During the May 14 Mass of Christian Burial offered for Father Harry E. Cenefeldt, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio spoke of how seemingly fitting it was for a priest to enter eternal life on Ascension Thursday.

“We might call the Feast of the Ascension, the feast of our hope,” said Msgr. Gervasio in his homily, as he spoke of how it should be the hope of the all the faithful to one day enter heaven and be seated at the right hand of the Father.

 “How consoling and appropriate it is that a priest should depart this life on such a day – a day of hope – for as a priest, he lived a life and ministry that exemplified hope. A priest is called to bring hope.”

A priest for 58 years, Father Cenefeldt died May 9 in Compassionate Care Hospice, Trenton. His funeral Mass was celebrated in Our Lady of the Angels Parish-St. Joachim Church, Trenton, where he was a weekend assistant since his retirement in 2000. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., presided over the Mass and more than 20 priests concelebrated, including Msgr. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the curia and pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton.

 Born Nov. 14, 1927, in Manitowoc, Wis., Father Cenefeldt was the only child of Harry and Blanche Albrecht Cenefeldt. He attended Marquette University, Milwaukee, before entering St. Norbert College and Abbey, West de Pere, Wis., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1952. He was ordained a Norbertine priest Sept. 1, 1954, in St. Joseph Church, West de Pere, by Green Bay Auxiliary Bishop John B. Grellinger.

Following his ordination, he taught in St. Norbert High School, West de Pere, from 1952-1955. In 1956, he moved to Philadelphia where he taught in Bishop Neumann High School from 1955-1963. In 1961, he began devoting his summers and weekends to continuing his studies in Seton Hall University, South Orange, and Villanova University, Villanova, Pa. He received a master’s degree in history from Seton Hall in 1964.

Upon his arrival to New Jersey, Father Cenefeldt was appointed parochial vicar of St. Ambrose Parish, Old Bridge, Dec. 1, 1966. He was incardinated a priest for the Diocese of Trenton by Bishop George W. Ahr Jan. 13, 1971, and on Sept. 24, 1971, became parochial vicar of St. Rose Parish, Belmar. Other parishes in the diocese where he was assigned included Ascension Parish, Bradley Beach, as temporary administrator, and St. Ann Parish, Browns Mills, and St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, where he was pastor. Because of illness, Father Cenefeldt resigned as pastor of St. Theresa Parish in 1986. Upon his return to ministry however, he went on to serve as parochial vicar in several parishes including St. Ann, Lawrenceville; St. Dominic, Brick; St. Mark, Sea Girt, and Our Lady of Good Counsel, West Trenton.

Father Cenefeldt was appointed spiritual director for the Mercer County Holy Name Society Feb. 21, 1997, a position he maintained until his retirement in 2000. On April 18, 1999, Bishop John M. Smith awarded Father Cenefeldt with the Holy Name Silver Circle Medallion in recognition of his involvement in the Holy Name Federation and in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. In retirement, he lived in Villa Vianney, the diocesan residence for retired priests in Lawrenceville, and joined the community of Our Lady of the Angels Parish as a weekend assistant.

Before the funeral Mass, Our Lady of the Angles parishioners John Moroze and Lucy Gargione recalled fond memories of “Father Harry.”

While Moroze said he came to know Father Cenefeldt through the Holy Name Society, Gargione recalled meeting him years ago when he assigned to St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville.

“Father Harry always had a kind word and he always had that Wisconsin accent no matter what,” Gargione said with a smile. “He was a wonderful priest and man.”