Reverend Monsignor James J. Foley

Reverend Monsignor James J. Foley, formerly of West Chester Reverend Monsignor James J. Foley, Pastor Emeritus, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, West Chester, and Senior Priest, Saint Eleanor Parish, Collegeville, died at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Darby, on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. Monsignor Foley was born on October 23, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the dearest son of the late James Foley and the late Catherine Fox Foley. Monsignor Foley attended Holy Cross Parochial School, Philadelphia, La Salle College High School, La Salle College, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary and the Pontifical North American College, Rome. Monsignor Foley was ordained on December 17, 1966, at the Basilica of Saint Peter, Rome, by Most Reverend Francis F. Reh, and named Honorary Prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II on March 16, 2005. Monsignor Foley served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Pius X Parish, Broomall; Holy Angels Parish, Philadelphia; and Saints Peter and Paul Parish, West Chester. Monsignor Foley was assigned as a Student Priest to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and the Pontifical North American College, Rome. He also served on the Faculty at Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield, and at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook. In June 1993, Monsignor Foley was appointed Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, West Chester. In 2001 he founded and built a state of the art Catholic School and Religious Education Center that served the educational needs of the parish children from Pre-K to Eighth Grade and CCD. From 1990 to 1999 he was also the Archdiocesan Chester County coordinator for Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs. He was named Pastor Emeritus of Ss. Peter & Paul Parish in 2009. Monsignor Foley was the beloved brother of Mary T. O'Toole of Lafayette Hill, Margaretta J. "Peg" Boell and her husband Bill of Maple Glen, and the late Helen F. Hartman. He was the loving uncle to many nieces and nephews. The Transferal and Reception of Monsignor Foley will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 27, 2011, at Saints Peter and Paul Church, 1325 Boot Road, West Chester, followed by Vigil Service and a viewing. A parish Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the church. Another viewing will be held at Ss. Peter & Paul Church from 9 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, followed by a concelebrated Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. In the absence of His Eminence, Cardinal Justin Rigali, the Most Reverend John J. McIntyre will be the principal celebrant. Interment will be at Saint John Neumann Cemetery, Chalfont. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Ss. Peter & Paul School, 1325 Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380. Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home Inc., West Chester, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com.