Rev. Arthur J. Murphy

The Reverend Arthur J. Murphy, Roman Catholic Priest in the Archdiocese of Hartford and Pastor Emeritus of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford, died in the early morning on Friday Dec. 20, 2013 at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, with his brother Steve at his side. He was the son of the late James J. and Lucy Jackman Murphy of West Hartford. The founding pastor of St. Thomas, the Rev. John F. Callahan baptized him into the Christian Life on Dec. 16, 1929. Father Murphy was a member of the 1st graduating class of St. Thomas the Apostle School, St. Thomas Seminary "49" in Bloomfield and St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, NY, "55". He was ordained on May 19, 1955 in the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, by the late Archbishop Henry J. O'Brien. He was an avid golfer and member at Wethersfield Country Club for many years, a dedicated Alpine skier, an instructor in Religion and Marriage at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, 1958-1961, and at South Catholic High School in Hartford from 1965 - 1991. He was a member of the Capitol Region Conference of Churches for 25 years. He was a former Chaplain for the Catholic Daughters in the Americas, currently served as Chaplain of Council 3600, Knights of Columbus at STA, and celebrated 50 years as a priest in 2005. After a temporary assignment at St. Thomas, Goshen, in 1955, he served in the following parishes; 55-57 St. Mary, Lakeville, 57-64 St. Patrick, Waterbury, 64-75 Sacred Heart, Wethersfield, 74-91 St. Mark the Evangelist, West Hartford, and 91-until his retirement on August 26, 2011 at St. Thomas the Apostle in West Hartford. He continued in his retirement to help at St. Thomas the Apostle until recently. He is survived by his 2 sisters and 2 brothers; Sr. Mary Ellen Murphy RSM at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, Vincent C. and Nancy Murphy of Sherman, Sheila Rose and Walter Gilbert of No. Falmouth, MA, and Stephen D. and Donna Murphy of West Hartford. His many nieces and nephews also survive him. He was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law Anne Marie and John Melly formerly of Niantic and Vero Beach, FL. Funeral services will begin Sunday Dec. 22, with Calling Hours from 1-4 p.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave. West Hartford. His Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday Dec. 23 at 11:00 a.m., in St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Archbishop Leonard P. Blair will be the principal celebrant. Burial will be in his family plot at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle School, Fr. Arthur J. Murphy Scholarship Fund, 25 Dover Rd. West Hartford, CT 06119. Online remembrances may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com