Obituaries
Funeral Service Set for Bishop Hughes, Second Head of the Metuchen Diocese
Bishop Edward Thomas Hughes, who led the Metuchen Diocese for a decade, passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 92.
The wake for Bishop Edward Thomas Hughes, who passed away on Chritmas Day and who served as Bishop for the Diocese of Metuchen for 10 years, has been set for Thursday, January 3. The wake and mass, which will be presided over by current Bishop Paul Gregory Bootkoski, will take place at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Metuchen with a public visitation at 2 pm.
A Mass of Commemoration will also take place on Thursday at 7:30 pm. with the funeral to held on Friday.
Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, who was the founding bishop of the Metuchen Diocese in 1981, will officiate at the funeral service for Bishop Hughes on Friday, January 4, at 11 am at the Metuchen cathedral.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Interment will follow at St. Francis Cathedral Cemetery.
Bishop Hughes, who was 92 at the time of his death, was born in Lansdowne, Pa. After his ordination to the priesthood, then-Father Hughes' first assignment was teaching religion and history at St. James High School in Chester while helping out at a nearby parish in Aston.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In 1950, Father Hughes began advanced studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Masters Degree in American History.
A transfer in 1954 took Father Hughes to Immaculate Conception parish in Jenkintown, Pa, as an assistant pastor.
In 1976, Pope Paul VI appointed him auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia and he was ordained Bishop in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on July 21 by John Cardinal Krol.
On December 16, 1986, Pope John Paul II named Hughes as Bishop to the nearly half-million Roman Catholics in the Diocese of Metuchen. During his tenure, Bishop Hughes presided over ten years of growth in the Diocese before his retirement in 1997.
Bishop Hughes has also served on various administrative and advisory committees to the United States Catholic Conference, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the President of the United States and the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Catholic Conferences. He also received the diocesan Pro-Vita Award for his pro-life efforts and activities.
Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
