Local

Fr. Joseph Loftus dies

Catholic Herald Staff Report

Fr. Joseph Loftus, a retired diocesan priest, died April 2 at the age of 82.

1302097526_1ca2.jpg

Father Joseph J. Loftus, a retired diocesan priest who had
been in residence at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington
for more than a dozen years, died April 2 in Scranton, Pa. He
was 82.

Father Loftus would have celebrated the 55th anniversary of
his ordination to the priesthood May 5. Arlington Bishop Paul
S. Loverde will celebrate a funeral Mass April 7 at St. Mary
of Mount Carmel Church in Dunmore, Pa., at 11 a.m. The bishop
will celebrate a memorial Mass May 10 at Our Lady of Lourdes
at 10 a.m.

“I am sincerely grateful for Father Loftus’s nearly 55 years
of faithful service as a priest,” said Bishop Loverde. “While
he was initially a La Salette priest, he became a priest of
the Diocese of Arlington and served the faithful of this
diocese in various roles, as parochial vicar, pastor and
priest in residence. His love for our Blessed Mother was
reflected in his priestly life and ministry.

“To the Loftus family, I pledge the prayers of our diocesan
Church, beseeching our heavenly Father to grant Father Loftus
eternal life with Him in heaven, our true home,” the bishop
said.

Father Robert E. Avella, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, said
Father Loftus was involved at the parish in many ways, such
as hearing confessions and celebrating weekend Masses. “He
was well loved by the parishioners, especially for his
sermons,” said Father Avella.

Joseph Loftus was born March 1, 1929, in Jessup, Pa., one of
13 children of Edward and Frances Loftus. He graduated from
St. Patrick High School, Olyphant, Pa., in 1946; La Salette
Junior College, Milford, Iowa, in 1950; and La Salette
Seminary, Ipswich, Mass., in 1952. He was one of nine
seminarians ordained May 5, 1956, at La Salette Major
Seminary in Ipswich. After ordination he served as professor
and prefect of discipline in the minor seminary.

From 1957 to 1962, he served as associate pastor in the
Brentwood Diocese, England. Upon his return to the United
States he was appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of
Sorrows Parish in Hartford, Conn., as well as principal of
the parish school.

Father Loftus then joined the La Salette mission band, a
renewal group, for five years. In 1969, he became founding
pastor of the first La Salette parish in the Atlanta
Archdiocese. After serving in Minnesota, Father Loftus headed
back to Connecticut where he was appointed associate pastor
of St. James Parish in Danielson and named principal of the
parish school.

He entered the Arlington Diocese in 1975 as an assistant
director of counseling at Arlington Hospital. He began to
work unofficially at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in
Arlington, followed by St. Mary Church in Alexandria. He was
incardinated into the diocese in 1982.

Father Loftus served as pastor of St. Agnes Parish in
Arlington, 1981-87; as associate pastor of St. Lawrence
Parish in Alexandria, 1987-88; as associate pastor of Sacred
Heart Parish in Manassas, 1988-90; as pastor of Our Lady of
the Valley Parish in Luray, 1990-92; and as pastor of St.
John Bosco Parish in Woodstock, 1992-96.

In 1996, he had open heart surgery and was transferred to St.
Philip Church in Falls Church where he served as pastor until
his retirement in 1998.

During his years of priestly service, Father Loftus served as
chaplain of the Knights of Columbus; chaplain of the Court of
the Holy Family of the Catholic Daughters of America; past
member of the Clergy Personnel Board; and member of the
Presbyteral Council representing retired priests.

Father Loftus moved to an assisted living facility in
Scranton a few weeks ago to be closer to his family.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the Loftus family, c/o
Jane Wagner, 208 N. Blakely St., Apt. 105, Dunmore, Pa.,
18512.

Related Articles