By Rosemary Daniels | Correspondent

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Leo the Great Church, Lincroft, Jan. 20 where Father Leonard Lang was warmly remembered. Father Lang, 68, died Jan. 15 after a long illness.

Led by members of the Knights of Columbus, 30 priests filed into the church to honor their brother priest in a Mass which included Scripture readings selected by the family and a beautiful musical program provided by the schola of St. Leo the Great’s choir. 

Father John Folchetti, pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish, was principal celebrant of the Mass. Other concelebrating priests included Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, who represented Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who is recovering from recent surgery; Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life; Msgr. Edward Arnister, episcopal vicar for Monmouth County, and Father Eugene Roberts, pastor of St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, who was homilist.

Members of the parishes where Father Lang served came to pay their respects, including several from Holy Spirit Parish (now part of Mother of Mercy Parish), Asbury Park, where Father  Lang was pastor for more than 10 years.

Rob DeBellis said, “He restored the church to its original beauty. When he first came, there was no heat, no air conditioning. Father scrubbed the altar himself to restore it.”

Fellow parishioner Jim Deseno added, “He had to scrape the walls because the roof leaked, and it made the paint peel. I would come on Friday nights and help him.”

But he not only paid attention to the needs of the physical buildings, DeBellis maintained. “He restored a sense of community. With his help, we started a dinner dance committee, which ran for 13 years. It brought people together, and he would do anything we’d ask him to do to make it fun, like dressing up as a greaser, or a character from the Wizard of Oz,” Deseno shared.

Deseno recalled a personal story when “Our flower store burned to the ground on Christmas Eve, 1995. Father Len showed up at our door on that cold, rainy day, and said, “’Anything you want, anything you need-you’ve got it.’”

Mary Hogan, Father Lang’s longtime secretary, wondered, “How many people did he helpspiritually, physically, emotionally? It’s impossible to know.” Many of his older parishioners left him their possessions when they died. He passed these items on to others in the parish when the need arose.

Margaret Lang, director of religious education in St. Leo the Great Parish, worked with Father Lang for only a few years, but had great respect for him. St. Leo the Great was the last parish in which Father Lang served as pastor.

“He was a really kind, loving man. He let us minister, and didn’t stop us from doing anything. Just a great man,” said Lang.

In his homily, Father Roberts, a friend of Father Lang’s for more than 48 years, regaled the congregation with stories of Father Lang’s experiences in the many parishes in which he served, noting his excellent sense of humor and fondness for visiting the Atlantic City casinos. Most importantly, Father Roberts recounted the great work Father Lang performed in his ministries. “He was involved in so many in the parishes. In the late ‘80’s, he reached out to those who had HIV and the new disease that was sweeping the world called AIDS. He sat with them, he prayed with them, he anointed them, and he always assured them that there was a kingdom to come.”

Father Roberts also noted his friend’s generosity, always there to help someone less fortunate, whether it be a priest, a parishioner or someone he might encounter in daily life.

 “He was truly God’s gift, and friend and servant. Leonard, you’re home, you’re at peace, you’re welcome,” said Father Roberts.

Father Lang was born in Newark and grew up in Hillside. He was the son of the late Helen B. O’Leary and Leonard P. Lang, Sr.

He was a graduate of St. Mary College, St. Mary’s, Ky., and Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. He was ordained a priest May 17, 1975 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr. As parochial vicar, he served in the following parishes: St. Ann, Browns Mills; St.  Mary, Deal; St. Anselm, Wayside, and St. Dominic, Brick. As pastor, he served in St. Mary, Barnegat; Holy Spirit, Asbury Park, and St. Leo the Great. He was the Catholic chaplain in Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, for many years and was also appointed by Bishop John C. Reiss as the bishop’s liaison for AIDS ministry in Monmouth County, which was one of his on-going ministries.

In addition to his parents, Father Lang was predeceased by his twin sister, Clair Ellen Lang. He is survived by his brothers, Philip E. (Vivian) and Michael L. (Marjorie); two nieces; two nephews, and several cousins.

Burial was in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.