Monsignor Paul J. Hayes of Totowa, NJ, formerly of Brick, NJ, passed away on January 23, 2012 at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly, Totowa, NJ at the age of 89.
Msgr. Hayes was born in West Orange, NJ to the late James and Teresa (Nee Meyers) Hayes and was pre-deceased by his brother Rev. Edward J. Hayes.
He received his A. B. degree from Seton Hall University in 1944 and attended Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, NJ. Msgr. Hayes was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark on May 22, 1948.
Msgr. Hayes and his brother, Rev. Edward Hayes, produced three instructional motion pictures that were distributed nationally. The priest brothers, together with James Drummey, co-authored a series of books on the Catholic Faith.
Msgr. Hayes’ parish work began in the inner city, at his own request. He was the assistant pastor at Queen of Angels Church in Newark, NJ, for 3 years; he was transferred to St. John’s Church in Jersey City in 1951. Msgr. Hayes was then assigned as the assistant executive secretary to the National Office of Motion Pictures of the US Bishops’ Conference. In 1957 he was appointed assistant director of the Communications Office in the Archdiocese of Newark as well as serving as chaplain of East Orange Catholic High School, where he taught religion.
In 1965 Msgr. Hayes was appointed director of the Christian Communications Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark and in September 1969 was elevated by Pope Paul VI to Papal Chamberlain. In November of 1969 he became pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Jersey City where he stayed for 5 years before becoming the pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church in New Providence, NJ, where he served as pastor for 20 years, retiring in 1995. In retirement he continued to serve as weekend assistant at St. William the Abbot Church in Howell, NJ.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Our Lady of Peace Church, New Providence, NJ, or St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly, 140 Shepherd Lane, Totowa, NJ, 07512.
Thursday, January 24, 2012
Visitation
12:00 – 2:00 PM at The Little Sisters of the Poor, Totowa, NJ
4:00 – 7:00 PM at Our Lady of Peace, New Providence, NJ
Vigil Mass
7:30 PM at Our Lady of Peace
Friday, January 25, 2012
Visitation
9:00 -10:15 AM at Our Lady of Peace
Funeral Mass
10:30 AM at Our Lady of Peace
Interment
Immediately following Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ