The second Bishop John C. Reiss Memorial Golf Outing to benefit the charitable trust for the aged, infirmed and disabled priests of the Diocese of Trenton will be held June 3 in the Spring Lake Golf Club, 901 Warren Ave., Spring Lake Heights.

Proceeds from the golf outing will help the diocese to maintain Villa Vianney, the priests’ retirement residence located in Lawrenceville as well as provide for the healthcare needs of retired priests.

The Diocese of Trenton has hosted an annual Golf Outing since 1996. However, the event was renamed in honor of Bishop John C. Reiss who held the distinction of being the only native son of the diocese to serve as both an auxiliary bishop and as bishop in his home diocese. Bishop Reiss, who was the eighth bishop of Trenton, died March 4, 2012, at age 89.

Located on the same grounds as the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and Morris Hall’s assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, Villa Vianney is able to provide aging priests with a full range of medical care while also offering the benefits of an independent living environment. Villa Vianney, first known as Villa Neumann, was dedicated by Bishop Reiss in a ceremony held Oct. 18, 1995. The facility first opened its doors to seven retired priests of the diocese Nov. 1, 1995. The name was officially changed to Villa Vianney on Nov. 4, 1997, in honor of St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests.

At present, the diocese has approximately 53 priests in retirement. Upon retirement priests may choose to live in Villa Vianney or with family, in a parish rectory or on their own.

The Spring Lake Golf Club was incorporated in August, 1898, and throughout the years has played host to a variety of major golfing events, early exhibitions, the first professional tournament of note on the Jersey Coast, the Spring Lake Invitational of the 1940s, a USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and two NJSGA Open Championships. As part of Spring Lake’s centennial celebration, the club hosted the 78th Open Championship of the New Jersey State Golf Association in July, 1998. In addition to the two NJSGA Opens, Spring Lake has also had the pleasure of hosting five other NJSGA events over the years – the Mixed Pinehurst Championship in 1983 and four Senior Championships in 1964, 1966, 1969 and in 1994.

The June 3 Bishop John C. Reiss Memorial Golf Outing will open with registration at 10:30 a.m. and a brunch will be served from 11 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. at which time, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will lead an opening prayer. At 12:30 p.m., a shotgun start will kick off the golf outing. The event will close with a cocktail reception and dinner.

The tournament will be held in a scramble format and the package includes greens fee, golf cart, practice range, locker room and all gratuities.

For sponsorship opportunities or for more information, contact Greg King in the diocesan Department of Development at 609-403-7216 or email [email protected] or visit: www.dioceseoftrenton.org/golf.