Reverend Gerald Browne

Reverend Gerald Browne

AGE: 84 • Carteret

On August 23, 2013 at 11:14 am the Lord called His faithful priest and servant, Fr. Gerald Browne, back to Himself. Father was born on May 22, 1929, the son of Harold J. and Marie (nee Hanley) Browne. His Mother died when he was only three and so he was raised by his Father and Grandmother. He had one sibling, James. He is survived by his brother's son Gerry and his wife, Jennifer, who reside in Malanda, Queensland, Australia. He is also survived by many friends and by the people of his former parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Carteret whom he served as Pastor and whom he loved very much and who loved him.

Fr. Browne served his country in the USAF from 1949-1952, and saw action during the Korean War. Following this tour of duty he earned a Degree in Marketing from Rutgers. He was very successful in the business world but always sensed that the Lord was calling him to another work, another task in life. He earned a BA in Philosophy from St. Paul's College in Washington, D.C. and for a period of time he had considered a vocation as a member of the Paulist Fathers and then as a possible candidate for the Permanent Diaconate. During this time he also worked as a rehabilitation Counselor for the Veterans Administration at the Veterans Hospital in Lyons, N.J., helping to lead many persons out of the bondage of addiction.

Through all this, the Lord was calling him to a greater service. He began seminary studies for the Priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1976 and was ordained for service to the Diocese of Trenton on May 23, 1981 (the day after his birthday - what a beautiful birthday gift from the Lord Jesus!). He offered his First Mass in St. Matthias Church in Somerset where he had been assigned as a seminarian for three years. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Fatima in Piscataway from 1981-1986. In November of that year, with the establishment of the Diocese of Metuchen by the late Blessed John Paul II he became a member of the Presbyterate of the new diocese. He also served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Philip and St. James in Phillipsburg from 1986 to 1987.

In December of 1987, following the death of their beloved Pastor, Father Andrew Okal, Fr. Browne was appointed temporary administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Carteret by the late Bishop Edward Hughes. Bishop Hughes named him Pastor of the parish in February of 1988, a position he held until his retirement in May of 2006. At that time he was given thetitle of Pastor Emeritus. He continued to minster to the people of Sacred Heart until illness forced him to give up his active priestly ministry.

Father completed his earthly pilgrimage of faith at the St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Woodbridge. There, as in all the parishes he served, he made a number of friends among the nurses and staff who will also miss him very much.

His greatest joys were to celebrate Holy Mass (as he would say) "not for the people but with the people" and to share the gift of God's Grace through the Holy Sacraments. He enjoyed being among his people and sharing in their joys and sorrows, frequently visiting the sick and the dying of his parish community. He fostered the religious education of the young and always made time for the elderly and the frail. Having learned from the example of his father and grandmother, he had a deep love for the poor and needy and extended care and support to them constantly.

The people of Divine Mercy Parish and in particular Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, and the community of Carteret are grateful for the gift of Fr. Browne's life and his service among them. Now they commend him to the Lord, asking Him to welcome Fr. Browne with these words: "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into Your Master's joy!" The Reception of Rev. Gerald Browne will be on Monday, August 26, 2013 at 2 PM at Divine Mercy Parish- Sacred Heart of Jesus R.C. Church in Carteret by Msgr. Robert Zamorski. Following the reception of the body the visitation will take place from 2:30 PM - 7:15 PM. A Mass of Commemoration will be offered at 7:30 PM by Msgr. William Benwell. On Tuesday, August 27, 2013 the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM. His Excellency The Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkowski will be the celebrant. Interment will take place in the Priest Section of Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway. Arrangements are under the care of Synowiecki Funeral Home.