Father Charles Conaty, 60, who served the Camden Diocese as a parish priest, high school president and campus minister, died on Feb. 9.
He attended Most Holy Redeemer Elementary School, Westville Grove, and Saint Joseph High School, Hammonton, before completing his seminary studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois, and obtaining a Master of Divinity Degree from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York.
Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Camden on May 28, 1988, by Bishop George H. Guilfoyle, his first assignment was as parochial vicar at Saint Mary, Williamstown, where he remained until 1991.
During his priesthood, he stayed active at his alma mater, Saint Joseph High School, where he served as teacher, school chaplain, campus minister and, from 2008-10, president.
Father Conaty was vice-principal at Wildwood Catholic High School in the late 1990s.
Father Conaty was pastor of Saint Matthew, National Park, from 2005-07. He was parochial vicar at Saint Edward, Pine Hill (1991-92); Saint Matthew (1998-2001); Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Berlin (2001-03); and Saint Martin de Porres, Hammonton (2007-08).
He retired in 2011.
“Charlie’s greatest gift was being a teacher,” said Msgr. Peter Joyce, pastor of Marmora’s Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish. The two priests developed a lifelong friendship while in the seminary together at Christ the King.
The man known for his “quick wit and dry humor” had “great care for students inside and outside the classroom, and was present to them in all aspects of their lives — academics, extracurriculars, home and personal matters,” Msgr. Joyce recalled.
“Charlie was a good friend,” he continued.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Parish (Saint Mary Church), Williamstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m., with Bishop Dennis Sullivan the main celebrant. A light luncheon will follow in Assumption Hall.
Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, Mays Landing.
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