Father Lodge, parish priest and youth minister, dies

Father Richard J. Lodge, 69, a priest of the Diocese of Camden for more than 40 years, died Oct. 5.
Known for both his piety and his sense of humor, his fund raising abilities and his friendly manner, Father Lodge served in parishes and youth ministry. His last full time assignment was pastor of Transfiguration Parish, West Collingswood, 1997-2011.
He retired from active ministry on May 1, 2012.
Father James King, parochial vicar at Infant Jesus Parish in Woodbury Heights, was a seminarian when he first met Father Lodge in 2005.
In-Residence at Transfiguration Parish until 2009, Father King came to know a priest who was “a kind man, and gentle priest with great priestly joy, and always a smile on his face,” who “always had an ear for the people.”
Father King recalled that, even in his recent illness, Father Lodge always took time to smile and say hello to anyone he encountered.
“He had a great devotion to the rosary, and to Our Lady, and prayed with the same beads” he received as a seminarian, Father King said.
He also remembered times fishing off the bay of Pleasantville with Father Lodge, who had a boat anchored to the docks.
Born in Atlantic City, Father Lodge graduated from Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic City, and his seminary studies included time at Jordan Seminary, Menominee, Mich.; Mount St. Paul Seminary, Waukesha, Wis.; and Christ the King Seminary, St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
On May 31, 1969, he was ordained at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden by Bishop George H. Guilfoyle, and his first assignment was as parochial vicar at Incarnation, Mantua, where he served from 1969-73.
Other parish assignments included parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace, Somerdale, 1973-78; St. Paul, Stone Harbor, 1978; St. Augustine, Ocean City, 1978-80; St. Francis of Assisi, Vineland, 1980-85; St. Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, 1985-89; and St. Joan of Arc, Camden, 1989-97.
His work with youth included positions as area CYO director for Gloucester County, area CYO director of Camden County, and Camden County North coordinator for youth ministry.
A viewing was to take place on Friday, Oct. 11 from 9:15-10:15 a.m., at St. Bernadette Church, St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, Northfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., at St. Bernadette.
Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Mays Landing.