By Dorothy  K. LaMantia, Correspondent

For members of St. Luke Parish, it was an evening of faith and sadness, of prayer and song, and of memories tinged with love and humor as they bid farewell to the priest who founded their parish and presided over its growth since 1982.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrant of the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Louis W. Kralovich, set the tone with his opening remarks: “Together we thank God for the gift of Father Lou, and we have gratitude for all the good news he shared with us.”

Nearly 500 parishioners and 45 priests and deacons from the far-reaches of the diocese gathered to celebrate the memory of the pastor emeritus of the Toms River parish on Sept. 26.

The Mass – with full choir accompanied by organ, keyboard, four violins and tympani, and music and readings expressing more joyful hope than sorrow – was the culmination of the rites for Father Kralovich, which began that afternoon with the Reception of the Body, recitation of the Office of the Dead, and viewing.

Father George Deutsch, a close friend of Father Kralovich, began his homily with a question: “I am wondering if Father Lou approves of all this.  He never liked a lot of bother.  But we are bothering tonight and rightfully so.”

A knowing chuckle rippled throughout the congregation when Father Deutsch described Father Kralovich. “He was stern.  He was the father of his flock.  A good father is not friend to his kids; he corrects them.  He wanted St. Luke’s to be different. He wanted to have the presence of Christ in your church and in your hearts.  He also helped more people in Toms River than anyone will ever know, because he never wanted to call attention to himself,” said Father Deutsch, who also remembered his friend and brother priest as a sportsman and an avid sports fan.

“We used to have a bunch of priests who played basketball. It was called ‘The God Squad,’ and people used to tell me he had a wicked elbow.  But he was also a team player,” the priest said.

Even the week before Father Kralovich died, Father Deutsch said, “Lou was alive in his priesthood.  His last desire was to teach an RCIA class here, which he was supposed to start this week.  He never lost his spirit.”

Father Robert Grodnicki, pastor of St. Luke since 2009, gave the Final Commendation, which echoed the homilist. “Lou could never do enough for me.  Even when he retired, he wanted to do everything.  He never said ‘no.’ He loved ministry with the people.  He always put you ahead of himself,” he told the congregation.  “We will never know the full extent of his love for the people.”

When the Mass ended, parishioners were invited to a reception in the parish center, where people huddled in small groups and reminisced about the man who built, then anchored, their church for 30 years.  The memories depicted Father Kralovich as a man whose stern exterior disguised his compassionate, generous heart.   The stories always seemed to end with, “Then Father Lou said, ‘If you need something, you let me know.’”

Director of music ministry, Gerard Chiusano, recalled, “The first time I played here was in 2000 when my grandmother, who was a parishioner, was being buried from this church.  I asked him if I could play for her funeral.  I am going to miss him.  He had such a good heart, and I marvel at what he built here.”

Youth minister, Jennifer Ferrallo, said, “I feel like I lost a friend.  The kids adored him.  He did the Teen Life Mass every Sunday and gave powerful homilies geared towards the kids. Every Sunday night he paid for pizza for the kids.”

Maryanne Molner, a parishioner who made sure she greeted Father Kralovich every Sunday, remembered, “He was a great friend to my husband and me.  He lent us his quadrocane when my husband had trouble walking.  He was a wonderful priest and I will miss him terribly.”

Father Kralovich, who was born April 9, 1934, to Anton and Amelia (Hilboky) Kralovich in lower Manhattan, moved with his family soon after his birth to New Brunswick.

He attended St. Charles Minor Seminary, Catonsville Md., and completed his philosophy and theological studies in St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1960 in St. Mary's Cathedral, Trenton by Bishop George Ahr.

He later received a master’s degree in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1974.  Following his ordination, Father Kralovich served in the parishes of St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; St. Anthony, Hightstown; Sts. Peter and Paul, Trenton; Holy Trinity, Perth Amboy; St. James, Red Bank, and St. Michael, Trenton, before being named as founding pastor of the newly established St. Luke Parish in Toms River in 1982.

Father Kralovich served the parish as pastor until June 20, 2009, and resided there as pastor emeritus until his death.  During his tenure, Father Lou shepherded a pilgrim parish into a vibrant Catholic community with more than 4000 families and a 900 person worship space.

He is survived by his niece, Stephanie Browning and his St. Luke Parish family.