Corley, Reverend Monsignor Joseph M.

REVEREND MONSIGNOR JOSEPH M. CORLEY 

1946 – 2019

           Reverend Monsignor Joseph M. Corley, Pastor, Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Darby, Pastoral Dean, and Rector, Villa Saint Joseph, Darby, died at Villa Saint Joseph, on Saturday, June 29, 2019.

            Monsignor Corley was born on October 26, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Andrew Corley and the late Gertrude Pfeffer. Monsignor Corley attended Saint William Parochial School, Philadelphia, and Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

            Monsignor Corley was ordained on May 17, 1975, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by His Eminence John Cardinal Krol. Monsignor Corley served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown; Saint Raymond of Penafort Parish, Philadelphia; and Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Philadelphia. He also served as Assistant Director in the Office for Youth and Young Adults. Monsignor Corley formerly served on the Faculty at Cardinal O’Hara High School, and Hallahan High School. In 1998, Monsignor Corley was appointed Pastor, Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Darby. He has served as Pastoral Dean of Deanery #1 since 2014, and as Rector at Villa Saint Joseph, Darby, since June 2017.

            The Reception of the Body will be held at Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Darby, on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at 4:00 PM, followed by a viewing and a Parish Mass at 7:00 PM. Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Monsignor Corley at Blessed Virgin Mary Church on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 11:00 AM. A viewing will be held beginning at 9:00 AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Monsignor Ralph Chieffo, Reverend Edward Hallinan, Reverend Edward Kennedy, Reverend John Large, Reverend Joseph Meehan, Reverend John Newns, Reverend Dennis O’Donnell, and Reverend Roland Slobogin. Father Large will be the homilist.

            Monsignor Corley is survived by his brother, Fred (Marge), and his nieces and nephews.  Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.