Reverend Monsignor John P. Murphy

Reverend Monsignor John P. Murphy, 86, Pastor Emeritus of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Allentown, died Friday, December 22, 2023 in his residence in Lower Macungie Township, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Shenandoah, PA, he was the son of the late John H. and Estella (Darowish) Murphy. He attended Annunciation School and the old Shenandoah Catholic High School, before attending St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1955. Father Murphy was ordained to the priesthood on March 7, 1964. He was then assigned to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Allentown, where he served for 16 years. In October of 1980, he became pastor of St. Thomas More parish and on Palm Sunday, April 4, 1982, he was named Monsignor John P. Murphy and was officially invested as an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness. He served St. Thomas More for 42 years until his retirement in 2021. For 60 years, Monsignor John P. Murphy gave his life as a priest in service to the people entrusted to his pastoral care. He served as director of the CYO for the Diocese, he served on the Diocesan Council of Priests under every Bishop of the Diocese, since its founding in 1961, Dean of the College of Consultors, the Commission of Orders and Ministries, Diocesan Director for the Catholic Physicians Guild, the Committee for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life, he served as Diocese Director of Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States and Chaplain of Legatus' Lehigh Valley Chapter and he worked to rally people together by creating a campaign to help fund the Cay Galgon House in Bethlehem and many other boards and groups.
Survivors: Sister: Mary Louise Padolick of Lower Macungie Twp. and Nephews: Joseph Padolick of Lower Macungie Twp. and Kenneth Padolick of South Whitehall Twp.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church 1040 Flexer Ave. Allentown. His Excellency, The Most Rev. Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown, will serve as Celebrant. The Rev. Christopher S. Butera, will serve as homilist. Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church with a Vigil Service to follow at 7:00 P.M. with the Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Yenushosky presiding and the Rev. Joseph J. Kweder, serving as homilist. Additional calling hours will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. in the church.
Major celebrants will include Msgr. David L. James, Vicar General and Pastor of St. Peter parish, Coplay, the Very Rev. Eugene P. Ritz, Vicar for Clergy, Rev. Daniel J. Yenushosky, Vicar Forane of Lehigh Deanery and Pastor Holy Trinity parish, Whitehall, Rev. John S. Pendzick, Pastor of St. Thomas More parish, Allentown, Rev. Joseph Kweder, Pastor St. Rocco parish, Martins Creek, Rev. Stanley M. Moczydlowski, Pastor, St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, Whitehall and the Rev. Eric A. Arnout, Pastor Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, Slatington.
The interment will be on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. in the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Cemetery in Shenandoah. Parking is available in the church lot, the gymnasium lot and across the street in the Hope building and field lot.
The livestream link for the Mass of Christian Burial is: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/efd77bad/SYiI0eMLWkmJzPaAecoEww?u=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixn4FJlxIXU
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to: St. Thomas More School 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown, PA 18103 (Attention: Maggi Fink,Director of Advancement and Development), or to Mercy School for Special Learning 830 S. Woodward St. Allentown, PA 18103.