By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/7/02)
A funeral Mass was offered for Father John W. Rea on March 2 at St. Philip Church in Falls Church. Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde was the celebrant. Father Cornelius O'Brien, pastor of St. James Parish in Falls Church, was the homilist.
Father Rea was a retired diocesan priest living at Manor Care Nursing Home in Arlington at the time of his death on Feb. 27. He was 83 and had been in residence at St. Philip's Rectory prior to his latest illness.
He was born Nov. 10, 1918, in Chesterfield, Va. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and Benedictine High School, both in Richmond. He graduated from St. Mary's Seminary in Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1942, then completed his theology studies at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore.
Father Rea was ordained Nov. 30, 1945, by former Richmond Bishop Peter L. Ireton.
His more than 50 years of priestly service to the Dioceses of Richmond and Arlington was marked by a variety of parish assignments.
He served as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Danville (1946); St. James Parish, Falls Church (1947); and St. Paul Parish, Richmond (1955).
Father Rea served as Diocesan Director of Youth Work from 1956 until he was appointed administrator of St. Leo the Great Parish, Fairfax, in 1961. In 1962 he was appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish in Richmond. He was appointed pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Annandale in 1969.
After serving as associate pastor at St. Nicholas in Virginia Beach, St. Joseph in Martinsburg and St. Philip in Falls Church from 1973-75, he was appointed pastor of St. John Parish in Front Royal in 1975 and Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria in 1978.
Father Rea briefly served at St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield, St. William of York Parish in Stafford and St. Patrick Parish in Chancellorsville before being assigned to St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly from 1987 until his retirement in 1996.
He was in residence at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester and St. Philip Parish in Falls Church with Father Spychala before moving to Sunrise Assisted Living in Fair Oaks.
Father Rea was the author of an extensive list of travel books depicting the history and beauty of Scotland and Ireland, including Alba in April, Sculptured Stones, A Look at Scotland and the MacDonalds, Trains and Scotland, Around Ireland and Around Scotland.
Four brothers, Frederick, Donald, James and Leonard and 17 nieces and nephews survive Father Rea. Interment took take place March 5 at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Richmond.
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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