By Lois Rogers |Features Editor

Former parishioners, brother priests and members of the community at large came together July 18 to celebrate the life and spiritual legacy of Msgr. William J. Carton at a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mark Church, Sea Girt.

Father Carton, who during his nearly 54 years of priesthood, served as pastor of St. Mark and St. Mary Parish, Deal, was known for reaching out to immigrants and building ministries.

He died July 13 in Villa Vianney, the diocesan facility for retired priests in Lawrenceville. He was 79.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated the Mass along with 30 priests from throughout the diocese.

Benedictine Father Maynard Nagengast, who serves as a visiting priest in St. Mark Parish and had a long friendship with Msgr. Carton, spoke warmly of him as a “holy man, a caring man,” with a good sense of humor.

Father Nagengast described a priest who devoted himself to all aspects of parish life, from making hospital calls and home visits to embracing a struggling immigrant community to household chores if he felt they needed doing.

“He was always involved,” recalled Father Nagengast, who said to the crowd of several hundred that despite his physical limitations, Msgr. Carton “made this a vibrant parish” where ministries to parishioners of all ages flourished.

Msgr. Carton served as pastor of St. Mark Parish from Nov. 8, 1986, until his retirement from active ministry Aug. 1, 2008. The Jersey City native was born in 1933, later attending Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank.

He attended St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, in 1953 and was ordained a priest Sept. 19, 1959, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr.

His pastoral tour included service in St. Paul Parish, Princeton; St.

Bernadette Parish, Parlin; St. Joachim Parish, Trenton; Holy Cross Parish, Rumson; and St. Mary Parish, Deal.

In his remarks at the closing of the Mass, Msgr. Sean P. Flynn reflected on the qualities for which his immediate predecessor was so beloved.

“He was a very humble man and a good shepherd” of deep spiritual sensibilities who spent hours in prayer.

Msgr. Flynn praised Msgr. Carton for his graciousness, capacity for concern and deep love of the community of faith and the “many ways he enriched our spirits. He leaves very large shoes to fill.”

After the funeral Mass, parishioners and clergy remembered Msgr.

Carton fondly. Rev. Joe Gratzel, pastor of the First Baptist Church in neighboring Manasquan, spoke of Msgr. Carton as a pastor whos devotion to social concerns cut across all denominational boundaries.

Parishioner Margarita Canseco, who was among the many Latino’s welcomed into the parish by Msgr.

Carton, smiled as she recalled how her children had been “the first” Baptized by Msgr. Carton.

And Father Stanley P. Lukaszewski, pastor of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan for more than 12 years and current pastor of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, spoke of Msgr. Carton’s gentle nature and a “heart much bigger than his shoes.”

Burial followed in St. Catharine Cemetery, Sea Girt.