Joseph M. Champlin

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Msgr. Joseph M. Champlin (born 1930, died January 17, 2008) a Roman Catholic priest, author, and lecturer. Father Champlin was born on Sunday, May 11, 1930 in Hammondsport, New York, the son of Francis Malburn and Katherine Masson Champlin and stepson of Charles Haynes. He was educated in his hometown public schools before graduating from Phillips Academy at Andover, MA. After studying at Yale and Notre Dame Universities, he began his journey to the priesthood at seminaries in Rochester, New York. He was ordained Thursday, February 2, 1956 and enjoyed a full and varied priestly ministry for over 50 years.

Father Champlin’s first assignment was the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He subsequently served as pastor at Holy Family in Fulton, St. Joseph’s, Camillus and returned to the Cathedral where he retired after serving as Rector from 1995-2005. At the time of his death, he was the sacramental priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Warners. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Father Champlin served as the Associate Director in the Liturgy Secretariat for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC. He spent a year at the North American College in Rome, Italy and was the Diocesan Director of Parish Life and Worship. Ten years ago, Father Champlin founded the Guardian Angel Society, a non- profit effort to assist children from economically challenged homes with their education. The Society has raised close to $2 million and helped 150 youngsters reach their academic potential and have a better chance at life.

A prolific writer, he has written 50 books with over twenty million copies of his publications in print. For many years, he authored a weekly column on liturgy and worship, appeared in a dozen videos, and made numerous television appearances. He also frequented local radio with inspirational insights, always concluding with “You may have tried everything else, why not try God?”

Father Champlin traveled more than 2 million miles here and abroad, lecturing on liturgical and pastoral matters as well as conducting retreats for priests and parish missions.

Though nationally known for his writing, lecturing and retreat work, Father Champlin’s greatest gift was his all-inclusive pastoral care for people, particularly at the most pivotal times in their lives. His sacramental ministry of welcoming hospitality and compassion manifested Christ’s love and forgiveness to thousands who encountered God’s grace and presence in their lives through him.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that it is a “noble and meritorious act” (#2296) for persons to donate their entire bodies to science or to a medical school for use by students studying to become physicians. Msgr. Champlin made that choice and donated his body to the Upstate Medical Center. However, this process requires the body to be transferred immediately after death to the medical institution. Consequently, having his body and an open casket, present for the funeral service, traditional for priest, clearly was not possible.

Contributions in Father Champlin’s memory may be made to the Guardian Angel Society, 259 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.

[edit] Selected Writings (mostly paperback)

Together for Life: A Preparation for Marriage Outside Mass (1970, 1979, 1985, 1997)
Together For Life: A Preparation for Marriage and for the Ceremony (1981, 1986, 1988)
Inside a Catholic Church: A Guide to Signs, Symbols, and Saints (2003)
Marriage And Holy Orders: Your Call to Love And Serve (with Michael Amodei; 2007)
Slow Down: Five-Minute Meditations to De-Stress Your Days (2004)
Communion of the Sick (2005)
What It Means to Be Catholic (2006)
"Don't You Really Love Me?" (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975)
The Living Parish - A Believing, Caring, Praying People (1977)
Juntos Para Toda La Vida: Una Preparacion Para El Matrimonio Y La Ceremonia (1994)
Daily Reflections for Advent 2007: Prepare Your Heart (2007)
The Eucharist: A Mystery of Faith (2005)
When the Dying Speak: How to Listen to and Learn from Those Facing Death (with Ronald Wooten-Green; 2002)
Through Death to Life (1979, 1984, 1990)
The Breaking Of The Bread: An Updated Handbook For Extraordinary Ministers Of Holy Communion (2005)
The Marginal Catholic: Challenge, Don't Crush (1989, 2001)
Should We Marry? (2001)
Sustaining and Strengthening Stewardship (with James Kelley; 1995)
Why Go to Confession: Questions and Answers About Sacramental Reconciliation (1982, 1996)
Take Five: One Hundred Meditations to De-stress Your Days (2006)
Grateful Caretakers of God's Many Gifts: A Parish Manual to Foster the Sharing of Time, Talent, and Treasure (Sacrificial Giving Program; 2002)
Firm But Kind And Gentle: A Practical Handbook for Pastoral Ministry (2007)
The Stations of the Cross With Pope John Paul II (1994)
From the Heart: Personalizing Your Wedding Homily With Your Own Hopes and Expectations (1998)
Good Mom, Bad Mom ("The Other Mother: A Novel")
A Way of Life: Four Faith-Sharing Sessions about Sacrificial Giving, Stewardship, and Grateful Caretaking (2004)
Preparing for Eternity: A Catholic Handbook for End-of-Life Concerns (2007)
El Vía Crucis Con El Papa Juan Pablo II (with Grady Gunter; 1997)
Behind Closed Doors: Handbook on How to Pray (1984)
An Important Office of Immense Love: A Handbook for Eucharistic Ministers (1997)
El Rito Del Matrimonio (1996)
From Time to Eternity and Back: A Priest's Successful Struggle With Cancer (2004)
Messengers of God's Word: A Handbook of Lectors (1982)
Taking a Step: Pack of 100 (Sacrificial Giving Program; 2002)
Special Signs of Grace: The Sacraments and Sacramentals (1986)
Nurturing Sacrificial Giving: Practical Steps for Its Renewal & Growth (1988)
Sharing Treasure, Time, and Talent: A Parish Manual for Sacrificial Giving or Tithing (1982)
Love and Life (New Vision Series) (1966)
The Lord Is Present (1973)
Together by your side: A book for comforting sick and dying
Grateful Giving (Sacrificial Giving Program; 2002)
Mass in a World of Change (1975)
Toward a New Life: Prayers, Psalms and Readings for the Family and a Guide for Planning the Funeral Service (with James McGovern and James E. Flynn; 1971)
Sharing Gifts: A Spirituality of Time, Talent, and Treasure (1991)
Alone No Longer (1977)
Christ Present and Yet to Come: The Priest and God's People at Prayer (1981)
Through the Catechism With Father Champlin (1996)
An Important Office of Immense Love: A Handbook for Eucharistic Ministers (1984)
The Sacraments in a World of Change (1972, 1973, 1975)
Proper Balance (1981)
Messengers of God's Word: A Handbook of Lectors (1982)
An Important Office of Immense Love: A Handbook for Eucharistic Ministers (1980)
Together in Peace for Children (with B. A. Haggerty; 1976)
Meeting The Merciful Christ: How to Go to Confession (2005)
Christ present and yet to come: The priest and God's people at prayer (1971)
Father Champlin on Contemporary Issues: The Ten Commandments and Today's Catholics (1997)
A Través Del Catecismo: Una Guía De Preguntas Y Respuetas (1999)
"Do You Really Love Me?" (1971)
Building better parish councils (1985)
Pastoral Care: A Parish Planning Workbook (1998)
Mystery and Meaning of the Mass (1999)
To Live in Christ - Eucharist: Growing in Daily Spirituality (Spiritual Formation Program; 2007)