Father Delzell, longtime pastor of former Highlands parish, dies at age 92
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Father David G. Delzell, a priest of the Diocese for 66 years, died Aug. 7. He had celebrated his 92nd birthday just three days earlier on Aug. 4.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 11 in St. Joseph Church, Forest City, Pa., which is a worship site of Ascension Parish, Forest City. Father Patrick Albert, pastor of Ascension Parish, was principal celebrant of the Mass.
The son of the late David and Margaret Delzell, Father Delzell was born in East Trenton and resided in New Jersey for most of his life.
He prepared for the priesthood in St. Charles Minor Seminary, Catonsville, Md., entering there in 1942 and graduating June 6, 1944. He continued his education in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and was ordained a priest June 3, 1950, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Following his ordination, Father Delzell served as parochial vicar in St. Edward Parish, Milford; Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish, Middlesex; Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton, and St. Cecelia Parish, Iselin. In 1967, he was named temporary administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Bay Head, and in 1968, was appointed to his first pastorate in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Highlands, where he served for 26 years until his retirement in 1994. While at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Father Delzell resolved a parish debt, renovated the parish school and served as the school principal for two years.
Following his retirement, he relocated to the Forest City area in Pennsylvania where he visited nursing homes, area hospitals, homes of the sick and elderly and celebrated Mass at the Forest City Nursing Home.
In addition to his parish responsibilities in the Trenton Diocese, Father Delzell served as coordinator of diocesan pilgrimages to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, in 1989, 1991 and 1993. He also served for many years as spiritual director of the New Jersey Shore Chapter of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima and was a fourth degree Knight in the George Washington Council of the Knights of Columbus in Somerville. In 2006, the Forest City community honored Father Delzell for his dedication and service to his priestly ministry by awarding him as Forest City Area Distinguished Citizen.
Interment was in St. Mary Cemetery, Hamilton.
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Father David G. Delzell, a priest of the Diocese for 66 years, died Aug. 7. He had celebrated his 92nd birthday just three days earlier on Aug. 4.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 11 in St. Joseph Church, Forest City, Pa., which is a worship site of Ascension Parish, Forest City. Father Patrick Albert, pastor of Ascension Parish, was principal celebrant of the Mass.
The son of the late David and Margaret Delzell, Father Delzell was born in East Trenton and resided in New Jersey for most of his life.
He prepared for the priesthood in St. Charles Minor Seminary, Catonsville, Md., entering there in 1942 and graduating June 6, 1944. He continued his education in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and was ordained a priest June 3, 1950, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Following his ordination, Father Delzell served as parochial vicar in St. Edward Parish, Milford; Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish, Middlesex; Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton, and St. Cecelia Parish, Iselin. In 1967, he was named temporary administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Bay Head, and in 1968, was appointed to his first pastorate in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Highlands, where he served for 26 years until his retirement in 1994. While at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Father Delzell resolved a parish debt, renovated the parish school and served as the school principal for two years.
Following his retirement, he relocated to the Forest City area in Pennsylvania where he visited nursing homes, area hospitals, homes of the sick and elderly and celebrated Mass at the Forest City Nursing Home.
In addition to his parish responsibilities in the Trenton Diocese, Father Delzell served as coordinator of diocesan pilgrimages to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, in 1989, 1991 and 1993. He also served for many years as spiritual director of the New Jersey Shore Chapter of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima and was a fourth degree Knight in the George Washington Council of the Knights of Columbus in Somerville. In 2006, the Forest City community honored Father Delzell for his dedication and service to his priestly ministry by awarding him as Forest City Area Distinguished Citizen.
Interment was in St. Mary Cemetery, Hamilton.
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