By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

Father John T. Kielb, a priest for 37 years who served in parishes throughout the Dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen, was remembered for his love of family, children and his warm smile at his funeral Mass, April 4, in Precious Blood Parish, the Monmouth Beach faith community he had shepherded for 22 years. The priest died March 27 at age 64.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., served as principal celebrant for the Mass, with concelebrants including Father Robert F. Kaeding, pastor of Precious Blood Parish who was homilist, and other priests of the diocese.

Father Kaeding began his homily with a quote from his late predecessor. “Father John said, ‘priesthood was something you grew into,’” the pastor said. “Life’s journey is filled with opportunities to show faithfulness.” Father Kielb’s faith was reflected in his deep love of his parents and brother, but extended beyond biological ties. “This parish and the others at which he served were his family, as well,” Father Kaeding stated, noting he had spoken with parishioners from Father Kielb’s former assignments. “They all spoke of him as family, a stubborn member of their family,” he continued over the sound of suppressed laughter.

“Father John loved children,” Father Kaeding continued. “He loved to baptize; he would hold up the child with one hand with joy to the consternation of the rest.” Basketball games with the young “God Squad” parishioners, and, later, computer games endeared the pastor to the children of the parish.

“Parishioners took a journey with him in simple things: offering the Eucharist, his smile, when he shared stories,” the priest concluded. “The priesthood is something he did grow into; it fit him well. He was faithful, he loved God, and loved the people God had entrusted him with.”

Father Keilb was born April 10, 1948, in Bayonne. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and Marist High School, both in Bayonne. He prepared for the priesthood in Seton Hall University, South Orange, and St. Vincent College and Seminary, Latrobe, Pa., where he earned bachelor of arts and master of divinity degrees. He was ordained a priest May 17, 1975, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

As associate pastor, Father Kielb served in Sacred Heart Parish, South Amboy; St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold; St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Mercerville. He was named temporary administrator of Precious Blood Parish in July, 1989, and two months later was named pastor. Father Kielb remained there as pastor until his retirement in 2011.

Other positions Father Kielb held included serving as a priest with the Engaged Encounter Team and on the diocesan Continuing Education of Priests committee. In retirement, he lived in Villa Vianney, the diocesan facility for retired priests.

Parishioners of the Monmouth Beach church recalled steps along their faith journey with the beloved priest. “I remember his smile,” Kathleen Tocci, a parishioner in Precious Blood for 47 years. “He married my daughter and baptized my grandchildren. He loved babies; he was very easy-going as a pastor and priest.”

George Meringolo and his wife Nicki greeted old friends seated in the pews as the congregants gathered to celebrate Father Kielb’s funeral Mass. “He always told me that the reason he became a priest is so that he would go to heaven, and he did,” George said, glancing at the casket resting in the church’s center aisle. Nicki added through her tears, “I remember his love for small children. They made his face light up.”

Bishop O’Connell echoed the themes of family and faith in his closing remarks, referencing the Old Testament passage from the Book of Wisdom (3:1-6) read during the funeral Mass. “There’s a line I love in that reading: ‘He tried them and found them worthy of himself.’ Father John was tried,” he reminded the congregation. “He was challenged by a disease that I share: diabetes.” The bishop thanked Father Kielb’s caregivers at Villa Vianney for the compassionate care they had given him in his final days and concluded, “We celebrate the fact of our faith today.”

At the conclusion of the funeral Mass, the casket and clergy processed from the church, passing a poster board bearing photographs of Precious Blood parishioners surrounding a smiling Father Kielb at events during his 22-year pastorate there. Resting alongside was a scrapbook photo album, its first page an exterior of Precious Blood Parish and the words “Our Family,” proudly emblazoned upon it.

Looking down from the rear wall of the church was a large wooden plaque which evoked Father Kielb’s joy and love of children. A carving of Jesus seated amongst a group of smiling youth of all races was topped by the phrase, “Let the little children come to me.”

Father Kielb was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.