Deacon Joseph M. Cella, Jr., Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Consolation Parish,
Philadelphia, died suddenly on Tuesday, July 23, 2013.

Deacon Cella was born on February 13, 1957, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended
Our Lady of Ransom Parochial School, Philadelphia, and Father Judge High School, Philadelphia.
Deacon Cella also received a B.S degree in Criminal Justice and a M.S. degree in Pastoral Care and
Counseling from Neumann College. Deacon Cella was employed by the City of Philadelphia Police
Department as a Sergeant and Investigative Supervisor for the Major Crimes Unit.

Deacon Cella was ordained a permanent deacon on June 4, 2000, at the Cathedral Basilica
of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis. He served at Our
Lady of Ransom Parish, Philadelphia, from June 2000 through June 2007. In 2007, he was
transferred to Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Philadelphia.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2013, from 5:30-9:00 PM, at John F. Givnish
Funeral Home, 10975 Academy Road, Philadelphia. A viewing will also be held on Monday, July
29, 2013, from 9:00-10:45 AM, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia.
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate Deacon Cella’s Funeral Mass at 11:00
AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis, Reverend Dennis
J. Carbonaro, and Reverend Joseph L. Farrell. The Deacon of the Mass will be Deacon Salvatore
Bianco, Deacon Chaplains will be Deacon William Cella and Deacon Louis Hoelzle, Deacons of
Communion will be Deacon Albert George, Deacon Ralph Shirley, Deacon James Stewart, and
Deacon Claude Granese. Father Carbonaro will be the homilist.

Deacon Cella is survived by his wife, Christina, his daughters, Catherine and Christina, and
a son, Anthony. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia.

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