COUNCIL #10921 - ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER REMEMBERS |
Reverend Monsignor Joseph P. Dooley, 91, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Rocco's Roman Catholic Church, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania, died on Tuesday, 26 December 2017, at Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem, at the age of 91. Born in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, Monsignor Dooley was the son of the late Daniel and Barbara (Boyle) Dooley. He is preceded in death by his brother, Reverend Daniel M. Dooley. Monsignor Dooley attended Holy Spirit Elementary School, Sharon Hill, Sharon Hill Public School, and Saint James Catholic High School, Chester. He later attended Saint Philip Neri School for Delayed Vocations, Massachusetts, followed by Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Prior to his Priesthood, Monsignor Dooley was a proud member of the United States Army, serving as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II from 1944 to 1946. He later served a second enlistment in the United States Navy and entered the seminary on the day of his discharge. He was ordained to the Priesthood on 10 May 1956 by The Most Reverend John F. O'Hara, C.S.C., Archbishop of Philadelphia, at Immaculate Conception Church, Germantown. Monsignor Dooley's first priestly assignment was Parochial Vicar at the former Saint Canicus Church, Mahanoy City, followed by Parochial Vicar, Saints Simon and Jude Church, Bethlehem, and Parochial Vicar, Saint John the Baptist de la Salle Church, Shillington. Monsignor Dooley's first Pastoral Assignment was at the former Saint Patrick Church, McAdoo. He was then named Pastor, Immaculate Conception Church, Jim Thorpe, where he established and built St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church at Lake Harmony, PA. He was then Pastor, Saint Catharine of Siena Church, Mount Penn, and later to Pastor, Saint Rocco Church, Martin's Creek, PA. Monsignor Dooley retired on 17 June 2003 and was named Pastor Emeritus, Saint Rocco's Catholic Church, Martins Creek, with residence at Saint Joseph the Worker Rectory, Orefield. Monsignor Dooley was named Prelate of Honor by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, on 14 March 1977. During the course of his Priestly Ministry, Monsignor Dooley served as Chaplain, Newman Club, Moravian College, Bethlehem; Regional Vocation Director, Berks County; Regional Director, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Carbon County; Diocesan Director, Saint Vincent de Paul Society; Member, Diocesan Board of Education; Regional Director, Advisory Board, Social Action Bureau, Carbon County; Regional Director, Family Life Bureau, Carbon County; Regional Director, Holy Name Societies, Carbon County; Regional Director, Vocations Apostolate, Carbon County; Member, Pius X High School Budget Board; Advisory Board Member, Pius X High School, and President, Advisory Board, Pius X High School. He was very proud to hold a commercial Pilot's license and was a member of the National Association of Priest Pilots. Survivors: Surviving Monsignor Dooley are: Katie M. Edwards, his Pastoral Assistant and Caregiver, Niece, Cheryl Dooley Brady, wife of Bernie Brady, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by brothers, Rev. Daniel M. Dooley, Dr. Michael Dooley, Daniel "Bubber" Dooley and sisters, Barbara Hosey and Nancy A McLaverty. Services: A Mass of Christian Burial for Monsignor Dooley will be celebrated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Bethlehem, on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at 11:00 AM by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Allentown. The Homilist will be Reverend Bernard J. Ezaki, Parochial Vicar, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Church, Easton. Main Concelebrants will be His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Allentown; Reverend Monsignor David L. James, Vicar General; Reverend Monsignor Gerald E. Gobitas, Secretary for Clergy, Chancellor, and Rector, Holy Family Villa; Reverend Monsignor Edward R. Sacks, Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Bethlehem; Reverend Joseph J. Kweder, Administrator, Saint Rocco Church, Martins Creek; Reverend Anthony M. Drouncheck, Chaplain, Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem; Reverend E. Michael Camilli, M.S.C., Senior Priest, Holy Guardian Angels Church, Reading, and Spiritual Director, Holy Family Villa, Bethlehem, and the Reverend Bernard J. Ezaki. Calling hours will be held in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18017, on Tuesday, 2 January 2018 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Wednesday, 3 January 2018 before Mass from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. A Vigil Service for Monsignor Dooley will be held on Tuesday, 2 January 2018, at 7:30 PM. The Homilist will be The Reverend Monsignor Edward R. Sacks, Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Bethlehem. The Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Yenushosky, Dean of Lehigh Deanery, and Pastor, Holy Trinity Church, Whitehall, will Preside. Interment will take place in Holy Savior Cemetery, Bethlehem. Contributions: Memorial Contributions can be offered to St. Rocco's Catholic Church, 6658 School St., Martins Creek, PA 18063, Bethlehem Catholic High School, 2133 Madison Ave, Bethlehem, PA 18017, or Holy Family Manor, 1200 Spring St, Bethlehem, PA 18018. The James J. Palmeri Funeral Home, Martins Creek, PA and the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Schnecksville, PA have the honor of arranging Monsignor Dooley's services. Online condolences can be offered at |