Rev. Michael Briggman
Deceased: 2016-02-26
Diocese: ALLENTOWN
Seminary Graduation Year: 1968
The Reverend Michael F. Briggman, Pastor Emeritus of Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Bally, Pennsylvania, died on Friday, 26 February 2016, at Holy Family Villa for Priests, Bethlehem, at the age of 73. Born in Pottsville, Father Briggman was the son of the late Joseph and Irene (Novacki) Briggman. He is survived by his sister, Mary Kay Mullen and her husband Lee, of Pennsylvania; brothers, Joseph Briggman and wife, Kathleen, of Westford, Massachusetts, and John “Jack” Briggman, of Charlotte, North Carolina; nephews, Lee Mullen and wife, Clare, Michael Mullen, and Salvador Briggman; grandnephews, Thomas and Michael.
Father Briggman attended elementary school at Saint Patrick School and is a graduate Nativity Blessed Virgin Mary High School, both in Pottsville. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy, and The Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where he received a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology. He was ordained to the Priesthood on 6 April 1968 in Rome by The Most Reverend Francis F. Reh, then-Rector of the Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy. Father Briggman’s first priestly assignment was Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Church, West Reading, followed by Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Church, Easton, and Parochial Vicar, Saint Ignatius Loyola Church, Whitfield. His first Pastoral assignment was at the former Saint Francis de Sales Church, Mount Carbon. Father Briggman was then named Pastor of Saint Joseph Church, Easton, followed by Pastor, Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Bally, where he served until his retirement on 28 January 1997 and was named Pastor Emeritus. During the course of his Priestly Ministry, Father Briggman served as Regional Director of Vocations for Berks County; Member, Priests’ Choir; Associate Professor, Notre Dame High School, Easton; Chaplain, Boy Scouts Minsi Trail Council, Easton; Member, Council of Priests; Advocate and Notary, Diocesan Tribunal; Regional Director, American Catholic Overseas Aid, Berks County; Chaplain, Pottsville Hospital; Chaplain, Serra Club Forks of the Delaware Chapter; Member, Budget Board, Notre Dame High School, Easton; Member, Advisory Board, Notre Dame High School, Easton; President, Advisory Board, Notre Dame High School, Easton; Member, Budget and Audit Review Board, Reading Central Catholic High School, Reading; Member, Council of Priests; Spiritual Director, Holy Name Society, Lehigh Deanery; Retired Priests Representative, Council of Priests and was involved with Cursillo Retreat Program.
Services: Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in Saints Simon and Jude Church, 730 West Broad Street, Bethlehem, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a Vigil Service at 7:30 PM. The Reverend Monsignor Stephen J. Radocha, Pastor, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Church, Easton, and Dean of Northampton Deanery, will preside. The Homilist will be Deacon William F. Urbine. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Saints Simon and Jude Church. Mass of Christian Burial for Father Briggman will be celebrated at Saints Simon and Jude Church Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM by His Excellency, The Most Reverend John O. Barres, D.D., Bishop of Allentown. The Homilist will be the Reverend Monsignor John J. Martin, Pastor, Saint Peter Church, Coplay. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville, on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 11AM. Arrangements care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc., Bethlehem.
