Monsignor John Harrington, one of the great priests of Rockland County, died on August 22, 2009. Msgr. John Harrington was born in 1920 on Manhattan's East Side. He attended St. Jean Baptiste Grammar School and then began his early studies for the priesthood at the New York Minor Seminary, Cathedral College. His formal seminary training was pursued at St. Joseph's Seminary and he was ordained in 1945. Cardinal Spellman sent the newly ordained Father John Harrington to obtain a graduate degree in social work at Boston College. Upon completion of his studies at B.C., Father Harrington was made director of Family Services for New York Catholic Charities. During his twenty-five year career as a social worker and family counselor, he also served at two Yonkers parishes and was the chaplain for the Cardinal McClosky Home for Children. His Catholic Charities ministry saw Father Harrington developing Archdiocesan programs in mental health, housing for the poor, day care for the children of working mothers, and Head Start. Father Harrington was honored by Pope Paul VI with the title of Monsignor, first as a Papal Chamberlain in 1962 and then a Domestic Prelate in 1968. Msgr. Harrington began his ministry as a pastor at Our Lady of Victory Church in Mount Vernon. Very interested in the religious education of youth, he obtained a Masters' Degree in Religious Education in 1978 from St. Joseph's Seminary. Monsignor always taught religion to children in both the parish and public schools. He did this faithfully in all his assignments until his recent illness. Monsignor was extraordinarily committed to the Pro-Life Movement. In 1979, Monsignor was assigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Stony Point, where he was able to build a beautiful church, of which he was most proud. In 1986, Cardinal O'Connor appointed him the Vicar of Rockland County. Upon his retirement from Immaculate Conception, Monsignor continued his vast educational career by spending a year of study at the Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. When he returned to New York, Monsignor James Doyle, the pastor of St. Margaret's Church in Pearl River, asked Monsignor to serve at the parish as a Senior Priest, where he ministered to everyone in the community with his usual dedication and compassion. Msgr. Harrington is survived by his brother, Bernard Harrington of Greenboro, PA. Also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. Monsignor's body will be formally received at St. Margaret's Parish on Friday, August 28th with a special ceremony at 3 PM in the school gym. Wake 3:30 - 6:30 PM at St. Margaret's School Gym, Pearl River. Solemn Mass of the Holy Eucharist at St. Margaret's Church. Bishop Gerald Walsh, Celebrant, Friday, August 28th at 7:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial, His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, Celebrant, Saturday, August 29th, 10 AM St. Margaret's Church. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, Queens. Donations may be made in memory of Msgr. Harrington to Mary F. Clancy Charities, Inc., Att: Susan Cardosa, Sec., 1929 Haight Ave., Bronx, NY 10461 or Rosary Hill Home, 600 Linda Ave., Hawthorne, NY 10532. ASSUMMA-SHANKEY FUNERAL HOME 34 N. Summit Street Pearl River, NY 10965 (845) 735-4849