Msgr. Alfred D. Smith, was pastor of Belmar parish for 25 years
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will be principal celebrant of a Mass of Christian Burial Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. in St. Rose Church, Belmar, for Msgr. Alfred D. Smith, who died Sept. 12.
Msgr. Smith devoted 25 years of his priestly service to the parishioners of St. Rose Parish and the thousands of young people who attended St. Rose Grammar and High Schools.
Msgr. Smith was born July 27, 1924 in New Haven, Conn., and prepared for the priesthood in St. Thomas Minor Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn., followed by studies at St. Bernard’s, Rochester, N.Y., and Our Lady of Angels Seminary, Niagara, N.Y. He later pursued additional studies in pastoral counseling at Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Msgr. Smith was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Trenton May 30, 1953, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr. His first priestly assignment was in St. Joseph Parish, Trenton
This was followed by seven years at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords. From there he was assigned to St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, and then he was assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral.
In 1963, Msgr. Smith was made administrator of the cathedral and in 1970, he became rector.
Five years later in 1975, he was assigned to become pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar, where he remained until his retirement in July, 2000.
His additional assignments included serving as chairman of the Catholic Family Action Committee of Family Life Bureau, a Pro-Synodal Judge in the Diocesan Tribunal, a member of the City of Trenton Relocation Advisory Committee, two, three-year terms as episcopal vicar of Monmouth County, chaplain of the Serra Club in Trenton, a member of the Council of Priests, and a member of the Seminarian Recruitment Board for Vocations. He was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness in December, 1983. He was also elected grand marshal of the Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2000.
A viewing will be held Sept. 18 in St. Rose Church, 603 Seventh Ave., Belmar., from 3:30 to 7 p.m. with the Mass of Jesus Christ the High Priest being celebrated by Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor of St. Rose Parish, at 5 p.m.
The following day, viewing hours will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial.
Msgr. Smith was survived by two brothers, Edward (Patricia) and Frank, and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be in St. Catharine Cemetery, Wall.
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Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will be principal celebrant of a Mass of Christian Burial Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. in St. Rose Church, Belmar, for Msgr. Alfred D. Smith, who died Sept. 12.
Msgr. Smith devoted 25 years of his priestly service to the parishioners of St. Rose Parish and the thousands of young people who attended St. Rose Grammar and High Schools.
Msgr. Smith was born July 27, 1924 in New Haven, Conn., and prepared for the priesthood in St. Thomas Minor Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn., followed by studies at St. Bernard’s, Rochester, N.Y., and Our Lady of Angels Seminary, Niagara, N.Y. He later pursued additional studies in pastoral counseling at Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Msgr. Smith was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Trenton May 30, 1953, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr. His first priestly assignment was in St. Joseph Parish, Trenton
This was followed by seven years at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords. From there he was assigned to St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, and then he was assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral.
In 1963, Msgr. Smith was made administrator of the cathedral and in 1970, he became rector.
Five years later in 1975, he was assigned to become pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar, where he remained until his retirement in July, 2000.
His additional assignments included serving as chairman of the Catholic Family Action Committee of Family Life Bureau, a Pro-Synodal Judge in the Diocesan Tribunal, a member of the City of Trenton Relocation Advisory Committee, two, three-year terms as episcopal vicar of Monmouth County, chaplain of the Serra Club in Trenton, a member of the Council of Priests, and a member of the Seminarian Recruitment Board for Vocations. He was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness in December, 1983. He was also elected grand marshal of the Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2000.
A viewing will be held Sept. 18 in St. Rose Church, 603 Seventh Ave., Belmar., from 3:30 to 7 p.m. with the Mass of Jesus Christ the High Priest being celebrated by Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor of St. Rose Parish, at 5 p.m.
The following day, viewing hours will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial.
Msgr. Smith was survived by two brothers, Edward (Patricia) and Frank, and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be in St. Catharine Cemetery, Wall.
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