I received the devestating news of the passing of Monsignor Leonard Toomey on Wednesday evening, September 10th. Judy and I were as shocked as was Brian M., who delivered the bad news. We had all been praying that his recent illness was only temporary.
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THIS IS THE MAN WHO CONVERTED ME TO THE FAITH WAY BACK IN 1960. THE PHOTO ABOVE WAS TAKEN AT GIOVI'S RESTAURANT IN YARDVILLE WHEN MONSIGNOR JOINED FATHER MICK LAMBETH AND THREE SACRED HEART SEMINARIANS AS THEY HONORED JUDY AND ME BY ATTENDING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN APRIL, 2004. FATHER TOOMEY WAS LIKE A BROTHER TO THE LATE FATHER JAMES "JIMMY" RUSSELL.
JIMMY WAS JUDY'S FIRST COUSIN. SHE RECALLS THE TIME WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL IN THE 1940's, THEN-SEMINARIANS TOOMEY AND HER COUSIN JIMMY RUSSELL SENT HER A CARD WITH A FEATHER ON IT, AND TOLD HER THE FEATHER WAS A RELIC FROM THE WINGS OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL. JUDY PROUDLY TOOK THE "RELIC" TO ST. ANTHONY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL TO SHOW THE SISTERS. THE SISTERS DID NOTHING TO DISCOURAGE JUDY'S TREASURE. MONSIGNOR BAPTISED ALL OF MY CHILDREN, AND HAS BEEN A VERY DEAR FRIEND FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. WHEN I WAS BEING INSTRUCTED INTO THE FAITH BY FATHER TOOMEY, I REMEMBER HOW HE TOLD ME AFTER I HAD CONVERTED THAT IN ALL HIS YEARS OF GIVING INSTRUCTIONS, I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO PROLONGED THE PROCESS WITH ALL OF MY QUESTIONS ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE FAITH. I WAS DEEPLY HUMBLED WHEN MONSIGNOR TOLD ME HE NEVER MISSED MY TRENTON TIMES "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" COLUMNS.
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THE FOLLOWING WAS A COMMENT FROM ANONYMOUS IN MY GUESTBOOK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE VISIT AND COMMENT. ANONYMOUS WROTE:
FYI: Msgr. Toomey passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 86. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful priest who will be missed dearly. Rest In Peace, and may the angels come to greet you and take you to paradise.
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