ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Reverend Monsignor James H. Meehan, Pastor Emeritus, Saint John Neumann Parish, Bryn Mawr, died on Friday, June 26, 2009.

Monsignor Meehan was born on January 19, 1926, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late James Henry Meehan and the late Loretta Donnelly. Monsignor Meehan attended Saint Lawrence Parochial School, Highland Park; Our Lady of Lourdes Parochial School, Philadelphia; and Saint Joseph Preparatory High School before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Monsignor Meehan was ordained on May 27, 1950, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, and named Honorary Prelate to His Holiness Pope Paul VI on September 24, 1973. Monsignor Meehan served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville. He served on the faculty at Saint James Catholic High School, Chester, and Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote. Monsignor Meehan also served as Principal, Saint Hubert High School, Philadelphia. Monsignor Meehan served in the Office of the Vicar for Religious from 1971 through 1979 as Assistant Vicar for Religious and Vicar for Religious. Monsignor Meehan served as Parochial Administrator, Saint John Neumann Parish, Bryn Mawr, from November 1978 through August 1980 when he was appointed Pastor. In June 2001, Monsignor Meehan was named Pastor Emeritus, Saint John Neumann Parish, Bryn Mawr.

The service of the Transfer of the Body will be held at Saint John Neumann Church, Bryn Mawr, on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at 4:00 PM, followed by a viewing. A parish Mass will be held at 7:30 PM. His Eminence Cardinal Justin Rigali will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Monsignor Meehan at Saint Dorothy Church, Drexel Hill, on Thursday, July 2, 2009, at 11:00 AM. A viewing will be held beginning at 9:15 AM. Assisting at the altar will be Reverend Monsignor Francis X. Meehan, Reverend Joseph J. Meehan. Reverend James J. McKeaney, Reverend Michael D. Murphy, and Reverend Monsignor William J .J. O'Donnell. Father Joseph Meehan will be the homilist.

Monsignor Meehan is survived by his brothers, Michael, Monsignor Francis Meehan and Reverend Joseph Meehan, his sister Margaret Hughes, and his nieces and nephews. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747