Msgr. James H. Meehan, 83

The Right Rev. Msgr. James H. Meehan, pastor emeritus of St. John Neumann parish, Bryn Mawr, and an educator at Catholic high schools during 59 years as a priest, died Friday. He was 83.

He served on the faculty of the former St. James High School, in Chester and Bishop McDevitt High School, in Wyncote. He was principal of St. Hubert High School, in Philadelphia.

Meehan was born in Philadelphia to James Henry Meehan and the former Loretta Donnelly. He attended St. Joseph Preparatory High School before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

He was ordained on May 27, 1950, at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul by the Most Rev. J. Carroll McCormick. He was named honorary prelate to Pope Paul VI in 1973.

Meehan previously served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, in Pottsville, and as assistant vicar for religious and vicar for religious in the '70s.

In 1978, he became parochial administrator at St. John Neumann parish and became pastor in 1980. In 2001, he was named pastor emeritus.

He is survived by three brothers, Michael, Msgr. Francis and the Rev. Joseph Meehan.

Services: Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Justin Rigali at 11 a.m. today at St. Dorothy Church, Drexel Hill. A viewing will begin at 9:15 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon. *