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PHILLIPSBURG — Msgr. Terrance M. Lawler, a priest for 45 years who ministered in the diocese since its founding in 1981, died Feb. 6 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Warren.
From 2005 to 2021, Msgr. Lawler served as pastor of St. Mary Parish, Alpha. He then retired from active ministry and was a priest in residence at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Martinsville.
Bishop James F. Checchio, presided at a funeral Mass at St. Philip and St. James Church Feb. 12. A longtime friend of Msgr. Lawler, Father Brian J. Nolan, pastor of Blessed Sacrament, gave the homily.
In his homily, Father Nolan emphasized Msgr. Lawler’s connection to Philipsburg and St. Philip and St. James Parish.
“Monsignor was baptized in this church, he received his first holy Communion and confirmation here,” Father Nolan said.
“After his ordination he celebrated his first Mass in this parish, and now he will be laid to rest next to his parents in the parish cemetery,” he added.
Father Nolan mentioned Msgr. Lawler’s love for Ireland and that a pilgrimage to that country and celebrating Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Knock, County Mayo, with his mother, Jane, in attendance, was one of the highlights of his priestly ministry.
In a heartfelt message in his parish’s bulletin, Father Nolan said it was easy to invite Msgr. Lawler to live at Blessed Sacrament. “His warmth and good humor, his love for [University of] Notre Dame football and his embrace of our parishioners made him a rich and treasurer addition to our parish community,” he wrote.
Before the final blessing and commendation at the funeral Mass, Bishop Checchio offered his condolences to Msgr. Lawler’s family and thanked them for his many years of service to the people of the diocese.
The night before the funeral Mass, Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski presided at a Mass of Commemoration. Father Michael A. Angeloni, a classmate of Msgr. Lawler’s at the now-closed St. Mary College (Ky.), who serves in the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., gave the homily.
Very close to the community of the Sisters of Jesus our Hope in Bloomsbury, upon hearing of Msgr. Lawler’s death, one of the sisters commented, “We have lost a shepherd. We have lost a father.”
Msgr. Lawler was born the son of the late Frank E. and Jane (Connolly) Lawler. He graduated from St. Philip and St. James School and Phillipsburg Catholic High School.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at St. Mary College, he earned a Master of Divinity Degree at Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio.
He was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1974, by Bishop George W. Ahr at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
He served as a parochial vicar at St. Peter the Apostle Parish (now University and Community Parish) and chaplain at the now-closed St. Peter the Apostle High School, both in New Brunswick.
Prior to retiring Msgr. Lawler served as pastor, St. Joseph Parish, North Plainfield; Our Lady of Victories Parish, Sayreville; and Our Lady of the Mount Parish, Warren.
For the diocese, Msgr. Lawler served as the director of both the Office for Priest Personnel and the Office of Vocations.
He was appointed episcopal vicar of Middlesex County and he served as dean of the Raritan Bay Deanery. As episcopal vicar, Msgr. Lawler was a member the College of Consultors. In addition, he was a member of the diocesan Board for Seminary Education.
Msgr. Lawler served as chaplain to the Knights of Columbus Councils in Sayreville and Warren.
In 2002, Msgr. Lawler was installed as a Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was elevated to the rank of Knight Commander in the Order in 2013. The designation of Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor was bestowed upon him in 2004.
In a story in “The Catholic Spirit” when he reached a significant anniversary in his priesthood, Msgr. Lawler said: “I cannot believe that it has been 25 years. In one sense it seems like a long time ago, but in another sense it seems like only yesterday.” He said that all of the people he had met in his assignments throughout the years, “have made these years of service joyful and so personally beneficial.”
Msgr. Lawler is survived by his nephews, Terry O’Hare, and his wife, Lisa; and Brian O’Hare (Peggy); and brother-in-law Thomas O’Hare; great-nieces Emily, Jane, Christine (Matt), Julia (Andrew) and Maura; and great-nephews Daniel and Sean.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sister and best friend, Judith O’Hare.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Doyle-Devlin Funeral Home Inc., Phillipsburg.
Deacon Cline exercises his ministry at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater
