Father Henry L. Hemmerling: Building a church, and avocation, was a ‘labor of love’

Father Henry L. Hemmerling, former pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield; St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington, and Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Old Bridge, died on June 23. He was 88, having retired from active ministry in 2001.

Father Hemmerling, the son of Henry Sr. and Ann Hemmerling, was born into a devout Catholic family. He was ordained in May 1966, attending seminary to become a diocesan priest after serving four years with the Trappists as a novitiate. “I was very attracted to the Trappists” because of their piety and austerity, he said on the occasion of his 55th anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood, but added, “My vocation always was the diocesan priesthood.”

A graduate of Seton Hall University, Father Hemmerling earned a Master of Divinity degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah following his years with the Trappists. He was ordained a priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trenton, and was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Metuchen, where he was inspired by then pastor Monsignor John Foley. In order to best fulfill his role there as director of religious education, Father Hemmerling earned a Master’s Degree in Education at Fordham University and a Master’s Degree in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Before being named to his first role as pastor, at Church of the Sacred Heart, he was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville; St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown, and St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton. He was named pastor of the rapidly growing St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish in Flemington in 1982, where his predecessor told him upon his arrival that a new church would need to be built to accommodate many new families.

Reflecting on that period in his priesthood, he once described that challenge as “one of the more exciting parts of my priesthood, being a part of building that church ... it was a lot of work, but it was a labor of love.” The church was completed in 1989, and Father Hemmerling then moved on to lead Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Matawan Although Father Hemmerling retired in 2001 to Florida, he returned to New Jersey 15 years later to be closer to family, residing at the Maria Regina Residence in Somerset.

Father Hemmerling’s body was received by Father Chester H. Carina at Most Holy Redeemer Church, and a Mass of Commemoration was offered by Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky, vicar general, with Monsignor Francis J. Duffy of the Diocese of Paterson as homilist. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated the next morning by Bishop JamesF. Checchio, with interment following at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa.