Joseph R. Sobiesiak

THE REVEREND MONSIGNOR JOSEPH R. SOBIESIAK

        Retired Priest of the Diocese of Allentown, died on 12 February 2026 at Beverly

Hills, Florida.

         Born in Allentown, Monsignor Sobiesiak was the son of the late Sigmund

Sobiesiak and the late Marion (Kustay) Sobiesiak. Preceding Monsignor Sobiesiak in

death, in addition to his parents, were his brothers, Peter Sobiesiak and Robert

Sobiesiak.

        Monsignor Sobiesiak is survived by his brothers Sigmund Sobiesiak Jr. of

Reading, John Sobiesiak (Christy) Sobiesiak of Alta Loma, California, and William

(Lucille) Sobiesiak of Bath, as well as many nieces and nephews.

        Monsignor Sobiesiak attended Cherryville Elementary School, and Our Lady of

Hungary Parochial School, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School

Parochial School, Northampton. He graduated from Northampton Area High School,

Northampton and entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia.

Completing his Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University in 1965 Monsignor

matriculated to Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, completing his Master of

Divinity degree in 1975, and later his Master of Arts in Theology in 1976.

        He was ordained to the Priesthood on 15 May 1976 by His Excellency, the Most

Reverend Joseph M. McShea, D.D., Bishop of Allentown, at the Cathedral of Saint

Catharine of Siena, Allentown.

        Monsignor Sobiesiak's first assignment was Parochial Vicar, Holy Infancy

Parish, Bethlehem. He also served as Parochial Vicar, Saint Peter the Apostle Parish,

Reading, and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton.

        Monsignor Sobiesiak's first assignment as Pastor was, Saint Casimir Parish,

Mahanoy City. He also served as Pastor, Saint Richard of Chichester Parish,

Barnesville, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Lehighton, Sacred Heart Parish, Allentown,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Allentown, Saint Nicholas Parish, Walnutport, and

Saint Paul Parish, Allentown.

        Monsignor Sobiesiak was appointed Senior Priest at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

Parish, Whitehall, on 11 June 2013 and retired 15 March 2016.

        On November 10 1993 Monsignor Sobiesiak was named a Prelate of Honor by

Pope John Paul II, with the title "Monsignor."

        During the course of his priestly ministry, Monsignor Sobiesiak also served as

a Professor at Marian Catholic High School, Tamaqua. He was also Director of the

Spanish Apostolate in Berks County and Lehigh County. Monsignor served as

Assistant Director of Vocations and the Permanent Diaconate Advisory Board.

Monsignor was also a member of the Social Action Bureau Advisory Board, the Budget

Board of Marian Catholic High School, the Advisory Committee for Priestly Life and

Ministry, the Catholic Housing Corporation Board, the Budget Board and Advisory

Board of Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, and the Diocesan Board

of Education. Monsignor also served as Regional Director of the Holy Name Societies

of North Schuylkill County, the Council of Catholic Nurses, North Schuylkill County,

and Youth Ministry for Carbon County.

MEMORIAL MASSES

        Memorial Masses will be held for Monsignor Sobiesiak Celebrated at Saint

Thomas the Apostle Parish, 7040 South Suncoast Boulevard, Homosassa, Florida on

Wednesday, 25 February 2026 at 6:00p.m., at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 1401

West Country Club Boulevard, Citrus Springs, Florida on Thursday 26 February 2026

at 10:00a.m., and at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 6 Roosevelt Boulevard, Beverly Hills,

Florida on Thursday, 26 February 2026 at 3:00p.m.

FUNERAL MASS

        A Mass of Christian Burial for Monsignor Sobiesiak will be celebrated at Saint

Elizabeth of Hungary Parish 618 Fullerton Avenue, Whitehall, Pennsylvania,

Pennsylvania on Thursday, 12 March 2026, at 11:00 A.M. by His Excellency, the Most

Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Allentown. Reverend Stephen L,

Maco, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Bangor, will serve as the

Homilist.

        In addition to Father Maco Principal Concelebrants include the Reverend

Monsignor Daniel J. Yenushosky, Vicar General, and Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish,

Whitehall; Very Reverend Eugene P. Ritz, Vicar Judicial and Vicar for Clergy; Reverend

Monsignor Donald W. Cieniewicz, Vicar Forane, Lehigh Deanery, and Pastor,

Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena Parish, Allentown; Reverend Joseph J. Kweder,

Pastor, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Allentown; Reverend Sylvester

Peterka, C.M., Pastor, Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, Philadelphia; and Reverend J.

Glenn Diaz, Pastor, Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Homosassa, Florida.

CALLING HOURS

        Calling hours will be held at the Church on Thursday, 12 March 2026 from

10:00A.M. to the time of the Funeral.

BURIAL

        Will take place at Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery,

Northampton, Pennsylvania, following the funeral.

May God grant him the joys of Eternal Life