Father Edward J. Dougherty, a priest of the Diocese of Trenton for 57 years, died April 14 at age 85.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Dougherty April 19 in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville, with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., as principal celebrant. Homilist was Father Gregory Malovetz, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Skillman.

Father Dougherty’s priestly vocation led him to serve on three continents in his almost 58 years of priesthood. He served as chaplain to the New Jersey National Guard. He also served for 11 years of active duty in the Army as chaplain. He held the rank of major and his tour of duty included being stationed in San Antonio, Texas, two tours in Germany and a tour in Vietnam.

Born Nov. 19, 1925, in Chester, Pa., Father Dougherty attended Notre Dame University, Ind., and St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa. He prepared for the priesthood in Our Lady of Angels Seminary at Niagara University. He was ordained a priest by Bishop George W. Ahr May 30, 1953, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Following his ordination and prior to his becoming a military chaplain, he served in a number of parishes in the Trenton and Metuchen Dioceses including: Sacred Heart, Trenton; St. Joseph, North Plainfield; Our Lady of Victories, Sayreville; Corpus Christi, Levittown (now Willingboro); St. Michael, West End; St. Mary, New Monmouth; St. John Vianney, Colonia.

Father Dougherty, in a 2003 interview with The Monitor said, that he had come to learn that being a military chaplain was essentially the equivalent to serving as a parish priest. He celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments and was responsible for coordinating all aspects of pastoral ministry such as providing religious education classes for children.

“I enjoyed the traveling,” Father Dougherty said of the military lifestyle, especially when he was in Germany and only a stone’s throw away from “wonderful, beautiful” places like Rome, France and the Holy Land.

“In Europe, you live where history was made. These are places of magnificence to us and to our Catholic faith.”

Father Dougherty said he found it particularly hard serving in Vietnam and the many times he was called upon to anoint injured or dying soldiers.

“I realized I was their parish priest,” he said. “I was a symbol of the Church to them.”

During his years of military service, he was the recipient of the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

In 1976, Father Dougherty was granted permission to retire from the military because of a serious leg injury he incurred while in the Army. Upon his return to the Diocese of Trenton, he served as parochial vicar in St. Matthew Parish, Edison, then went on to pursue a three-year course at Duquesne University’s Center for Study and Spirituality.

When he returned to the diocese, he served assignments in Our Lady of Princeton, as parochial vicar of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, as chaplain in St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, and as spiritual director of the Padre Pio Prayer Group.

In later years, Father Dougherty took residence in Villa Vianney, the diocesan retirement home for priests in Lawrenceville, and continued to help out with Masses in area parishes including Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton, St. James, Pennington, and St. Ann, Lawrenceville.

Father Dougherty was the son of the late James and Elizabeth McGinley Dougherty, and brother of the late Joseph C. and Dr. James F. Dougherty. He is survived by his sister, Mary D. Warren (James) of Atlanta, Ga; a sister-in-law, Frances Dougherty of Sea Girt, and several nieces and nephews.

Burial was in St. Michael Cemetery, Chester, Pa.

Memorial contributions in Father Dougherty’s name may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.