Funeral Rites Set For West Phila. Native, Harrisburg Bishop Joseph McFadden
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Funeral rites for the Bishop of Harrisburg, who died suddenly Thursday in Philadelphia, will begin next week in the state capital.
Bishop Joseph McFadden, a West Philadelphia native who was a champion of Catholic education while serving in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, died Thursday at the age of 65 (see related story).
McFadden, who was elevated to an auxiliary bishop in Philadelphia in 2004, was appointed bishop in Harrisburg less than three years ago.
He is remembered for his tireless support of Catholic education by a man who worked closely with him over the years, the recently retired education secretary for the archdiocese, Richard McCarron.
"An excellent priest, he took seriously Christ's mandate that the church should go and teach and he believed that Catholic education was one of the most vital and important ministries in the church," McCarron says.
McFadden also served for many years as president of Cardinal O'Hara High School in Delaware County.
His body will be transferred to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Harrisburg on Monday for public viewing. The funeral Mass will be Wednesday in a suburban Harrisburg parish.
