Reverend Joseph J. Sweeney, Retired, Resident, Saint Mary Manor, Lansdale, died at Saint Mary Manor, on Sunday, October 16, 2011.

Father Sweeney was born on April 13, 1934, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late John J. Sweeney and the late Mary E. Quinn. Father Sweeney attended Saint Timothy Parochial School, Philadelphia, and Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Sweeney was ordained on May 13, 1961, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend John J. Krol. Father Sweeney served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Philadelphia; Saint Philip Neri Parish, Pennsburg; Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Bensalem; Saint Pius X Parish, Broomall; Saint Agatha/Saint James Parish, Philadelphia; Saint Martha Parish, Philadelphia; Saint Callistus Parish, Philadelphia; Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia; and Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn. He served on the Faculty at Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield, and as Chaplain at Archbishop Ryan Girls High School, Philadelphia. . Father Sweeney served as Chaplain at All Saints Chapel, Philadelphia, and at Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia. Father Sweeney served as Parochial Administrator at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Springfield, and at Saint Mary Parish, Schwenksville. Father Sweeney served as Pastor At Saint Dominic Parish, Philadelphia, from June 1993 through February 1996. He retired from active ministry in January 2002.

The Reception of the Body will be held at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church, North Wales, on Friday, October 21, 2011, at 9:45 AM, followed by a viewing. Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Father Sweeney at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church, North Wales, on Friday, October 21, 2011, at 11:00 AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Francis Gillespie, S.J., Reverend Joseph A. Heim, M.M., Reverend Donald P. McNamara, Reverend Joseph J. Meehan, Reverend Monsignor John F. O'Brien, and Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Sullivan. Father Meehan will be the homilist.

Father Sweeney is survived by his sister, Jane Diorio, and nieces and nephews. Interment will be at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery, Penndel.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747