served and getting to know new ones.
He advises anyone considering a vocation to ask the Lord what to do.
“Someone who’s considering the sisterhood or priesthood should have the uppermost goal of doing the will of God,” he said. “That has to be part of the goal – ‘Is this what God wants?’
“As mysterious as that is, it gets answered mysteriously, too,” he added. “You grow into that, and that becomes another motivating factor.”
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