OBITUARY
Msgr. John Beckage, 70, served parishes in Pennsylvania, Ohio
BERWICK, Pa. - Msgr. John Beckage, 70, pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church in Berwick, died on February 16 at Berwick Retirement Village Nursing Home after a lengthy bout with cancer. He was 70.
He was born on September 3, 1925, son of George and Elizabeth Guman Beckage. He attended Olyphant public schools and then entered St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Stamford, Conn., earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy with a minor in psychology in 1960.
After graduation he entered St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary and the Catholic University of America in Washington. He was ordained to the priesthood by the late Archbishop Ambrose Senyshyn on March 30, 1964, in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia.
His pastoral assignments included serving as assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Philadelphia, 1964-1965; assistant pastor of Christ the King Church in Philadelphia and administrator of Nativity of the BVM Church, Roxborough, Pa., 1965-1966; pastor of St. Michael's Church, Pottstown, Pa., 1966-1967; assistant pastor of St. Andrew's Church in Parma, Ohio, 1967-1970; pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Simpson, Pa., 1970-1972, 1977-1979; pastor of Presentation of Our Lord Church, Lansdale, Pa., 1973-1974; pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Phoenixville, Pa., 1974-1977; and pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1979-1982.
He assumed his present assignment as pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church in Berwick, on July 1, 1982. During his pastorage in Berwick, he was responsible for building a new parish rectory and redecorating the interior of the parish church. He also served as administrator of St. Nicholas Church, Nanticoke, 1983-1993.
He was appointed papal chaplain on December 1, 1994, with the title the reverend monsignor.
Surviving are a sister, Helen, a brother, Michael, nieces and nephews.
Msgr. Beckage was preceded in death by two brothers, Stephen and William.
Funeral services took place on February 18-20. Transferal services and the office of burial for a priest were held February 18 at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church in Berwick. On February 19, a pontifical divine liturgy was offered by Bishop Walter Paska at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church in Berwick in the morning and a parastas service for a priest was offered by priests of the Scranton and Shamokin Deanery at Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Olyphant in the evening.
The next day, Archbishop-Metropolitan Stephen Sulyk officiated at a pontifical divine liturgy in the Olyphant church. Interment followed at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Cemetery in Peckville, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Msgr. John Beckage Scholarship Fund, c/o Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, 706 N. Warren St., Berwick, PA 18603.
Msgr. Beckage was a member of Ukrainian National Association Branch 409 in Dunmore, Pa.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 10, 1996, No. 10, Vol. LXIV
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