ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Reverend Joseph A. Senske, Retired and Resident, Villa Saint Joseph, Darby, died of end stage congestive heart disease on Thursday, January 1, 2009.

Father Senske was born on November 7, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Joseph A. Senske and the late Sara M. Heany. Father Senske attended Saint Bartholomew Parochial School, and Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Senske was ordained on May 22, 1948, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick. Father Senske served as Parochial Vicar, Annunciation Parish, Shenandoah; Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Allentown; Saint Henry Parish, Philadelphia; Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Philadelphia; Visitation B.V.M. Parish, Philadelphia; and Saint Christopher Parish, Philadelphia. From 1972 to 1979, Father Senske served as Pastor, Transfiguration Parish, Philadelphia. In 1979, Father Senske was appointed Pastor, Saint Callistus Parish, Philadelphia, and served there until 1991. He also served as Chaplain at Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat House, Stone Harbor, New Jersey, and Chaplain to the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Gillet Convent, at Immaculata University.

The service of the Transfer of the Body will be held at Camilla Hall, Immaculata, on Friday, January 9, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. followed by a viewing. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Justin Rigali at Camilla Hall, Immaculata, on Friday, January 9, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. Assisting at the altar will be Bishop Martin H. Lohmuller, Bishop Louis A. DeSimone, Bishop Robert P. Maginnis, Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, Reverend Philip R. Barr, and attending classmates of the Class of 1948. Father Barr will be the homilist.

Father Senske is survived by his brothers, Jules and Robert, his sisters, Teresa Oliver and Grace Petner, and nieces and nephews. Interment will be at Camilla Hall Cemetery, Immaculata.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747