Written by McD

New Construction Photos!

Photos taken on January 6, 2012 at the site of the new Bishop McDevitt campus are on Facebook in the album "Site Photos - 1/6/2012"! Click the picture above to go to the album. (You do not need a Facebook account to view the pictures).

Written by McD

Bishop McDevitt Mourns the loss of
Reverend Thomas F. Langan

Reverend Thomas F. Langan, former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Abbottstown, died peacefully on January 3, 2012 following 52 years of faithful service as a priest of Jesus Christ in service to the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales and the Diocese of Harrisburg.

Father Langan was born on March 30, 1932 in Philadelphia, the son of the late Thomas and Dorothy (Kane) Langan. His early education was at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Elementary School and Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He entered the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales in 1949 and was ordained a priest on June 4, 1959. He was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg in 1991. His formal education included a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Languages from Niagara University and a Master's degree in Counseling and Education from Temple University.

The first ten years of Father Langan's priesthood were spent in service to young people as a high school teacher at Father Judge High School in Philadelphia and Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg. He then served as the superior of his community's seminary and in administration at DeSales University in Allentown. In 1976 Father Langan became the Catholic Campus Minister at Bloomsburg University and the Administrator of Christ the King parish in Benton, PA. Following his tenure at Bloomsburg in 1983 he was named pastor of Holy Child parish in Philadelphia. He returned to the Diocese of Harrisburg and served as parochial vicar at Saint Theresa parish in New Cumberland before being named pastor at Saint Columba in Bloomsburg in 1986, and pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Abbottstown in 1989 before retiring in 2005. On June 4, 2009, Father Langan celebrated 50 years of priestly service.

A man of gentle wit and a priest of loving service, Father Langan is survived by his two loving sisters, Patricia and Margaret, a special godchild, Sylvia Baldyga, several cousins, and the faithful he served with unselfish devotion in Philadelphia, Allentown, Harrisburg, Benton, Bloomsburg, New Cumberland and Abbottstown. His priestly dedication to the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales and to the Diocese of Harrisburg were motivated by an unselfish love and an ardent desire to share the light and the truth of the Gospel with all of God's people, with a special dedication to the high school and university students he served in the ministry.

A Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 6084 W. Canal Rd., Abbottstown, on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 4 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 9, 2012 at 11 a.m., with Most Reverend Joseph F. McFadden, Bishop of Harrisburg, as principal celebrant. A viewing will be held at the church following the Sunday afternoon Mass until 6 p.m., and on Monday at the church from 9 a.m., until 10:30 a.m. At Father Langan's request, please omit flowers and make memorial contributions to the Priest Retirement Fund of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales, 2200 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19899. Feiser Funeral Home, Inc., 306 Harrisburg St., East Berlin, is in charge of arrangements. Memories may be shared at www.feiserfuneralhome.com.

Copied from PennLive.com Obituaries.

Written by McD

Bishop McDevitt Mourns the Loss of
Rev. Msgr. Leo N. Bierster

The Reverend Monsignor Leo N. Bierster, 85, formerly of Hershey and Harrisburg, died Sunday, December 18, 2011 at the Saint Joseph Home for the Elderly in Totowa, NJ. He was born August 22, 1926 in Mount Carmel, son of the late Leo and Kathryn (Ruffing) Bierster. He graduated from the former Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Catonsville MD, and received his Masters of Theology from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Philadelphia. He received his Masters of Education from Villanova University. Monsignor Bierster was Ordained May 10, 1952 at Saint Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg by Bishop George L. Leech, DD. He was appointed an Honorary Prelate (Monsignor) on October 19, 1972 by Pope Paul VI. Monsignor Bierster's assignments included: Parochial Vicar at the former Saint Peter Church in Mount Carmel, 1952-1954; Principal of York Catholic High School, 1954-1964; Principal of Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, 1964-1965; Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Harrisburg, 1970-1977; and finally, Pastor of Saint Joan of Arc Church in Hershey, 1977-2002. Upon the occasion of his Golden Jubilee of Ordination in 2002, he retired as Pastor of Saint Joan of Arc Parish where he served for 25 years. In retirement, he resided at the Bishop Dattilo Priests' Retirement Center in Harrisburg until November 2009. In his final years, Monsignor was cared for by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Surviving are his sisters: Margaret Bierster, and Rosemary (Rudolph) D'Onofrio, both of Saint Joseph Home for the Elderly in Totowa, NJ; Sister Catherine De Notre Dame, LSP (Loretta Bierster), of Baltimore, MD; Ann (Joseph) Liffey of Brooklyn, NY; and his brothers: Thomas Bierster, of Buford, GA; and James (Gertrude) Bierster of Boca Raton, FL and William (Frances) Bierster of Staten Island, NY; 22 nieces and nephews, and 44 great nieces and great nephews. In addition to his parents, Monsignor was preceded in death by his sister, Therese Venezia.

Copied from PennLive.com Obituaries

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Fall Sport Mid-Penn Champions!