Father Daniel S. Murphy, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, was born on Oct. 27, 1944, in New York, was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1970, and died on Dec. 12. He was 80. Father Murphy served the Diocese of Brooklyn as pastor of St. Saviour (Park Slope), Holy Child Jesus (Richmond Hill), and St. Andrew the Apostle (Bay Ridge). He served as parochial vicar for Our Lady Help of Christians (Midwood), Resurrection-Ascension (Rego Park), St. Brigid (Bushwick), and St. Mary Star of the Sea (Far Rockaway).
Father Murphy also served as chaplain of St. Saviour High School and the former Stella Maris High School (Rockaway Park). He was also a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society.
He retired to Florida in 2015, but for 10 years, he continued to minister as an “active senior priest” at Holy Cross Church in Vero Beach, Florida.
Father Frank W. Spacek, who succeeded Father Murphy as pastor of St. Saviour Church in Park Slope in 2015, said his predecessor will be remembered by parishioners and fellow priests alike as “a man of great faith who wanted to share his love of Jesus with everyone he served.”
He added Father Murphy’s ministry “touched the lives of so many people in so many ways,” from bringing holy Communion to patients in Brooklyn Methodist Hospital to celebrating Mass for New York Mets players and their families when he served as the team’s chaplain from 1984-1990.
“Father Murphy was a down-to-earth preacher who spoke to people’s hearts,” Father Spacek said. A vigil Mass for Father Murphy was celebrated on Dec. 19 at St. Saviour. The principal celebrant was Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio and the homilist was Father Joseph M. Hoffman. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Dec. 20 at St. Saviour. The principal celebrant was Bishop Robert Brennan and the homilist
was Father Spacek.
Special concelebrants were Father Joseph M. Hoffman, Father Kevin P. Cavalluzzi, Father Joseph A. Ceriello, and Father Michael G. Tedone. Interment followed at St. John Cemetery. Father Murphy’s family kindly requests donations be made to St. Saviour Parish.
