Rev. Joseph M. Champlin

Final Resting Place ~ On Thursday, March 19, 2009 the Feast of St. Joseph, Msgr. Joseph Champlin‘s cremains will be entombed in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The ceremony will immediately follow the 5:30pm Liturgy. All are welcome. ***************************************************************************************** Reverend Joseph M. Champlin, 77, of Warners died peacefully Thursday, January 17, 2008 at University Hospital after a long battle with cancer. Father Champlin was born on Sunday, May 11, 1930 in Hammondsport, New York, the son of Francis Malburn and Katherine Masson Champlin and stepson of Charles Haynes. He was educated in his hometown public schools before graduating from Phillips Academy at Andover, MA. After studying at Yale and Notre Dame Universities, he began his journey to the priesthood at seminaries in Rochester, New York. He was ordained Thursday, February 2, 1956 and enjoyed a full and varied priestly ministry for over 50 years. Father Champlin’s first assignment was the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He subsequently served as pastor at Holy Family in Fulton, St. Joseph’s, Camillus and returned to the Cathedral where he retired after serving as Rector from 1995-2005. At the time of his death, he was the sacramental priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Warners. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Father Champlin served as the Associate Director in the Liturgy Secretariat for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC. He spent a year at the North American College in Rome, Italy and was the Diocesan Director of Parish Life and Worship. Ten years ago, Father Champlin founded the Guardian Angel Society, a non- profit effort to assist children from economically challenged homes with their education. The Society has raised close to $2 million and helped 150 youngsters reach their academic potential and have a better chance at life. A prolific writer, he has written 50 books with over twenty million copies of his publications in print. For many years, he authored a weekly column on liturgy and worship, appeared in a dozen videos, and made numerous television appearances. He also frequented local radio with inspirational insights, always concluding with “You may have tried everything else, why not try God?” Father Champlin traveled more than 2 million miles here and abroad, lecturing on liturgical and pastoral matters as well as conducting retreats for priests and parish missions. Though nationally known for his writing, lecturing and retreat work, Father Champlin’s greatest gift was his all-inclusive pastoral care for people, particularly at the most pivotal times in their lives. His sacramental ministry of welcoming hospitality and compassion manifested Christ’s love and forgiveness to thousands who encountered God’s grace and presence in their lives through him. Father Champlin is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Peggy Champlin of Los Angeles, CA; his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and David Kreis of Syracuse, New York; ten nieces and nephews and many close and devoted friends. Friends may call Tuesday, January 22, 2008 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with The Most Reverend Thomas J. Costello as the main celebrant. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at the Cathedral with The Most Reverend James M. Moynihan as the main celebrant. Arrangements are by the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that it is a “noble and meritorious act” (#2296) for persons to donate their entire bodies to science or to a medical school for use by students studying to become physicians. Msgr. Champlin made that choice and donated his body to the Upstate Medical Center. However, this process requires the body to be transferred immediately after death to the medical institution. Consequently, having his body and an open casket, present for the funeral service, traditional for priest, clearly was not possible. Contributions in Father Champlin’s memory may be made to the Guardian Angel Society, 259 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.