Reverend John R. McFadden

Reverend John R. McFadden, a resident of Villa St. Joseph in Darby, went home to Heaven on January 2, 2026, at the age of 90. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on April 17, 1935 to the late Patrick J. and Anna (Kilgallen) McFadden. He was a graduate of Saint Thomas Moore High School and went on to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was ordained on May 19, 1962.
Fr. McFadden served our country from 1971-1976 in the United States Navy as a Chaplain, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was stationed in Key West, Florida. Fr. McFadden served as a Priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 63 years. He was the Pastor at Immaculate Heart Church in Chester, PA, Presentation BVM Church in Cheltenham, PA and served as a parish priest in various other parishes.
Father McFadden became very active in the Pro-Life movement, originally through a group called "The Helpers of God's Precious Infants". His passion was fighting for the unborn. He participated in the March for Life every January, prayed the rosary in front of abortion clinics, and was even arrested for peacefully kneeling in prayer for the unborn. He saved many babies' lives and consoled many mothers.
He was very devoted to the Blessed Mother. He visited Medjugorje, Croatia, for the first time in 1983, to experience a group of local children receiving daily visions from our Blessed Mother. He was the first Catholic Priest to visit the site and made many return trips bringing friends and family. The visionaries asked him to spread the word about the visions to America. When he returned home, the requests from parishes and groups came flooding in for him to speak about his experiences. Today, a large church stands on the grounds near the visions and continues to welcome thousands of visitors from around the world.
Another of his devotions included the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, a movement encouraging a deeper, personal relationship with Jesus by awakening the Holy Spirit's gifts. He was considered a "regular" at the annual Charismatic Conventions in Wildwood, New Jersey every winter.
Fr. McFadden loved the outdoors, especially the Pocono Mountains. He loved spending time with family, countless friends from his parishes and prayer groups, and fellow priest friends. He especially loved these moments with his great nieces and nephews, who viewed him as more like a "grandfather." He loved spending time with all of them, whether it was sledding, boating, skiing, or just playing basketball in the driveway. He labeled his various mountain homes as "retreats" for family and friends to spend some "down time", or as a much-needed spiritual retreat. He had a great sense of humor, a love for John Wayne movies, and a large heart that had room for everyone, including his faithful German Shepherds.
Fr. McFadden is survived by his sister Margaret "Peggy" Graham, nieces and nephews Richard Gillespie, Eileen Gillespie, Steve Graham (Patti), Michael Fanelli (Robin), David Graham (Janine), Lauren McFadden, Christine Retkovis (John), John McFadden (Kelly), and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph McFadden, Sister, Patricia Gillespie, nieces Patricia Gillespie and Kathleen Fanelli, and a nephew Tom McFadden.
The Reception of the Body will be held at Presentation BVM Church, 100 Old Soldiers Rd., Cheltenham, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 9:00 am followed by a viewing. Words of Remembrance will be given by family at 10:45 a.m. Bishop Keith Chylinski will be the main celebrant along with other priests at the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, PA. For close friends and family planning to attend the burial and reception, please respond through the link below. RSVP for Burial and Reception.
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In lieu of flowers, donations in Fr. McFadden's memory can be sent to Pro Life Across America https://prolifeacrossamerica.org/donate/.