OBIT: John J. BRADY, Rev. Father, 1943, formerly of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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JOHN J. BRADY

Father J. J. Brady Called Up Higher In His 71st Year
Former Popular Pastor Succumbed in Altoona Hospital Last Saturday

  Many hearts were saddened by the death last Saturday morning in Mercy 
Hospital, Altoona, of Very Reverend Father John J. Brady, for 23 years pastor of 
SS. Philip and James' Catholic Church in Meyersdale, and for the last ten years 
rector of St. Francis Xavier's Catholic Church of Cresson.
  His passing was due to a stroke sustained more than five weeks ago.  His 
health had been precarious for several years, but since a former serious illness 
which confined him to a hospital for some months, he was able to take care of 
his pastoral duties until his final illness.
  Father Brady, besides being an able priest and popular pastor of the various 
parishes he served, had social qualities that endeared him to all classes of 
people outside of the church to which he gave his allegiance.  Good will for all 
types of humanity was his outstanding characteristic.  Like the Master whom he 
served so long and faithfully, he went about doing good.  He associated alike 
with high and low, rich and poor, saints and sinners, extending the warm hand of 
fellowship to all.  Race, nationality, station in the social scale, politics or 
creed, made no difference to him.  All human beings were as God's children to 
him and he was their brother.
  Born in Lonaconing, Md., on Sept. 19, 1872, Father Brady was a son of James T. 
and Ellen (Reynolds) Brady.  He graduated from Mt. St. Charles College, 
Baltimore, Md., and Loyola University, took his seminary work at Mt. St. Mary's 
Emmitsburg, Md., and shortly after graduation was ordained into the priesthood 
on June 17, 1904, in St. John's Church, Altoona.
  Father Brady's first assignment was at Renova, Pa.  After a short period there 
his next assignment was as assistant rector of the church at West Salisbury.  He 
later was named rector of the West Salisbury and Pocahontas parish.  In 
November, 1910 he was transferred to SS. Philip and James' Church, Meyersdale, 
where he served as rector for about 23 years.
  In November, 1933, he was transferred to St. Francis Xavier's parish, at 
Cresson.  During his pastorate in Meyersdale he made many improvements to the 
SS. Philip and James' church property, including the erection of the social 
hall, and beautification of the chapel, repairs and enlargement of the rectory, 
the erection of an outdoor shrine and planting of shrubs, flowering plants and 
trees around the church building.
  In Father Howard T. Miller, who came here, also, from St. Michael's parish at 
West Salisbury, Father Brady has had a very worthy successor under whom SS. 
Philip and James' parish has continued to flourish.
  Father Brady was the last surviving member of his family.
  Two nieces and three nephews are his nearest surviving relatives.  One niece, 
Miss Marie Crow, made her home with him at Cresson where he also made extensive 
improvements of the church property.

Pontifical High Mass

  A pontifical high mass of requiem was celebrated on Wednesday morning by Most 
Rev. Richard T. Guilfoyle, Bishop of the Altoona Diocese.  The divine office of 
the dead was chanted at 9:45 o'clock and the mass followed at 10:15.  Rev. 
Father Murtaugh Nolan of Loretto, diocesan director of the Society for the 
Propagation of the Faith, served as deacon, and Rev. Father Eugene Bradley, 
assistant rector at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona, as the 
subdeacon.
  Deacon's of honor were Rev. Fathers Innocent J. Strittmatter, rector of St. 
Aloysius Church at the Summit, and Philip Curran, administrator of St. Brigid's 
Church, Lilly.  Father John O'Leary, secretary to the Bishop, served as 
assistant priest, and Father John O'Leary, chaplain of Mercy Hospital, 
Johnstown, and Father Edward McConnell, administrator of St. Columba's 
Johnstown, masters of ceremony.  The sermon was delivered by Rev. Father I. J. 
Denny, rector of the cathedral, Altoona.  Interment was in the church cemetery.
  Father H. T. Miller and a number of Father Brady's former parishoners and 
friends in Meyersdale, attended the obsequies at Cresson.

Meyersdale Republican, May 13, 1943