By Mary Stadnyk|Associate Editor

There was a common sentiment shared by the throng of people who came to pay their last respects to Msgr. Richard L. Tofani – that he was a man with a missionary heart who joyfully lived his priestly life in service to others.

Msgr. Tofani, who was episcopal vicar of Burlington County, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport, and diocesan director of missions, died Aug. 29 while vacationing in Florida.

Funeral services began the afternoon of Sept. 5 when Msgr. Tofani’s casket was brought into Our Lady Queen of Peace Church for the Rite of Reception of the Body followed by Evening Prayer and Vigil Services. The next day, Sept. 6, funeral services continued in St. Isaac Jogues Church, with calling hours in the afternoon and a Mass of Christian Burial that Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated later that evening. Among the more than 1,000 people who filled the vast Marlton church, included nearly 100 priests from the diocese, seminary classmates and Msgr. Robert Fuhrman, assistant national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Homilist for the Mass was Msgr. Tofani’s cousin, Father Robert Cilinski, pastor of All Saints Parish, Manassas, Va.

Bishop O’Connell, in his remarks at the end of the funeral Mass, acknowledged Msgr. Tofani’s unexpected death which “leave us reeling in shock.” Extending heartfelt sympathy to Msgr. Tofani’s family – his two brothers and sisters-in-law, nine nieces and nephews, the community of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, brother priests and Diocesan Chancery staff including those who worked with Msgr. Tofani in the diocesan Missions Office, Bishop O’Connell said, “He did everything as a priest of our Lord Jesus, with his humility and gentleness and love.”

“What a gift he was. What great memories he left us. What an example (he was) of how to live.”

Complete coverage of Msgr. Tofani’s funeral will be published in the Sept. 12 issue of The Monitor and on www.trentonmonitor.com