Msgr. Smith recalled for his abiding faith, good humor and gift of song
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Msgr. Alfred D. Smith, who died at age 87 on Sept. 12, was remembered for his deep faith and the ability to share it by clergy, family and scores of former parishioners during a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Sept. 12 in St. Rose Church, Belmar, where he served 25 years as pastor.
During the Mass, Msgr. Smith was affectionately recalled by Msgr. Leonard Troiano, pastor of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Lavallette, who served in St. Rose Parish as a young priest and counted the monsignor as a mentor, inspiration and friend.
Describing the “unspoken fraternal relationship” that made Msgr. Smith’s death keenly felt by all his brother priests in the diocese, 40 of attended the Mass, Msgr. Troiano reflected on eight years of his priestly life with Msgr. Smith.
Those years, he said, were times of a “quiet peace” inspired by Msgr. Smith who “taught us to live, laugh and pray,” said Msgr. Troiano. “From him, we learned the lessons of priesthood every day,” in what he called the “St. Rose experience” where the works of corporal and spiritual mercy unfolded seamlessly under Msgr. Smith’s gentle aegis.
The daily attention to prayer and the network of duties including oversight of elementary and high schools made for a wealth of “stories of each day” and great, good humor, Msgr. Troiano recalled.
“The rectory wasn’t just a place,” said Msgr. Troiano. “It was a home and the parish wasn’t just a series of buildings, it was a community.”
During his homily, Msgr. Troiano spoke warmly of Msgr. Smith’s gift for humor and love of singing that was so strong, the young priest never needed an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. Every morning, as regularly as clock work at 4:30 a.m., Msgr. Smith would rouse the rectory with a stirring rendition of “Danny Boy,” his favorite song.
After the Mass, those who had known him exchanged fond stories about Msgr. Smith.
Dr. Michele Campbell, retired St. Rose High School principal, recalled his abiding support of Catholic education and his strong support of her as well, from the moment he hired her to be the institution’s first lay principal 15 years ago until the time of his own retirement in 2000.
“If a question arose, he’d say: ‘she’s the principal.’ He was always there in a supportive way. He made it clear that I was the authority at the high school.”
Jane Magovern, a teacher at the grammar school for 25 years, spoke of him reverently as a “very quiet and holy priest. He didn’t work a room, that wasn’t his way unless, of course, you asked him to sing.”
When a request was made for him to vocalize, Msgr. Smith always rose to the challenge said Kathleen Roth, a parishioner for 30 years. Roth spoke not only of his singing but of his reverence for the faith.
“The depth of his devotion was apparent and real. You always caught a glimpse of him in church saying his prayers,” Roth said. “There was (perpetual) adoration on Monday nights and he always ended by singing. People would come just to hear him sing ‘Good Night Jesus.’”
Msgr. Smith, who was buried in St. Catharine Cemetery, Wall, 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 the Angels Seminary, Niagara, N.Y. He later pursued additional studies in pastoral counseling at Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Trenton by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, his first priestly assignment was in St. Joseph Parish, Trenton. From there, he was assigned to Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords, and St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, before being assigned to the cathedral parish.
In 1963, Msgr. Smith was named administrator of the cathedral and in 1970, he became rector, a position he held until 1975 when he was assigned to become pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar.
His additional assignments included serving as chairman of the Catholic Family Action Committee of the Family Life Bureau and as a Pro-Synodal Judge in the Diocesan Tribunal. He was a member of the City of Trenton Relocation Advisory Committee and served two, three-year terms as episcopal vicar of Monmouth County.
He was a chaplain of the Serra Club in Trenton, a member of the Council of Priests and the Seminarian Recruitment Board for Vocations. He was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness in December, 1983.
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Msgr. Alfred D. Smith, who died at age 87 on Sept. 12, was remembered for his deep faith and the ability to share it by clergy, family and scores of former parishioners during a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Sept. 12 in St. Rose Church, Belmar, where he served 25 years as pastor.
During the Mass, Msgr. Smith was affectionately recalled by Msgr. Leonard Troiano, pastor of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Lavallette, who served in St. Rose Parish as a young priest and counted the monsignor as a mentor, inspiration and friend.
Describing the “unspoken fraternal relationship” that made Msgr. Smith’s death keenly felt by all his brother priests in the diocese, 40 of attended the Mass, Msgr. Troiano reflected on eight years of his priestly life with Msgr. Smith.
Those years, he said, were times of a “quiet peace” inspired by Msgr. Smith who “taught us to live, laugh and pray,” said Msgr. Troiano. “From him, we learned the lessons of priesthood every day,” in what he called the “St. Rose experience” where the works of corporal and spiritual mercy unfolded seamlessly under Msgr. Smith’s gentle aegis.
The daily attention to prayer and the network of duties including oversight of elementary and high schools made for a wealth of “stories of each day” and great, good humor, Msgr. Troiano recalled.
“The rectory wasn’t just a place,” said Msgr. Troiano. “It was a home and the parish wasn’t just a series of buildings, it was a community.”
During his homily, Msgr. Troiano spoke warmly of Msgr. Smith’s gift for humor and love of singing that was so strong, the young priest never needed an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. Every morning, as regularly as clock work at 4:30 a.m., Msgr. Smith would rouse the rectory with a stirring rendition of “Danny Boy,” his favorite song.
After the Mass, those who had known him exchanged fond stories about Msgr. Smith.
Dr. Michele Campbell, retired St. Rose High School principal, recalled his abiding support of Catholic education and his strong support of her as well, from the moment he hired her to be the institution’s first lay principal 15 years ago until the time of his own retirement in 2000.
“If a question arose, he’d say: ‘she’s the principal.’ He was always there in a supportive way. He made it clear that I was the authority at the high school.”
Jane Magovern, a teacher at the grammar school for 25 years, spoke of him reverently as a “very quiet and holy priest. He didn’t work a room, that wasn’t his way unless, of course, you asked him to sing.”
When a request was made for him to vocalize, Msgr. Smith always rose to the challenge said Kathleen Roth, a parishioner for 30 years. Roth spoke not only of his singing but of his reverence for the faith.
“The depth of his devotion was apparent and real. You always caught a glimpse of him in church saying his prayers,” Roth said. “There was (perpetual) adoration on Monday nights and he always ended by singing. People would come just to hear him sing ‘Good Night Jesus.’”
Msgr. Smith, who was buried in St. Catharine Cemetery, Wall, 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 the Angels Seminary, Niagara, N.Y. He later pursued additional studies in pastoral counseling at Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Trenton by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, his first priestly assignment was in St. Joseph Parish, Trenton. From there, he was assigned to Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords, and St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, before being assigned to the cathedral parish.
In 1963, Msgr. Smith was named administrator of the cathedral and in 1970, he became rector, a position he held until 1975 when he was assigned to become pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar.
His additional assignments included serving as chairman of the Catholic Family Action Committee of the Family Life Bureau and as a Pro-Synodal Judge in the Diocesan Tribunal. He was a member of the City of Trenton Relocation Advisory Committee and served two, three-year terms as episcopal vicar of Monmouth County.
He was a chaplain of the Serra Club in Trenton, a member of the Council of Priests and the Seminarian Recruitment Board for Vocations. He was named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness in December, 1983.
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