Reverend Henry G. Birkhead, Pastor Emeritus, Christ the King Parish, Philadelphia, died of Heart Failure at Villa Saint Joseph, Darby, on Sunday, April 8, 2007.

Father Birkhead was born on February 5, 1925, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Henry George Birkhead, Sr., and the late Cecilia Agnes Jordan. Father Birkhead attended Saint John the Baptist Parochial School, and Saint John the Baptist High School, Manayunk, Pennsylvania, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Birkhead was ordained on May 10, 1956, at the Immaculate Conception Church, Germantown, by Most Reverend John F. O'Hara, C.S.C. Father Birkhead served as Parochial Vicar at Annunciation B.V.M. Parish, Shenandoah; and Saint Mary Parish, Hamburg. Father Birkhead served on the faculty of Saint James High School, Chester, from 1957 to 1963; and on the faculty of Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia, from 1963 to 1984. Father Birkhead was appointed Parochial Administrator, Christ the King Parish, Philadelphia, in 1984. In 1987, he was appointed Pastor, Christ the King Parish, Philadelphia, and Pastor Emeritus there in June 2000.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Justin Rigali at Christ the King Church, Philadelphia, on Thursday, April 12, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Monsignor Francis Barrett (Diocese of Allentown), Reverend James A. Callahan, Reverend Michael F. Hennelly, and Reverend Monsignor James P. McBride. Monsignor McBride will be the homilist.

Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.


FUNERAL DIRECTOR:
Fitzpatrick Funeral Home
215-483-1702

CONTACT:
Bonnie Olinger
215-587-3747

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747