Rev. Msgr. Joseph P. McGeown
Deceased: 2020-05-06
Diocese: PHILADELPHIA
ICTE Spring: 2001
Monsignor Joseph P. McGeown died on May 6, 2020. Born on May 8, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Francis McGeown and the late Sarah Boyle. He is predeceased by his sister Marjorie McGeown Gorman (PJ) and his brother Reverend William F. McGeown. He attended Saint Rose of Lima Parochial School, Philadelphia, and Saint Thomas More High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.
Monsignor McGeown was ordained on May 22, 1965 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by His Eminence John Cardinal Krol. Monsignor McGeown served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anastasia Parish, Faculty of Cardinal O’Hara and Archbishop Wood Boys High Schools, Principal at Lansdale Catholic and Cardinal Dougherty High Schools. Monsignor McGeown served as Pastor at St. John Chrysostom Parish, Wallingford, St. Clare Parish, Linfield and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Philadelphia. In 2015 he retired to Nativity of Our Lady Parish, Media, Pennsylvania
Monsignor McGeown is survived by his sisters, Sister Francis Xavier, I.H.M. and Evelyn Bernatowicz (Edward). He will be sadly missed by his nieces and nephews Michele Gorman Walsh (deceased Tim), Kristen Gorman Fiore (Anthony), Brian Bernatowicz (Kate), Shawn Bernatowicz (Gretchen), Shannon Bernatowicz Ragazzone (Francis) and Kerri Anne Bernatowicz Jacoby (Albert) and the late Brigid Bernatowicz.
In addition to his nieces and nephews there will be a void in the lives of his grandnieces and grandnephews Molly and Liam Walsh, Julia, PJ and Olivia Fiore, Jared (Sascha Gruden), Aaron, Maura and Emma Bernatowicz, John Paul Ragazzone and Orla, Stella Maris, Lorenzo, Finola and Lazlo Jacoby.
A nephew of Monsignor McGeown reflected on his life by saying “As Christians we go through life looking for and trying to interpret signs and symbols. With the passing of our Uncle Joe this week the symbol was pretty clear. He died two days after we celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. Make no mistake about it, we might never be able to envision Joe tending to real sheep, but his whole Priestly Ministry was all about tending to God’s flock. From his early years of working with high school students to the tending to the people of his beloved parishes he was a Shepherd. From his time being a Delco Pastor, the period of time when he would refer to himself as Linfield Louie from St Clare’s, and then onto his time at IHM as Joseph of Andorra, the people of his parish were led and protected by his leadership. So as we all continue on our journey without him here on Earth, just remember he will still be there with us guiding and protecting.”
His Funeral Mass and Interment are private. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to Camilla Hall Nursing Home, c/o Mission Advancement, 230 IHM Dr. Malvern, PA 19355. or Little Sisters of the Poor, 5300 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.
