Title
Honoring Monsignor James F. Connelly on the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood and his 75th Birthday.
Body
WHEREAS, James Francis Connelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 13, 1931 to James Connelly and Margaret Devlin Connelly. Growing up as part of a large, extended family in the Harrowgate section of Philadelphia, “Jimmy”, as he was affectionately called, excelled in academics and graduated from Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School in 1949. He entered college at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1952; and
WHEREAS, Upon his graduation from seminary, James Connelly studied Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained into the priesthood on December 17, 1955 at the North American College in Rome. Father Connelly returned to the states and he served as curate at Saint Gabriel Church in Norwood, Pennsylvania during the summer of 1956; and
WHEREAS, Father Connelly returned to Rome and received his license to teach Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and he earned a doctorate in Church History in 1960 from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Because of his great devotion to the Roman Catholic faith, and his outstanding academic achievements, he was among the very few persons permitted access to the Pope’s personal library. Academia was only one part of this young, dynamic priest’s life during this period; he served as an Auxiliary Chaplain in the United States Army in Germany during the summers of 1959 through 1969 and he was given the title of “Honorary Colonel”; and
WHEREAS, As a young priest, Father Connelly briefly taught at his alma mater, Saint Charles Seminary and then served for seven years as the personal secretary to the Archbishop of Philadelphia, John Cardinal Krol. From 1962 through 1965 he worked closely with Cardinal Krol at the groundbreaking Vatican II Council. His Holiness Pope Paul VI elevated Father Connelly to the rank of Very Reverend Monsignor Papal Chamberlain of the Holy Father in 1965, and in 1976, the Holy Father bestowed upon Monsignor Connelly the title, Right Reverend Monsignor Honorary Prelate of the Holy See; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Connelly served as a full-time Professor of Church History at Saint Charles Seminary from 1970 to 1985. While Monsignor Connelly made an early mark in academia and administration, he was always known as a compassionate and sympathetic individual whose greatest desire was to serve a parish family. In 1985, he was appointed as pastor of Stella Maris Church in South Philadelphia. Over these last twenty years, Monsignor Connelly and the people of Stella Maris have been on a shared journey of living out the Gospels and Monsignor Connelly has been a leader, a teacher a friend and a mentor; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend the Right Reverend James F. Connelly for his outstanding achievements and accomplishment. We offer our very best wishes to him upon his 75th Birthday and the celebration of his Golden Jubilee of the ordination to the priesthood.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Monsignor Connelly as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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