Divine Word Father Victor Butler, who served for some 30 years in the Trenton Diocese, died March 7 at the Society of Divine Word retirement facility headquarters in Techny, Ill.

Funeral services will be held in Techny and include a viewing on March 15 and a funeral Mass March 16. Funeral services will then be held in Sacred Heart Church, Riverton, March 18, with visiting hours from 3 until 7 p.m. at which time a funeral Mass will be celebrated. Burial will be private in the cemetery of St. Mary Parish, Bordentown.

A priest for more than 50 years, Father Butler was a native of Dominica, West Indies, but pursued his priestly studies in the United States. The greatest majority of his years were spent ministering in parishes and schools in the Trenton Diocese. He was fondly remembered as “Father Vic,” the much-loved and highly respected chaplain of Holy Cross High School, Delran.

Father Butler’s journey to the priesthood included completing his novitiate and studies in philosophy and theology with the Divine Word Missionaries in Techny and was ordained a priest Feb. 2, 1964 in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Techny. After serving as parochial vicar of St. Elizabeth Parish, Chicago, for six years, he spent several years teaching in schools in Missouri, Ohio and other parts of Illinois, before moving to New Jersey to teach French and sociology in Divine Word Seminary, Bordentown. It was at the recommendation of his friend and colleague, Divine Word Father Martin Padovani that Father Butler began part-time youth ministry work in Holy Cross High School.

Although he was only scheduled to be in Holy Cross 10 hours a week, the number of hours increased as he became more involved in the life of Burlington County’s only Catholic high school. In 1982, he gave up teaching in the seminary and turned his part-time youth ministry work into serving as a full-time chaplain, a position he held for 13 years until health issues prompted him to submit his resignation. After about two years, he returned to Holy Cross as a student counselor and presided over liturgies. He also served as a weekend assistant in area parishes including Sacred Heart, Riverton. He also had a productive healing ministry in which he led prayer groups across the Diocese and retreats for young people in Holy Cross.

Other positions he held in the Diocese included a brief pastorate in Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd Parish, Trenton, which is now part of Blessed Sacrament-Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd Parish. On a diocesan level, he served as a member of the Diocesan Administrative Board and the inaugural Inter-Parish Assistance Fund Commission. He furthered his education and was awarded a master’s  degrees in sociology from Fordham University, New York, and youth ministry from La Salle University, Philadelphia.

Father Butler is survived by a sister, a niece and nephew who reside in England.