Priest who served many roles for dioceses of Trenton, Metuchen laid to rest

NORTH PLAINFIELD — The life of Msgr. Michael J. Corona, a longtime priest, educator and proponent of stewardship who “always had the view of resurrection in mind,” was celebrated at a funeral Mass Feb. 10 at St. Luke Church.
 

Msgr. Corona, who was appointed administrator of St. Luke Parish in 2017, died Feb. 5 at the age of 80.

Bishop James F. Checchio presided at the liturgy. Father Edmund A. Luciano III, who served as parochial vicar at St. Ann Parish, Raritan Borough, during Msgr. Corona’s pastorate there, gave the homily.
 

The evening before, Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski presided at a Mass of Commemoration at St Luke’s. Father Peter G. Suhaka, chaplain at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, gave the homily.
 

Father Suhaka said that Msgr. Corona “loved being a priest, loved being in persona Christi, in the person of Christ, as he celebrated Mass.”
 

He “felt the call of Christ to the priesthood at 6, 7 or 8 years of age.”
 

“His first Mass was not really in May 1968 just after his ordination, but years earlier in his family’s living room in Raritan, where he would ‘celebrate’ Mass for some of his young friends.”
 

Father Suhaka described Msgr. Corona’s life as “filled with drive and energy and a desire to do good things for his people in his priesthood.” He said that although in his later years Msgr. Corona slowed down, he kept helping people. “A good priest does not stop,” Father Suhaka said.
 

Before the final blessing, Bishop Bootkoski said that “all Msgr. Corona wanted to be a good priest and he was, a good priest with a good heart. May he rest in peace.”
 

In his homily, Father Luciano, parochial vicar, Parish of the Visitation, New Brunswick, said, Msgr. Corona wanted the liturgy to glorify God and people to know Jesus.
 

Noting Msgr. Corona’s gifts from his family were often converted into endowments, Father Luciano described the significance of the chalice used at the funeral Mass. “It is from his 15th anniversary and goes to the heart of the two things most important in his life: worshipping the Lord and having his family around him,” he explained. “The chalice has 12 stones. In the Book of Revelations, we are told there are 12 gemstones, foundations for the New Jerusalem.
 

“The enamel of the saints is specific to the names in his family. It is a sign of what was the most important thing in his life: to offer the Eucharist in a fitting way for, and with, his family and friends.”
 

Father Luciano concluded, that every one of Msgr. Corona’s homilies and letters in the church bulletin closed with ‘May God always be pleased with us.’”

He explained the significance of the coat of arms that adorned the cover of the funeral booklet.
 

“It reads ‘Finis Coronat Opus’: the End Crowns the Work,’” said Father Luciano. “What crowns his life is a man who carried the cross as it was given to him and strove to be like the saints who surrounded him. His mission was learned from the Religious Filippini [Sisters] who taught him: Go and Teach.”
 

To the faithful at St. Luke’s, he said, “You gave him life, helped him continue to be a priest, crowned his work. Now, Michael, the gift of paradise crowns your work. May God always be pleased with you.”
 

Msgr. Corona was born and raised in Raritan Borough, where his family were members of St. Ann Parish and where he attended schools.
 

He graduated from the now-closed St. Peter the Apostle High School, New Brunswick, where his vocation was sparked by Msgr. Carl Wagner, vocations director.
 

Msgr. Corona attended the minor seminary at St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md., and then earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Saint Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, where he also studied theology.
 

In 1975, he earned a master’s degree in education at Seton Hall University, South Orange. In 1996, he was awarded a doctorate in education at Williamstown University, Delaware.
 

Msgr. Corona was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop George W. Ahr for the Diocese of Trenton May 25, 1968, at St. Mary Cathedral, Trenton. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Peter the Apostle [now St. Peter the Apostle University and Community] Parish, New Brunswick, then parochial vicar at St. James Parish, Red Bank.
 

In 1974, he was assigned to Holy Cross High School, Delran, where he served as vice principal and then principal.
 

In 1979, Father Corona was installed as the 11th pastor of St. Philip and St. James Parish, Phillipsburg, a position he held for almost 30 years. When the parish became part of the newly established Diocese of Metuchen in 1981, he served on the Presbyterial Council and the College of Consultors and was moderator of the Scouting Apostolate. He also started a Serra Club for vocations in Warren County.
 

In 1983, Msgr. Corona was named director, diocesan Communications, and two years later, vice-chancellor of Communications, a position he held until 1992 when he was appointed director of Development (later Stewardship). In 1997, Msgr. Corona joined the executive board of the National Catholic Stewardship Council, which evolved into the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC). He chaired the organization’s Millennium Conference in Washington, D.C., and served as president.
 

In 2003, Msgr. Corona was appointed executive director, diocesan Department of Education. Six years later, he returned to St. Ann.
 

In 1991, then-Pope, now St. John Paul II named Msgr. Corona a prelate of honor. At the behest of Bishop Bootkoski, Pope Benedict XVI named Msgr. Corona a Protonotary Apostolic Suprenumerary, the highest level of the Prelates of Honor — the second priest in the diocese to receive such recognition. He was also a Commander for the Holy Sepulcher.

Msgr. Corona is survived by a brother, Bernard, and sister-in-law Maria, many nieces, nephews, and godchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Bernard and Theresa (Tarangelo) Corona, and his brothers, Daniel and Carmine; twin brother, James, and sister, Roseann “Sissy” Corona.
 

Entombment was at St. Bernard Cemetery, Bridgewater. Arrangements were handled by Bongiovi Funeral Home, Raritan Borough.