Father Joseph F. Connolly, 79, member of the Third Order Regular Franciscans, Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, passed away on, Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida. Born on August 9, 1941 in Springfield, MA, the son of the late Francis Connolly and Mary (McCarthy) Connolly. Fr. Joseph entered the Third Order Regular on September 5, 1959 at Mt. Assisi Friary in Loretto, PA. At the end of his novitiate year he professed first vows on July 1, 1962. He later professed Solemn Vows on July 1, 1965 and was ordained a priest on May 18, 1968.
From then to the time of his death, Father Joseph served in various parishes as Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Sarasota, Florida; Parochial Vicar of Saint Joseph Parish in Bradenton, Florida; Parochial Vicar at Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Prior to his parochial ministry, Fr. Joseph served as Principal and was a member of the faculty of Bishop Egan High School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
He studied at Saint Francis College in Loretto, PA and received his Bachelor’s in Philosophy; earned his degree in Theology from Saint Francis Seminary in Loretto, PA; earned his Master degree in History from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO.
Fr. Joseph is survived by his sister, Mary Greenwood of Port St. Lucie, FL; a brother, James and nieces and nephews as well as grandnieces and grandnephews, and his Franciscan Community.
Parishioners and friends will be received at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church in Sarasota, Florida on Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 4:00 P.M. until the wake service at 7:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 22, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church with Bishop Frank Dewane serving as principal celebrant.
Friends will be received at the Chapel of St. Francis Friary at Mount Assisi, Loretto, PA, Sunday, January 24, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. until the vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated on Monday, January 25, 201 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Friary at Mount Assisi, Loretto, PA, with Father Joseph Lehman, T.O.R., as principal. Following the Mass, interment will take place at the Franciscan Friars Cemetery, on the campus of St. Francis University, Loretto, PA.