The message on the telephone at the Princeton-based Catholic Healthcare Partnership of New Jersey where he was president had yet to be updated Feb. 3 when I called in search of a candid photo of Father Joseph W. Kukura that captured his buoyant personality.

Father Kukura died Feb. 1 after a courageous battle with cancer so it came as a bittersweet surprise to hear his voice again. The message – recorded on Jan. 22, was warm and reassuring, conveying that all was well.

It may sound maudlin but those three words went to the heart of Catholic belief for surely, all is well with “Father Joe” – a deeply faithful priest, caring crusader for life and indeed all aspects of Catholic social teaching, devoted son, friend and mentor to many – as he enters eternal life.

The timing of the phone message gives an indication of how Father Joe’s death, while expected, still came as a bit of a thief in the night for many of the people who knew him, worked with him and held him in high esteem.

That may have been his own fault. When he said things weren’t as dark as they seemed where his own health was concerned, people just naturally took him at his word.

He was the kind of person you unfailingly believed. His opinions on life matters, health matters and all manner of subjects in between, were carefully given, often sprinkled with wry doses of humor and wrapped in sound moral theology.

In these dim days, when public discourse is littered with careless comments and opportunistic opinions, it was very good to be able to count on Father Joe’s insights and expertise on many critical issues from the battle over using embryonic stem cells in research, to meeting the needs of the poorest of the poor in New Jersey’s blighted urban areas.

Over the last few days, people have generously shared their memories of Father Joe, noting his store of knowledge on medical and health issues and Catholic social teaching and his impressive role in advancing adult stem cell research in this state.

They spoke of how he gave generously of his insights to the folks at the New Jersey Catholic Conference in their unceasing efforts to make the case for Catholic concerns. His counterparts at the New Jersey Hospital Association spoke of seeking his opinions on ethical issues and talked about how the people working there – young, old and in between – liked to sit with him at lunch and pick his brain on all manner of subjects.

From a personal standpoint, I regard it as a gift that he was there just at the time I embarked on a career in Catholic journalism after decades as a reporter for mainstream publications. Having him to rely on, to point the way, led to a long running, award winning series of articles on the ethical and moral conundrums affixed like so many carbuncles to legislative plans for embryonic stem cell research in New Jersey.

His insights, advice and support were a tiller not only for me but for many people, guiding the ship safely through stormy legislative seas. His considered, clear insightfulness was there for many other At Issue pieces aimed at maintaining funding at Catholic hospitals and allowing Catholic health professionals to stay true to their religious beliefs at work.

If that wasn’t enough, he had time for the little things. Person after person talked about the fact that Father Joe always found time to work through the small stuff with people.

In my case, it was working out a way to bypass traffic tie-ups on Route 195 and take the back roads to work at the Pastoral Center, an example kindness to treasure and miss.