Father Carl D. Johnson

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Father Carl D. Johnson, who had served as pastor since 2015 of the merged parish of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Port Ewen and Sacred Heart in Esopus, died Feb. 5 of complications from Covid-19 at HealthAlliance Kingston Hospital. He was 68.

A Funeral Mass for family members only will be livestreamed on Facebook Live from Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at noon on Saturday, Feb. 13. Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Colacicco will serve as celebrant and Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne will be the homilist.

Father Johnson was pastor of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2008-2014, and was administrator, 2014-2015.

Father Johnson was pastor of St. Augustine, New City, 2006-2008. He served Sacred Heart, Monroe, as pastor, 1994-2006; administrator, 1993-1994; and parochial vicar, 1991-1993. 

He was parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist, Mahopac, 1982-1991, and Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck, 1978-1982.

Father Johnson was a member of the archdiocesan Priests’ Senate under Cardinal John O’Connor and was appointed a clergy security liaison for St. Pope John Paul II during his 1979 visit to New York. 

“He was a good and faithful priest who did his work with tremendous joy and generosity,” Bishop Colacicco said. “He will be missed.”

Bishop Colacicco said he first met Father Johnson when he began his studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, just before Father Johnson’s ordination. 

In 1982, Bishop Colacicco was ordained and assigned to fill Father Johnson’s role as parochial vicar at Good Shepherd in Rhinebeck, where he served after his ordination.

Bishop Colacicco said, “He had done wonderful things at Good Shepherd and paved the way for me, especially with activities for young people at the parish.”

Born in Mount Vernon, Father Johnson was a graduate of Our Lady of Victory School there and Blessed Sacrament High School, New Rochelle. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Iona College, New Rochelle, before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, where he studied for the priesthood.

He was ordained by Cardinal Terence Cooke at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Nov. 4, 1978.

His brothers, Fred, Gerard and William; and his sisters, Mary Johnson Giovannucci and Helen Jonsen, survive him.

A private burial will follow the Funeral Mass.

Father Carl D. Johnson