Father Alfred J. Lampron is eager to continue serving God’s people in retirement.
Since retiring a few months ago, Father Lampron, 76, has enjoyed celebrating Masses in a few Morris County parishes when needed. The priest also loves spending more time with friends and family and exercising —taking long walks around Chester, his new hometown.
Father Lampron recently moved into an apartment at Nazareth Village, the diocesan facility for retired priests in Chester. It’s the priest’s new “home base” near his loved ones, his doctors, and the parishes — and people — he still serves.
“Nazareth Village is centrally located. It’s beautiful. The staff is helpful. The rooms are big. It’s wonderful to live with other priests,” said Father Lampron, who retired this summer after 49 years in active ministry as a diocesan priest.
Ten diocesan priests who have spent a lifetime serving others live at Nazareth Village thanks to the generosity of the faithful through the Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA). The appeal also helps fund Catholic Charities, seminarian education, priests’ healthcare needs, including retired priests, and inner-city Catholic elementary education.
Nazareth Village consists of 10 condominiums connected to form five large buildings. Each priest-resident has a sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette. In addition, common rooms include a recreation room, library, refectory, T.V. room, parlors, laundry, physical therapy room, and exercise room.
Father Lampron enjoys conversations with fellow retired priests on weekdays at noon around the table at a home-cooked meal.
“We talk about what’s happening in the Church and the world and our assignments,” said Father Lampron, who last served as pastor of St. Bernard Parish in the Mount Hope neighborhood of Rockaway Township.
The spiritual cornerstone and heart of Nazareth Village is Our Lady, Mother of Priests Chapel.
“Nazareth Village offers our retired priests the opportunity to live as they want. If they choose to be with their brother priests, they have the chance to be with others and talk over a meal or visit with each other in their residences,” said Father Brian Quinn, Nazareth Village’s director and pastor of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Randolph. “Our priests also can choose to spend time relaxing or in prayer or celebrating the Mass in our chapels.”
Father Quinn added, “Being located in Chester makes it easy for our priests to get to any part of the diocese they may still be serving.”
The priests are charged a portion of their monthly pension as rent. The facility is under the direction of the diocesan Office of Clergy Personnel.
DMA funding helps with increasing costs of operation, maintenance, and upgrades to the facility.
“The impact of the DMA on Nazareth Village is obvious to me because of the costs of repairs and maintenance we face. Knowing the funding is there when something goes wrong is good,” Father Quinn said. “I’m grateful to know that the DMA’s support helps cover those needs.”
The Diocesan Ministries Appeal supports seminarian education. Please consider participating in the DMA. To donate or pledge online, scan the QR code or visit dopappeal.org. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 215.
