Traffic came to a standstill around St. James Church in the heart of busy downtown Red Bank Dec. 5 as hundreds from many walks of life gathered to bid a fond farewell to Msgr. Philip A. Lowery who died Nov. 28 at age 70.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mass of Christian Burial for Msgr. Lowery

In the church he served as pastor for 29 years, parishioners, priests and religious, educators and students joined ranks with throngs of New Jersey State Police officers and scores of members of the law enforcement community, state, county and federal officials.

And at the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., this diverse assembly symbolized the wide-ranging community Msgr. Lowery ministered to over the decades.

The Bishop observed that their presence was a moving testament to the 43 years of priestly ministry offered joyfully by Msgr. Lowery, “a priest’s priest … a good man, a good priest and a good friend.”

Nearly 60 priests from around the Diocese had come to concelebrate the Mass. The Bishop spoke of how meaningful Msgr. Lowery would have found their presence for it confirmed their bond of brotherhood. “He loved his brother priests,” Bishop O’Connell said, always recognizing them as family.

At The Ready

Msgr. Lowery served as pastor of St. James Parish and director of Red Bank Catholic High School and St. James Elementary School since 1990. Since the mid-1990s, he had served as chaplain of the New Jersey State Police, and the bond they forged drew well over 100 troopers to St. James Church for his funeral. In that capacity, he assisted the wider community by providing spiritual support and counseling for the officers and their families in times of distress.

This connection was very much in evidence at his farewell as lines of troopers formed outside the church and stood at attention as his casket was carried into the church. Prominent on the street was a giant American flag suspended between two huge construction cranes.

The poignant sight called to mind his time as a first responder at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. So did the long, blue line of troopers who paid their respects inside the church, passing one-by-one in front of the casket.

The homily was delivered by Msgr. Salvatore Criscuolo, Msgr. Lowery’s seminary classmate and long-time friend. Msgr. Criscuolo has been a chaplain for 33 years for the First Responders of Washington, D.C., and some of the federal agencies there.

“He would be smiling and so proud to be called your chaplain,” Msgr. Criscuolo said of his friend, sharing that in the St. James rectory, “there always was his ‘Go Bag,’ with boots, shoes and socks. … Always ready to console as with the task force for 9/11, in New Orleans after Katrina. He loved to be there with help and support.”

The annual Blue Mass he helped to establish at the start of the new millennium in 2000 and unfailingly supported ever since “made the statement,” Msgr. Criscuolo said. “He was your priest, your pastor. He had a great sense of sharing God’s Word and he was always there for others.”

In the same way, he said, Msgr. Lowery’s brother priests and the St. James Parish family were there when he became ill. In closing, Msgr. Criscuolo urged his fellow priests to “remember his gifts. Keep them alive. That is the best tribute you can make. You are his priests, his family.”

At the end of the Mass, Col. Patrick J. Callahan, State Police superintendent, who encountered Msgr. Lowery at Mass on the first day of class in the State Police Academy, spoke warmly of his friend, mentor and spiritual support.

Col. Callahan thanked Gov. Philip D. Murphy, who was in attendance, for lowering flags across the state in Msgr. Lowery’s memory on this day. Gov. Murphy, a member of St. James Parish, attended along with his wife, Tammy. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal was also among officials attending.

Speaking of how Msgr. Lowery “stood shoulder to shoulder with all of us,” Col. Callahan said that if he had had a trooper’s rank, “it would have been Major or Lt. Col. His asking me to deliver his eulogy is one of the most tremendous honors of my career.

“He saw the strength in being together,” in difficult times, Col. Callahan said, and Msgr. Lowery was always present in a time of need. “He was there for the Callahan family when my wife, Linda, was ill. He came and prayed over her. Just his presence was enough.”

“Well done, good and faithful servant,” Col. Callahan said in conclusion, drawing from Scripture. “God Bless you Monsignor. It’s been an honor."

A Meaningful Life

In the hours following the funeral, clergy and parishioners shared remembrances of Msgr. Lowery. Among them was Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral Parish, Freehold.

“When I think of Msgr. Lowery, I think of a priest who was bigger than life,” said Msgr. Sirianni who worked side-by-side with him in many capacities over the years.

“Everyone mentions his voice, but it wasn’t his voice. It was his presence. There was such a warmth about him. With the Blue Mass, he made me feel like I was a part of the law enforcement family and I was very grateful for that,” said Msgr. Sirianni.

Mercy Sister Regina Callahan was one of three members of the order in residence in St. James Convent who brought up the gifts during Mass. She noted that she arrived at the campus to teach three years before Msgr. Lowery arrived as  pastor.

“I broke him when he came to St. James,” she declared, then spoke of his abiding attentiveness to the sisters in residence in the parish. “Memorable” is the word she used to describe him. "Memorable and always very considerate."

Sister Regina recalled how in the dark days after Super Storm Sandy Struck in 2012, for instance, electricity was out all over the block long campus for days. “They were out of power in the rectory too but he was very concerned that we would be OK. He checked on us to make sure we had a place to go. He was very attentive, always wanting to know how we were doing. We are very grateful to him,” she said.

Karin Thomas, who has been a regular at Mass in St. James for 12 years, just recently joined the new River Jordan Christening Ministry created at Msgr. Lowery’s behest.

“I’ve been helping with the Hospitality Ministry and when I heard about this, I wanted to be of service,” she said. Not very long ago, she helped organize a Baptism that would, unbeknownst to anyone, become the last Baptism performed by Msgr. Lowery.

“I feel that I’m blessed by the Holy Spirit having had the honor to be of service at his side during a Baptism,” she said. Thomas added she feels equally blessed that he heard her Confession not long before he died.

“It’s ironic,” she said. “I go to church for solace in time of struggle and with Monsignor, you never knew he was very sick. When he was (still) home, he didn’t lay in bed, he was at the altar. He did it eloquently. … How fortunate we were to have been able to be with him” during his illness. “We were blessed to be in his presence.”