Father Thomas J. Petrillo

Rev. Thomas J. Petrillo entered into eternal life to be with his Lord and loved ones who preceded him. He was blessed to be born on July 8, 1934 to the late John and Jeanette (Salvo) Petrillo. Father Tom was a beloved Catholic priest and Pastor of the Newark Archdiocese who died peacefully on January 8, 2024 after having served faithfully the People of God in both the Newark Archdiocese and the Diocese of Trenton for over 64 years. Father Tom grew up in the faith with his brothers Frank and Jack and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by the Most Rev. Thomas A. Boland, STD on May 23, 1959. Over his many years of service, Fr. Tom served at the following churches in various capacities: Epiphany in Cliffside Park, St. Anthony of Padua in Union City, Sacred Heart in Vailsburg, Catholic Community Services – Mount Carmel, St Francis Xavier in Newark, Holy Rosary Academy in Union City, St. Joseph in East Orange, Jersey City State College as Chaplain, St. Mary-Star of the Sea in Bayonne, St. James in Newark and O.L. Mt. Carmel in Montclair. Father Tom worked for 16 years with Catholic Community Services, reaching out to those needing addictive rehabilitation services. These were rewarding years where he learned so much that informed his compassion and care for his parishioners. He was the first priest in New Jersey to be assigned as Vocation Director for the National Council of Alcoholism. Upon retiring from Newark in 2004, Fr. Tom made his way to the Jersey Shore in Toms River and stayed active by helping the pastors of the parishes of St. Monica in Jackson, St. Luke's in Toms River and St. Joseph/St Gertrude in Toms River and Island Heights. He found great joy as he served as Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus at St. Monica's and as the Moderator of a "Coffee Clutch" at the local senior center in Toms River. His excellent homilies, great sense of humor and gentle presence brought so many people closer to Christ. In his later years, his annual Christmas letters were filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the life and work God had called him to live. He will be missed by so many who loved and will always remember him. Father Tom is survived by his brother, Frank Petrillo; nephew John Petrillo and his wife, Carla; niece Cynthia Leveille and her children Russ, Felicia and Sean and niece Joyce Rutherford and her husband Jeff. Donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association at www.act.alz.org To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Father Thomas, please visit our floral store.