Father Alfred J. Hewett, a priest of the Diocese of Camden for more than 60 years, died April 18 at the age of 95.
He was ordained by the first bishop of Camden, Bartholomew J. Eustace, on May 26, 1956, in Camden, after completing seminary studies at Christ the King Seminary in Buffalo, New York.
Father Hewett graduated from Collingswood High School, after which he served in both the U.S. Navy Air Corps and the U.S. Army Air Corps. Following an honorable discharge, he attended Saint Joseph’s University (Class of 1951).
The first assignment for the Collingswood native was in Merchantville, as parochial vicar at Saint Peter Parish from 1956-63. Other assignments as parochial vicar followed, first at Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Camden, 1963-65, and Saint Ann, Wildwood, 1965-66, before he was sent to evangelize as part of the Brazilian Missions, beginning in 1966.
Returning to the United States eight years later, in 1974, he served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Camden.
Outside of the parish walls in South Jersey, his ministry brought him to Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, first as a chaplain and later as a faculty member at the School of Nursing; as associate director of the diocese’s Spanish Catholic Center; and as chaplain of Southern State Correctional Facility in Leesburg.
Father Hewett maintained a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and Blessed Mother throughout his life. He served as the spiritual director of the Camden County Legion of Mary and was a frequent visitor to Madonna House in Canada.
He often said he wanted his tombstone to note, “He was available.” He traveled whenever and wherever needed to hear a confession or respond to a sick call. In his words, “Have stole, will travel.” When once asked what his dream was for the future, he simply said, “Heaven.”
“Every fiber of his being was as a priest of Jesus Christ,” said Father Peter Idler, who spent four and a half years serving at Saint Rose of Lima in Haddon Heights, where Father Hewett resided after retiring in 1994.
“Father Al was a priest to the last, a model of the priesthood — a man of prayer, constantly before the Eucharistic Lord, always willing to hear confessions,” said Father Idler, currently pastor of the Parish of All Saints in Millville.
In the last years of his life, Father Hewett developed a friendship with Rev. Mr. John March, who is scheduled to be ordained in June. Father Hewitt was set to vest Rev. Mr. March at his ordination, and preach at the newly-ordained priest’s first Mass.
“Whether we would go to a movie theater in Philadelphia or walk on the beach at Cape May, people would recognize him, and it would give them great joy,” said Rev. Mr. March.
“He told me, ‘I want people to know that there’s some measure of joy and happiness, that is possible in this life.’”
Due to current restrictions, interment at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill will be held privately for his family. A memorial Mass will be held when the current restrictions are lifted. Donations may be made to Madonna House or Catholic Relief Services.
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