In top photo, Father James Conover and the St. Rose of Lima School community welcomed Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who celebrated Mass during Catholic Schools Week earlier this year. Father Conover, who has served as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish since 2011, died Aug. 28. Mike Ehrmann photo
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced Aug. 28 that Father James A. Conover, a priest of the Diocese for 48 years and pastor emeritus of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, had died that morning. Father Conover was 77.
Funeral services are pending and will be announced as the information becomes available.
James Conover was born April 4, 1949, in Neptune and was the only child of Anna and James Conover. He grew up in Freehold as a parishioner of St. Rose of Lima, attending Freehold public schools. He earned a certificate in medical technology from Monmouth College (now University), West Long Branch in 1967 and completed pre-seminary philosophy requirements in 1973 in Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood. Before beginning studies for the priesthood, he worked for the American Association of Blood Banks as assistant chief of the department of pathology in Monmouth Medical Center, West Long Branch.
Father Conover attended Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., where he earned master of arts and master of theology degrees in 1978. He was ordained May 20, 1978, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
As parochial vicar, Father Conover served in St. Mary Parish, Middletown; St. Veronica, Howell; St. Raphael (now part of St. Raphael-Holy Angels) Parish, Hamilton, and St. Joseph (now part of Our Lady of Fatima) Parish, Keyport. He also served as pastor of St. Catherine Labouré Parish, Middletown, before he was assigned as administrator of St. Rose of Lima. He was named the parish’s seventh pastor in 2011. His retirement date as pastor was to be effective Sept. 1.
Father Conover worked closely with the parish school, celebrating in 2025 the milestone of its 150th anniversary. A dedicated musician, he re-established the Diocesan Festival Choir in 1982 and served as its organist for more than 30 years. In both St. Joseph and St. Rose of Lima Parishes, he directed the eighth-grade handbell choir for a combined 25 years.
Other assignments Father Conover has held include serving as chaplain of the now-closed Mater Dei High School, Middletown, and St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, and was a member of the diocesan Liturgical Commission and Engaged Encounter team.