1500 Marian Road
Abington, Pennsylvania, 19001-1918
Phone: 215-886-3456 or 215-8861952
Fax: 215-886-7312
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1500 Marian Road Abington, Pennsylvania, 19001-1918 Phone: 215-886-3456 or 215-8861952 Fax: 215-886-7312 |
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Monsignor Joseph D. Shallow Reverend Joseph D. Shallow, the Founding Pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, was a native Philadelphian. He attended St. Agatha's Elementary School and West Catholic High School. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1938. Father Shallow was assigned to the parishes of St. Andrew's, Drexel Hill; St. George's, Glenolden and St. Bartholomew's, Philadelphia, before serving as chaplain in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1944. He returned to St. Bartholomew's Parish and in 1948 was transferred to St. Margaret's Parish, Narberth. Father Shallow served in the Army again from 1948 until 1953, when he was named assistant rector of St. Anthony's Parish in Philadelphia. While there, Father learned that he was to become the founding pastor of the first Marian Year parish, Our Lady Help of Christians, in Abington, Pennsylvania. Shortly after arriving here, Father Shallow was named Chaplain of Abington's Fire Department, a post he cherished. On January 18, 1976, Father Shallow was named an Honorary Prelate with the title of Reverend Monsignor. He entered into everlasting life on March 24, 1980. |
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Monsignor J. Clement Bennington Msgr. Bennington became the second pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish on April 8, 1980. Before being named a monsignor in 1965, Father Bennington performed a variety of duties. He taught philosophy at St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia; served as assistant pastor at St. Dorothy Parish, Drexel Hill; taught at Roman Catholic High School and Southeast Catholic High School; and earned the degree of Doctor of Canon Law (J.C.D.) from Catholic University. He served on the Matrimonial Tribunal, and acted as Assistant Director of Catholic Charities and as Assistant to the Vicar General for Religious. In 1971, Monsignor Bennington was named pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, Philadelphia. He came to Our Lady Help of Christians to serve as pastor in 1980. During his administration, the people of the parish paid off the church debt. Monsignor retired on September 13, 1989 to live in Ocean City, New Jersey. He died on February 23, 2006 at the Villa St. Joseph in Darby, Pennsylvania. |
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Reverend Joseph D. Bowen Reverend Joseph D. Bowen, born on March 5, 1930, was the oldest of six children of Joseph and Marie Bowen. He attended the parish school of Seven Dolors in Wyndmoor and graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 1948. Father Bowen was ordained to the priesthood on May 11, 1957 by John Cardinal O'Hara. Reverend Bowen served the Allentown Diocese before coming to St. Albert the Great Parish, Huntingdon Valley in 1965. He ministered to the parishes of St. Lawrence, Upper Darby; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Southampton; and St. Anselm, Philadelphia, and as assistant pastor before being named pastor of St. Michael's Parish, Levittown, in 1985. The people of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Abington, welcomed Father Bowen as their third pastor on September 24, 1989. Father made himself available to all the people, visiting shut-ins and the sick of Abington Hospital. He directed special attention toward the maintenance and repair of the entire physical plant, and after major renovations to the former convent - now "Annex" - he opened a preschool for three- and four-year olds. An extended day program for children of working parents followed. Father Bowen retired on June 20, 2005. He now resides at the Villa St. Joseph in Darby, Pennsylvania.
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