|
|
|
OBITUARY
Fr. Thomas Murphy |
|
|
The Reverend Thomas F. Murphy, who served as a priest in
the Diocese of Rockville Centre for 35 years, died after
a long illness on January 27, 2006 at Winthrop
University Hospital in Mineola. He was 63 years old.
The only child of the late Norman F. and Valeda Levesque
Murphy, Thomas Francis Murphy grew up in Hewlett. He
attended St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School in Far
Rockaway and Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn. He
studied for the priesthood at Cathedral College in
Brooklyn and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception
in Huntington.
He was ordained a priest by Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg
on May 30, 1970.
Father Murphy worked at Camp Immaculate in Mattituck
during his first summer as a priest, before heading to
his first assignment as an associate pastor at Corpus
Christi Parish in Mineola. In 1979, Father Murphy was
transferred to St. Dominic Church in Oyster Bay. While
working as an associate pastor there, Father Murphy also
served on the faculty of St. Dominic’s School. Eight
years later he was reassigned to Our Lady of Perpetual
Help Parish in Lindenhurst where he served as an
associate pastor. In 1992, Father Murphy was transferred
to Our Lady of Grace Church in West Babylon, and served
as an associate pastor. He became a chaplain at Winthrop
University Hospital in 1996, and returned to parish work
in 2002 as an associate pastor at St. Mark’s Parish in
Shoreham. Father Murphy moved to St. Pius X Residence in
Uniondale in 2003 because of illness.
Father Murphy was a Rotarian for over two decades in the
communities of Garden City, Oyster Bay and Babylon. He
also liked to travel, and led pilgrimages to Europe,
Puerto Rico, California and the Holy Land.
A wake for Father Murphy will be held on Monday, January
30 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church
in Mineola, followed by a Mass of Transferral at 7:30
p.m. in the church. The Reverend James Bowman will be
the Principal Celebrant and Reverend Richard Lewkiewicz
will be the homilist.
Bishop William Murphy will preside at the Funeral Mass
on Tuesday, January 31 at 10:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi
Church. Monsignor James Spengler will deliver the
homily. Burial will follow at Holy Rood Cemetery in
Westbury.
# # #
About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was formed in 1957 and
covers 1,222 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk
Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.4 million
Catholics (total population in both counties is
approximately 3.3 million). There are 134 parishes in
115 towns. Last year over 20,000 baptisms, 18,000
confirmations, 20,000 first communions and 5,000
marriages took place in the diocese. There are 2,137
students in Catholic kindergarten, 23,825 in primary or
elementary school, 12,628 in secondary school and 3,300
in higher institutions. There are 76 Catholic elementary
and high schools and one Catholic college in the
diocese. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, two
home-care agencies, two senior housing complexes, a
community-based home for those with special needs and a
hospice. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more
than 68,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and
disadvantaged on Long Island. For more information,
visit www.drvc.org.
For more information:
Sean P. Dolan
sdolan@drvc.org
516-678-5800, ext. 625
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * *
Click
here to go back
|
