REVEREND MONSIGNOR MICHAEL J. BURKE
1937 – 2016
Reverend Monsignor Michael J. Burke, Pastor Emeritus, Saints Philip and James Parish, Exton, died at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital on Thursday, January 28, 2016.
Monsignor Burke was born on January 15, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Peter P. Burke and the late Ellen (McCrossan) Burke. Monsignor Burke attended Saint Callistus and Our Lady of Lourdes Parochial Schools, Philadelphia, and Saint Joseph’s College High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.
Monsignor Burke was ordained on May 19, 1962, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend John J. Krol and named Honorary prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II on March 14, 1998. Monsignor Burke served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph Parish, Ambler; Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Warminster; and Saint Ambrose Parish, Philadelphia. He also served as Dean of Men, Theology Division at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, from 1972 – 1977. Monsignor Burke served as Pastor at Saint Athanasius Parish, Philadelphia and Holy Innocents Parish, Philadelphia. In 1997, he was appointed Pastor, Saints Philip and James Parish, Exton, and named Pastor Emeritus there in 2007.
The Reception of the Body will be held at Saints Philip and James Church, Exton, on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 4:00 PM, followed by a viewing. A parish Mass will be held at 7:30 PM. Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.Cap., will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Monsignor Burke, at Saint Eugene Church, Primos, on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM. A viewing will be held beginning at 9:00 AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Joseph Dieckhaus, Reverend Joseph McDermott, Reverend Jeffrey Stecz, Reverend Thomas Sodano, Reverend Michael Murphy, Reverend Joseph Gleason, Reverend Michael Colagreco and Reverend Christopher Rogers. Father Murphy will be the homilist.
Monsignor Burke is survived by his sister, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Burke, R.S.M; nieces, Mrs. Maureen Julien, Mrs. Melissa Shields; nephews, Mr. Peter Burke and Mr. Brendan Burke; and several great-nieces and nephews . Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.