Rev. Mark J. Connelly, St. Jude associate pastor

The Rev. Mark J. Connelly, Ph.D., 63, a Catholic priest who was serving as part-time associate pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Lewes, since 2008, died suddenly Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.

Father Connelly was born Oct. 17, 1951, in Darby, Pa., son of Marie Teresa (Cummings) Connelly and the late John R. Connelly. He was raised in Swarthmore, Pa., and graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pa. Father Connelly earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.; a master’s degree in philosophy from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.; master’s degrees in both theology and divinity at Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass.; and both masters and doctorate degrees in Linguistics from Harvard University in Cambridge.

Father Connelly was ordained to the priesthood for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) June 6, 1987, by Archbishop William D. Borders at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, Md. During his academic ministry, Father Connelly served as instructor at Wheeling College in Wheeling, W.Va. and Strayer College in Washington, D.C.; teaching fellow at Harvard University; assistant professor at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia, Pa. and Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn.; and adjunct professor at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md. He also held memberships in many academic societies, presented at many academic conferences and co-authored several books.

In December of 2004, Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli appointed Father Connelly temporary associate pastor of Holy Family Parish in Newark. In March of 2008, Bishop Saltarelli assigned him as part-time associate pastor of St. Jude the Apostle in Lewes, where he served at the time of his death.

In addition to his father, Father Connelly was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Theresa Connelly. He is survived by his loving mother, Marie Teresa Connelly of Swarthmore; his sister, Maryann Connelly of Swarthmore; his two brothers: Richard Connelly of Media, Pa. and Vincent Connelly of Durham, N.H.; four nieces, and two nephews.

A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial with the Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, D.D. presiding will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at noon, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

Memorial contributions may be made in Father Connelly's memory to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, DE 19958.

Please visit Father Connelly's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.