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Pennsylvania Charitable Trust |
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Father Edward F.
Higgins
Born: May 10, 1927 Ordained: May 29, 1954 Golden Jubilee Celebrated: June 6, 2004 Born May 10, 1927 in Arnold, PA, Edward Francis Xavier Higgins was the second son of Charles Howard and Josephine Stratman Higgins. His brothers and sisters are Charles, Joan, Peggy, and Thomas. He attended St. Joseph Parochial School in New Kensington and was graduated from Arnold Public High School in 1945. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served two years as a Seaman during World War II, aboard the U.S.S. Albany and the U.S.S. Rochester. He was honorably discharged in August of 1946. During his tour of duty, Father Higgins' desire to enter the religious life was encouraged by Father David McCarthy, a Navy chaplain. He was attending St. Stephen's Church in Washington, D.C. and was befriended by Monsignor Lawrence Gatti who was instrumental in assisting him to enter the seminary. Having received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951 from St. Vincent College, he continued his seminary studies and also attended the University of Pittsburgh for additional credits. On May 29, 1954 he was ordained to the priesthood from the Diocese of Greensburg by Bishop Hugh L. Lamb. Saint Peters Church, Brownsville and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Newell was his first assignment as associate pastor until 1956. Leaving the Brownsville area, he became administrator of Saint Aloysius, Dunbar during the summer. He then served as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception, Irwin until 1959 and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament from 1959-60. Following this he was assigned as instructor in religion and college chaplain at Seton Hill College from 1960-62. In 1961, Bishop Connare appointed him to the first Commission for Ecumenism in the Diocese. Saint John the Baptist, Heilwood, Indiana County and its missions Saint Patrick of Cameron's Bottom and Sacred Heart of Alverda was his first pastorate from 1962-68. In 1968 he graduated from the National Chaplain Training Center, St. Louis, Missouri. As a Naval chaplain he was stationed at the U.S. Veterans Administration Center and Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapel in Hampton, Virginia from 1968-70. Pastor of the Church of the Assumption, Leechburg and Saint Mary's Mission, Schenley from 1970-73; Pastor of Saint Peters, Brownsville and mission, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Newell in 1973. Founder of "CrossKeys" Community Center for senior citizens of Brownsville and Central Fayette Counties in 1975, West View Residence for the Elderly in 1975, and Coramor Residence for treatment and rehabilitation of emotionally handicapped in 1978. In 1979, he was named pastor of his home parish, Saint Joseph Church, New Kensington where he served until 1992. Much of his energy during those years was to improve the quality of education in the school and to strive to build a sound financial basis for the on-going effort of the entire parish community to foster an educational system based on spiritual values. He was pastor during the Centennial of St. Joseph Parish in 1991, which coincided with the Centennial of the establishment of the City of New Kensington. He is currently in residence at the Neumann House in Greensburg. On June 6, 2004, he celebrated his Golden Jubilee in a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Joseph Church.
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St. Joseph
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