Father Anthony Hemphill, Appalachian pioneer, had link to Trenton Diocese
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Father Anthony Hemphill, one of the early Divine Word Missionaries to work in Appalachia, died in Techny, Ill., Aug. 9.
Born in McKee Rocks, Penn., in 1931, he began studies with the Divine Word Missionaries in Girard, Penn., in 1944 and professed first vows as a Divine Word Missionary in 1950.
In June of 1958, he was ordained a priest by Bishop William O’Brien of Chicago in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Techny. A year later, he earned a master’s degree in social science from The Catholic University of America, Washington, then went to Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, where he taught mathematics and science at St. Richard’s College in Hadzor for seven years.
In 1966, he returned to Girard, Penn., to serve as a vocation director until 1970 when he became a senior vocation director for Divine Word Seminary, Bordentown, N.J. Other assignments in the Eastern United States included positions with the Miramar Retreat Center in Massachusetts and St. Peter Claver in Asbury Park. In 1977, Bishop George W. Ahr of Trenton chose Father Hemphill as spiritual director for the diocese’s Cursillo Movement.
In 1978, Father Hemphill became the third Divine Word Missionary to go to Braxton County, W. Va. He served as pastor of St. Thomas in Gassaway until 1984 when he was asked to return to St. Peter Claver, Asbury Park, as pastor.
During the following two years in New Jersey, he also served as a board member of the Monmouth County Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Alcoholism Services. From 1986 to 2005, he was a member of the Society of the Divine Word’s U.S. Southern Province, where he facilitated retreats in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Five years ago, he moved back to Bordentown, where he lived until 2009 when he took up residence at Techny.
Father Hemphill’s wake and funeral took place at in the Divine Word Residence Chapel at Techny. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Techny. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for the care of retired missionaries may be sent to The Rector, Divine Word Residence, 1901 Waukegan Road, P.O. Box 6000, Techny, IL 60082-6000.
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Father Anthony Hemphill, one of the early Divine Word Missionaries to work in Appalachia, died in Techny, Ill., Aug. 9.
Born in McKee Rocks, Penn., in 1931, he began studies with the Divine Word Missionaries in Girard, Penn., in 1944 and professed first vows as a Divine Word Missionary in 1950.
In June of 1958, he was ordained a priest by Bishop William O’Brien of Chicago in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Techny. A year later, he earned a master’s degree in social science from The Catholic University of America, Washington, then went to Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, where he taught mathematics and science at St. Richard’s College in Hadzor for seven years.
In 1966, he returned to Girard, Penn., to serve as a vocation director until 1970 when he became a senior vocation director for Divine Word Seminary, Bordentown, N.J. Other assignments in the Eastern United States included positions with the Miramar Retreat Center in Massachusetts and St. Peter Claver in Asbury Park. In 1977, Bishop George W. Ahr of Trenton chose Father Hemphill as spiritual director for the diocese’s Cursillo Movement.
In 1978, Father Hemphill became the third Divine Word Missionary to go to Braxton County, W. Va. He served as pastor of St. Thomas in Gassaway until 1984 when he was asked to return to St. Peter Claver, Asbury Park, as pastor.
During the following two years in New Jersey, he also served as a board member of the Monmouth County Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Alcoholism Services. From 1986 to 2005, he was a member of the Society of the Divine Word’s U.S. Southern Province, where he facilitated retreats in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Five years ago, he moved back to Bordentown, where he lived until 2009 when he took up residence at Techny.
Father Hemphill’s wake and funeral took place at in the Divine Word Residence Chapel at Techny. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Techny. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for the care of retired missionaries may be sent to The Rector, Divine Word Residence, 1901 Waukegan Road, P.O. Box 6000, Techny, IL 60082-6000.