The Diocese of Allentown announced that the Rev. Monsignor John P. Murphy, pastor emeritus of Saint Thomas More Parish in Allentown, died Dec. 22 at the age of 86.

Born in Shenandoah, Monsignor Murphy was the son of the late John Henry and Estelle (Darowish) Murphy. He is survived by his sister, Mary Louise Padolick; and his nephews, Joseph Padolick and Kenneth Padolick.

Murphy attended Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School, and graduated from Shenandoah Catholic High School. He entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook in 1955, and was ordained to the priesthood on March 7, 1964, by the Most Reverend Joseph M. McShea, bishop of Allentown, at the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Siena in Allentown.

Murphy’s first assignment was parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Allentown, where he was later named as pastor. In 1980, he was appointed pastor of Saint Thomas More Parish in Allentown, and remained in that assignment until his retirement in June 2021 when he was named pastor emeritus on June 15, 2021.

Calling hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5 with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6 at Saint Thomas More Church, 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the church by the Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, bishop of Allentown. Interment will be at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery in Shenandoah.