A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Sept. 26 in Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church, 650 Harris Ave., Middlesex, for Msgr. William J. Haughney, a retired priest who had served the dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen for 70 years. Msgr. Haughney died Sept. 21 at the age of 98.

Born in Morristown in 1921 as one of two children to the late William and Julia Cantwell Haughney, Msgr. Haughney attended Seton Hall University, South Orange, where he earned a degree in philosophy, and Princeton Theological Seminary where he earned a master’s degree in sacred theology. He completed his training in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William A. Griffin May 31, 1947, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Over the course of his active ministry in the Church, Msgr. Haughney served as parochial vicar in parishes throughout the dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen, including Holy Angels, Trenton; St. Joseph, Keyport; St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen; St. Mary, Perth Amboy; St. Bonaventure, Lavallette; St. Michael, West End, and Corpus Christi, Willingboro. Msgr. Haughney’s pastorates include terms in St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown; St. Joseph, North Plainfield, and Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Middlesex, until his 1996 retirement. He assisted in Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Monroe Twp., until 2001. Then-Pope, now St. John Paul II elevated him to prelate of honor with the title of monsignor in 1984.

Msgr. Haughney is survived by his sister, Alice McGuire; four nieces and 2 nephews; seven grandnieces and grandnephews, and four great grandnieces and grandnephews. Burial will follow immediately after the Mass in St. Vincent Martyr Cemetery, Madison. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Msgr. Haughney’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice.