By Mary Stadnyk | News Editor

Fond and prayerful sentiments were shared by friends, former parishioners and brother priests who gathered to commemorate the life and priesthood of Father Philip T. Matera.

Father Matera, who during his 61 years of priesthood had served as pastor of St. John Parish, Lakehurst, and Assumption Parish, New Egypt, died April 2 in St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville. He was 87.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 6 by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in Our Lady of the Angels Parish-St. Joachim Church, Trenton, Father Matera’s home parish. Homilist was longtime friend, Father George Deutsch.

Born July 10, 1925, Father Matera prepared for the priesthood in the Pallotine Seminary in New York, the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore. He was ordained a priest May 19, 1951, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

As parochial vicar, Father Matera served in Holy Trinity Parish, Long Branch; St. Philip and St. James Parish, Phillipsburg; St. Cecelia Parish, Iselin; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Seaside Heights; St. Ann Parish, Raritan; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank; St. Mary of Mount Virgin Parish, New Brunswick; St. Joseph Parish, North Plainfield; St. Mary Parish, Alpha, and St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, where he was also temporary administrator.

In 1969, Father Matera was installed as the first resident pastor of St. John Parish, Lakehurst, and remained there until 1982 when he became pastor of Assumption Parish, New Egypt, where he served for three years.

Following his assignment in New Egypt, Father Matera took a brief leave from the diocese. Upon his return to the diocese, he then spent 10 months as temporary administrator in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting, and then as parochial vicar in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton. His final parish assignment was as parochial vicar of St. Pius X Parish, Forked River. He was also chaplain of St. Michael’s Home for Children, Hopewell, a now-closed orphanage operated by the diocese, and later chaplain of Morris Hall, Lawrenceville. He officially retired from active ministry Oct. 1, 1988.

Before the funeral Mass, Anne Dempster quietly recalled Father Matera, as a “dear, kind, humble soul,” and remembered him from when he was pastor of Assumption Parish.

Dempster recalled how she used to help clean the church, often accompanied by her three-year-old son, Timothy. Father Matera nicknamed her son, “Timothius,” and on the days when the weather was cold, he would offer the child hot chocolate, she said with a smile.

“It’s those kinds of things that come to mind when I think of him,” Dempster said. “It’s the little things. He made a lasting impression on my son.”

Father Deutsch remembered Father Matera as being an “obedient priest” and a man who “took his priesthood very seriously.”

Father Deutch spoke of when the two men first met in St. Cecilia Parish, Iselin (which is now in the Metuchen Diocese). Father Deutsch served a summer assignment there as a seminarian and Father Matera was an associate pastor. “In a sense, he was a father-figure to me,” said Father Deutsch. “He showed me the ropes to the priesthood. He was my mentor and later, my confessor.”

In later years, Father Deutsch appreciated Father Matera’s guidance and advice when Father Deutsch was appointed founding pastor of St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River. Father Matera had a similar experience of helping to establish the new St. John Parish, Lakehurst. St. John had originally been founded as a mission of St. Joseph Parish, Toms River.

Father Deutsch added how much he enjoyed working with Father Matera in St. Pius X Parish, Forked River, where Father Deutsch was pastor and Father Matera was appointed parochial vicar.

Father Matera was the son of the late Theodore and Angelina DeAngelo Matera and brother of the late Alfred and Anthony Matera and Antoinette Peluso. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Faye Matera of Florida; a niece Roseann Peluso, a nephew, Anthony (Karla) Peluso, and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial was in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Hamilton.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of the Angels Parish, 19 Bayard St., Trenton, NJ 08611.