A visitation for Fr. Edward Carroll will be held at St. Elizabeth Church on Tuesday, December 5 starting at 1:00 p.m.

The Funeral Mass will be offered at 2:00 p.m. Archbishop Jerome Listecki will be the principal celebrant and Fr. Thomas Suriano will be the homilist.

All are invited to attend this public diocesan event and offer up prayers on behalf of Fr. Ed.

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Dear Parishioners,

Ever since I was assigned to St. Elizabeth, I had the opportunity to get to know Fr. Ed Carroll.

He would frequently come to daily Mass on Wednesdays at St. Elizabeth and stay afterward to complete his Holy Hour. I not only had the chance to talk with him at family gatherings, but we also enjoyed going out for lunch at House of Gerhard to update one another on life events. He was always incredibly sharp-minded and very humble; additionally, he had an extremely joyful disposition. He seemed to age particularly well, for which I admired him, remembering that I needed to follow his example if I am blessed to reach anything close to his longevity.

I can recall how delighted he was when I arranged to have the Archbishop celebrate a 10:30 a.m. Mass to present him with a stole marking his 65th anniversary of ordination in 2015. It was after that moment when he entrusted me with his personal chalice to be used here at Mass and further stored for the occasion of his funeral.

Plans for Fr. Ed’s 100th birthday celebration, which would have been in the next few months, were already underway; however, I regret to inform you that Fr. Ed passed away on Tuesday. I am sure many of you in the parish have your own stories with him as he is a “priest son” of St. Elizabeth (St. George). Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Ed.

I invite you to attend his Funeral Mass this upcoming week on Tuesday, December 5 at 2:00 p.m at St. Elizabeth. Archbishop Jerome Listecki will be the celebrant as he does for all priests’ funerals in the diocese, which is a significant honor. It was Fr. Ed’s request that Fr. Tom Suriano will give the homily. Eternal rest grant onto Fr. Ed, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him!

~ Fr. Sean