Father Felix Venza remembered for decades of faithful ministry
May 12, 2025 at 2:31 p.m.
Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, Diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Felix Venza May 12 in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, St. Mary Church, Bordentown.
PHOTO GALLERY: Father Felix Venza Funeral Mass
He was joined by a dozen of priests from Diocese of Trenton, who with his family, friends and former parishioners, gathered to celebrate the life of Father Venza, a retired priest in the Diocese, who died May 6 in his home in Hamilton.
Father Martin O'Reilly, pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, places the Book of the Gospels on Father Venza's casket.Father Venza was born in 1946 in Trenton and grew up in St. Joachim Parish. He attended St. Joachim School, Trenton, and Mother of the Savior Seminary in Blackwood. He later prepared for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, and St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore.
In his homily, Msgr. Mullelly spoke of Father Venza’s deep vocation, noting that St. Joachim Church—now part of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton—has produced more vocations to the priesthood than any other parish in the Diocese of Trenton. Father Venza first heard his call to the priesthood as a young altar server and choir member at St. Joachim.
Father Venza was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1972, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr. His first assignment as parochial vicar was at Christ the King Parish in Manville (now part of the Metuchen Diocese). He later served in St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands (now part of Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish), and in St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Middletown.
In 1988, Father Venza began a new chapter as pastor of St. Clare Parish in Florence—his first and only pastorate—which he led for 20 years. During his tenure, he fostered ecumenical efforts with area churches and served as spiritual director of the Holy Name Society in Burlington County.
Reflecting on his ministry, Msgr. Mullelly said, “The joy of his life was when he became the pastor of St. Clare’s in Florence. He loved the parish. Over the years, he brought God’s love and mercy, and the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—to that wonderful parish, which allowed people to be transformed by his ministry.”
Following the 2008 merger of St. Clare Parish with Holy Assumption Parish in Roebling to form Sts. Francis and Clare Parish of Florence Township, Father Venza continued his ministry as a senior priest in residence at St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, now part of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish.
Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, Diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Felix Venza May 12 in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, St. Mary Church, Bordentown.Msgr. Mullelly concluded with words of gratitude and hope, “Felix, thank you for your example, your commitment, your fidelity in ministry. We all hope to see you again when we are called forth from our tombs by our loving God in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Father Venza was predeceased by his parents, Vito and Laura (Marchetti) Venza; a sister-in-law and a nephew. He is survived by his brother, Frank Venza, and two nieces.
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Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, Diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Felix Venza May 12 in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, St. Mary Church, Bordentown.
PHOTO GALLERY: Father Felix Venza Funeral Mass
He was joined by a dozen of priests from Diocese of Trenton, who with his family, friends and former parishioners, gathered to celebrate the life of Father Venza, a retired priest in the Diocese, who died May 6 in his home in Hamilton.
Father Martin O'Reilly, pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, places the Book of the Gospels on Father Venza's casket.Father Venza was born in 1946 in Trenton and grew up in St. Joachim Parish. He attended St. Joachim School, Trenton, and Mother of the Savior Seminary in Blackwood. He later prepared for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, and St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore.
In his homily, Msgr. Mullelly spoke of Father Venza’s deep vocation, noting that St. Joachim Church—now part of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton—has produced more vocations to the priesthood than any other parish in the Diocese of Trenton. Father Venza first heard his call to the priesthood as a young altar server and choir member at St. Joachim.
Father Venza was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1972, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr. His first assignment as parochial vicar was at Christ the King Parish in Manville (now part of the Metuchen Diocese). He later served in St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands (now part of Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish), and in St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Middletown.
In 1988, Father Venza began a new chapter as pastor of St. Clare Parish in Florence—his first and only pastorate—which he led for 20 years. During his tenure, he fostered ecumenical efforts with area churches and served as spiritual director of the Holy Name Society in Burlington County.
Reflecting on his ministry, Msgr. Mullelly said, “The joy of his life was when he became the pastor of St. Clare’s in Florence. He loved the parish. Over the years, he brought God’s love and mercy, and the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—to that wonderful parish, which allowed people to be transformed by his ministry.”
Following the 2008 merger of St. Clare Parish with Holy Assumption Parish in Roebling to form Sts. Francis and Clare Parish of Florence Township, Father Venza continued his ministry as a senior priest in residence at St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, now part of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish.
Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, Diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Felix Venza May 12 in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, St. Mary Church, Bordentown.Msgr. Mullelly concluded with words of gratitude and hope, “Felix, thank you for your example, your commitment, your fidelity in ministry. We all hope to see you again when we are called forth from our tombs by our loving God in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Father Venza was predeceased by his parents, Vito and Laura (Marchetti) Venza; a sister-in-law and a nephew. He is survived by his brother, Frank Venza, and two nieces.