Father Vincent G. Carpinelli, 72, a priest of the Diocese of Camden for almost 45 years, died Feb. 12.
He served as pastor at Saint Mary, Rosenhayn (1997-2003), and Our Lady of Lourdes, Glassboro (2003-10). From 2010 until his retirement the next year, he was Senior Priest at Saints Peter and Paul in Turnersville.
Born in Philadelphia on Jan. 22, 1944, Father Carpinelli attended Saint Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and was ordained on May 22, 1971 by Bishop George H. Guilfoyle.
His first assignment was as parochial vicar at Mary, Mother of the Church in Bellmawr, where he served 1971-74.
He was parochial vicar at Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Newfield, 1974-78; Saint Bernadette, Northfield, 1978-85; Saint Ann. Wildwood, 1985-89; Saint Francis of Assisi, Vineland, 1989-90; and Saint Bridget, Glassboro, 1993-97.
Father Carpinelli was chaplain of Cooper University Hospital, Camden; priest moderator for Project Rachel; secretary of the Padre Pio Shrine in Buena Borough; and as a member of the Marian Commission, the Liturgical Commission and the Presbyteral Council.
Father James Bartoloma, chancellor of the Diocese of Camden, was parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes, Glassboro from 2005-08, when Father Carpinelli was pastor there, and recalled the priest as “faithful, humble” and “the quintessential ‘gentleman priest,’’’ using the description developed by Cardinal John Henry Newman.
“A gentleman,” Father Bartoloma shared in his eulogy of Father Carpinelli at his funeral Mass, quoting Cardinal Newman, “is one who never inflicts pain…is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and merciful towards the absurd…he observes the maxim of the ancient sage, that we should ever conduct ourselves towards our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend.”
Remarking that Father Carpinelli died on the Friday after Ash Wednesday, Father Bartoloma implored all the family and friends gathered to “see how Father Vince in his goodness has faithfully played his own role in the saving plan of God.”
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Saint Rose of Lima Church, Haddon Heights, on Feb. 17. Interment took place at New Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.