Father Joseph A. Radomski remembered as ‘one who heard the call of God and responded’
November 21, 2023 at 11:05 a.m.
Father Joseph A. Radomski, who died Nov. 7 at age 88, was celebrated as a priest of the Diocese of Trenton who heard the call of God and responded . . . a man filled with grace who shared what he received with others.
“Father Joe is an example of what all of us are called to be,” Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, said during the Nov. 14 Mass of Christian Burial he celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, Manville (Diocese of Metuchen). Joining Msgr. Mullelly around the altar were several priests with whom Father Radomski had resided in Villa Vianney, home for retired priests in Lawrenceville.
Msgr. Mullelly expressed the condolences of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who could not attend the funeral because of the U.S. bishops meeting in Baltimore.
Msgr. Mullelly said that he had learned from Father Radomski’s personnel file that he wanted the focus of his funeral homily to be about the priesthood, rather than about him.
“He was very self-effacing … I will be true to Father Joe’s request and talk about the priesthood,” Msgr. Mullelly said. “Priests are men – men like those chosen by Jesus, and they are not always perfect,” he said.
But focusing on the importance of listening to the will of God, Msgr. Mullelly said, “Whatever God calls us to do, we need to take it seriously and do it to the best of our ability,” he said, and “Father Joe did that.”
He served as a priest of the Diocese of Trenton for 62 years of his life, Msgr. Mullelly emphasized, adding, “He spent a lot of his life serving almighty God completely and selflessly.”
Father Radomski was born in 1935 in Manville to the late Joseph Felix and Amelia Radomski. He was raised in Sacred Heart Church and attended St. Peter High School, New Brunswick, and prepared for the priesthood in St. Thomas College Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn. He continued in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and was ordained a priest May 26, 1962, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Through the course of his ministry, Father Radomski served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Trenton, some which later became part of the Diocese of Metuchen at its foundation in 1981. He was assigned as a parochial vicar in St. Joseph, Trenton; St. Mary of Ostrabrama, South River, and Sacred Heart, South Amboy. As pastor, he served in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Great Meadows; St. Mary Parish, Perth Amboy, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Avon, (now part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach), from 1979 until he retired in 2006. He also served as temporary administrator in Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, South Plainfield, and Holy Family Parish, Carteret.
When Father Radomski celebrated his golden jubilee in 2012, he said in an interview with The Monitor that he enjoyed his 26 years in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish and found the people to be “very nice and helpful.”
He recalled the time when a fire broke out in church and its interior sustained significant smoke and water damage. It was from the ashes of the fire that he was able to rebuild and restore not only the original church, which seated 290 people, but was also able to construct an addition to accommodate another 200 worshipers as well as refurbish the church basement to provide meeting space for parish ministries and organizations. Since the addition was rebuilt during the Marian Year, all of the stained glass windows were replaced and dedicated to the Blessed Mother.
Msgr. Thomas Mullelly celebrates the funeral Mass for Father Joseph Radomski in Sacred Heart Church, Manville. Screenshot photo
The extra space provided by the project was especially necessary in the summer months when vacationers to the Jersey Shore would visit the church for Mass.
In addition to his parents, Father Radomski was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Connie Radomski, and his nephew, Walter Radomski Jr. He is survived by his brothers, Walter Sr. of Manville; Stanley (and wife Dorothy) of Ewing, and Anthony (and wife Arlene) of Venice, Florida, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; two aunts and many cousins.
Father Radomski was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Hillsborough.
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Father Joseph A. Radomski, who died Nov. 7 at age 88, was celebrated as a priest of the Diocese of Trenton who heard the call of God and responded . . . a man filled with grace who shared what he received with others.
“Father Joe is an example of what all of us are called to be,” Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, said during the Nov. 14 Mass of Christian Burial he celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, Manville (Diocese of Metuchen). Joining Msgr. Mullelly around the altar were several priests with whom Father Radomski had resided in Villa Vianney, home for retired priests in Lawrenceville.
Msgr. Mullelly expressed the condolences of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who could not attend the funeral because of the U.S. bishops meeting in Baltimore.
Msgr. Mullelly said that he had learned from Father Radomski’s personnel file that he wanted the focus of his funeral homily to be about the priesthood, rather than about him.
“He was very self-effacing … I will be true to Father Joe’s request and talk about the priesthood,” Msgr. Mullelly said. “Priests are men – men like those chosen by Jesus, and they are not always perfect,” he said.
But focusing on the importance of listening to the will of God, Msgr. Mullelly said, “Whatever God calls us to do, we need to take it seriously and do it to the best of our ability,” he said, and “Father Joe did that.”
He served as a priest of the Diocese of Trenton for 62 years of his life, Msgr. Mullelly emphasized, adding, “He spent a lot of his life serving almighty God completely and selflessly.”
Father Radomski was born in 1935 in Manville to the late Joseph Felix and Amelia Radomski. He was raised in Sacred Heart Church and attended St. Peter High School, New Brunswick, and prepared for the priesthood in St. Thomas College Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn. He continued in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and was ordained a priest May 26, 1962, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Through the course of his ministry, Father Radomski served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Trenton, some which later became part of the Diocese of Metuchen at its foundation in 1981. He was assigned as a parochial vicar in St. Joseph, Trenton; St. Mary of Ostrabrama, South River, and Sacred Heart, South Amboy. As pastor, he served in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Great Meadows; St. Mary Parish, Perth Amboy, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Avon, (now part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach), from 1979 until he retired in 2006. He also served as temporary administrator in Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, South Plainfield, and Holy Family Parish, Carteret.
When Father Radomski celebrated his golden jubilee in 2012, he said in an interview with The Monitor that he enjoyed his 26 years in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish and found the people to be “very nice and helpful.”
He recalled the time when a fire broke out in church and its interior sustained significant smoke and water damage. It was from the ashes of the fire that he was able to rebuild and restore not only the original church, which seated 290 people, but was also able to construct an addition to accommodate another 200 worshipers as well as refurbish the church basement to provide meeting space for parish ministries and organizations. Since the addition was rebuilt during the Marian Year, all of the stained glass windows were replaced and dedicated to the Blessed Mother.
Msgr. Thomas Mullelly celebrates the funeral Mass for Father Joseph Radomski in Sacred Heart Church, Manville. Screenshot photo
The extra space provided by the project was especially necessary in the summer months when vacationers to the Jersey Shore would visit the church for Mass.
In addition to his parents, Father Radomski was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Connie Radomski, and his nephew, Walter Radomski Jr. He is survived by his brothers, Walter Sr. of Manville; Stanley (and wife Dorothy) of Ewing, and Anthony (and wife Arlene) of Venice, Florida, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; two aunts and many cousins.
Father Radomski was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Hillsborough.