REVEREND MONSIGNOR JOHN J. MILLER
1937 – 2017
Reverend Monsignor John J. Miller, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Frances Cabrini Parish, Fairless Hills, died on Friday, December 1, 2017. At the time of his death, he was in residence at Immaculate Conception Parish, Jenkintown.
Monsignor Miller was born on August 23, 1937, in Chester, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Joseph D. Miller and the late Elizabeth M (Coonan) Miller. Monsignor Miller attended Parkside Public School, Saint Michael Parochial School, Chester, and Saint James Catholic High School, Chester, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He also studied at the Pontifical Lateran University. After Ordination, Monsignor Miller earned a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from The Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm.
Monsignor Miller was ordained on March 15, 1964, in Rome, Italy, by His Eminence, Luigi Cardinal Traglia, and named Honorary Prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II on May 29, 1991. Monsignor Miller served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Albert the Great Parish, Huntingdon Valley; Nativity Parish, Warminster; Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Philadelphia; Faculty at Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote; Seminary Faculty at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook. While serving at the Seminary, Monsignor Miller was Professor of Liturgy, Director of Liturgy, Dean of Men in the Theological Seminary, and was an integral part of the formation of many priests currently serving in ministry. Monsignor Miller played a leading role in the implementation of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He also served as staff and later Chairman of the Commission on Sacred Liturgy for the Archdiocese, and was the Director of Ongoing Formation of Priests for a period of time as well. In 1989, Monsignor Miller was appointed Pastor, Saint Frances Cabrini Parish, Fairless Hills, and named Pastor Emeritus there in 2007. He also served as Senior Priest, Saint Martha Parish, Philadelphia and Parochial Administrator, Saint Michael Parish, Philadelphia.
A viewing will be held from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at the James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown, PA 19056.
Reception of the Body will be held at Saint Martin of Tours Chapel, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 9:00 AM, followed by a viewing. Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Monsignor Miller at 12:00 Noon. Among those concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Monsignor Francis Carbine, Reverend Monsignor Michael McCormac, Reverend Brian Kean, Reverend Joseph Howarth and Reverend Al Sceski, Diocese of Harrisburg. Reverend G. Dennis Gill will be the homilist.
Monsignor Miller is survived by his sister Elizabeth J. “Betty” Leonard and his nieces and nephews, Lydia J. Kunstek, Laureen E. Sobutek, William T. Lewis Jr., and Laurence J. Lewis and their families. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.