IObserve
August 11, 2010
SPRINGFIELD – Father James P. Menge, a retired priest of the Diocese of Springfield, passed away Aug. 6 at Mary's Meadow skilled nursing facility in Holyoke following a long illness. He was 74.
Father Menge was a long-time pastor at Southwick's Our Lady of the Lake Parish, having been appointed there in March of 1979 and serving until August of 1993.
He also served as pastor at the former St. Patrick Parish in Chicopee and at Holy Trinity Parish in Greenfield, the pastorate from which he retired in June of 2000.
Father Menge was ordained in St. Michael's Cathedral on Jan. 27, 1962 by Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon.
Born in Springfield on July 14, 1936, he attended St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Conn. from 1954-1956 and St. John's Seminary in Brighton for philosophy and theology from 1956-1962.
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His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at the former St. Anthony Parish in North Adams. He served at the former St. Mary Parish and Holy Name Parish, both in Springfield, in Holyoke at Holy Cross Parish and the former Sacred Heart Parish, and at St. Mary Parish in Longmeadow.
Father Menge served as director of the Newman Apostolate at Longmeadow's Bay Path College and also at the former St. Francis Parish in North Adams and at St. Thomas Parish in West Springfield.
He served as dean of the Hampden West Deanery and was a member of the Advocate/Notary staff of the Diocese of Springfield Tribunal.
Father Menge will lie in state in the Holy Spirit Chapel adjacent to St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield on Tuesday, Aug. 10, beginning at 3 p.m.,with a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 11 a.m. in St. Michael's Cathedral, 254 State St., Springfield. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, Springfield.
Memorial donations may be made to Seminarian Education Fund, Diocese of Springfield, P.O. Box 1730, Springfield, MA 01102-1730 or Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073 or at www.foodforthepoor.org.
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