Rev. Msgr. Thomas H. Smith
Deceased: 2014-08-31
Diocese: HARRISBURG
ICTE Fall: 1988
REV. MSGR. THOMAS H. SMITH
ICTE FALL 1988
Monsignor Thomas H. Smith, 83, Pastor Emeritus of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lancaster, PA, and resident of St. Anne’s Retirement Community, Columbia, PA died on August 31, 2014 surrounded by his loving family. Born on May 19, 1931 on a farm near Hanover, PA he was the son of the late Mark S. and Anna M. (Keagy) Smith.
Monsignor Smith graduated from Delone Catholic High School, McSherrystown, PA in 1949, St. Charles College, Catonsville, MD in 1951, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, PA in 1957, and was ordained on May 11, 1957 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA by The Most Reverend George L. Leech.
Monsignor served the Diocese of Harrisburg as a faithful Priest in the following assignments during his 57 years of Priesthood; St. Catherine Laboure, Harrisburg, St. Anne’s, Lancaster, Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, St. Peter’s, Mount Carmel, St. Joseph’s, Mechanicsburg, St. Columbia, Bloomsburg, St. Paul the Apostle, Annville, St. Joseph’s, Lancaster, Chaplain of Lebanon Valley College, Chaplain of the Lancaster City Police, Chaplain of Knights of Malta, and was a board member of Resurrection School and Lancaster Catholic High School. Monsignor was a tremendous collaborator with the bishops of the Diocese of Harrisburg, including his close friend, William Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore.
Monsignor was very influential and active in ecumenical activities, the Organ Historical Society, and serving the poor. In addition, he was the Catholic Auxiliary Chaplain for the U.S. Army and National Guard for 20 years at Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA.
Monsignor Smith was the oldest of thirteen children. He is survived by nine siblings, Dolores A. Bryon, of Littlestown, Kathleen M. Smith, Donald J. Smith, husband of Corrine, both of Hanover, Sister Mary Mark Smith SCC, of Mendham, NJ, Mary Ann Roberts, wife of Idris, of Mechanicsburg, Sister Thomasine Smith SCC, of Wharton, NJ, Linda T. Mummert, wife of Donald, of McSherrystown, Larry F. Smith, husband of Judy, of New Oxford, Jeanne M. Smith, of Hanover, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Rose A. Jarbeck, Frances E. Donnelly, wife of Michael, and a brother, Mark S. Smith, Jr.
The Funeral Rites for Monsignor Smith will begin with the Rite of Reception of the Body with Solemn Evening Prayer on Thursday, September 4th, 2014 at 4PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church 440 St. Joseph St. Lancaster, PA 17603. A viewing will follow from 4:30-7PM. The Mass of Transferral will be celebrated at 7PM with The Rev. Allan F. Wolfe as Celebrant and The Rev. David L. Danneker as Homilist; a viewing will follow the evening Mass. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 5th at 11AM with the Bishop of Harrisburg, The Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, D.D., J.C.L., as Celebrant and The Rev. Allan F. Wolfe as Homilist. A viewing will precede this Mass from 9-11AM at the church. A third Mass and viewing (8-9:45AM) will be celebrated on Saturday, September 6th at 10AM at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Conewago, 30 Basilica Dr. Hanover, PA 17331 with The Reverend James Lease as Celebrant and The Reverend Lawrence McNeil as Homilist. Final commendation and farewell will be in the adjoining church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Monsignor Smith’s memory to the Stained Glass Window Fund at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 440 St. Joseph St. Lancaster, PA 17603 or to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Conewago Restoration Fund 30 Basilica Dr. Hanover, PA 17331.
