Reverend Thomas A. Horan

Rev. Thomas A. Horan , Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Gordon, died peacefully on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at the age of 78, at Holy Family Villa for Priests, Bethlehem.

Born in Girardville, Fr. Horan was a son of the late Gregory L. and Regina D. ( Lenahan ) Horan.

He was preceded in death by three brothers; Gregory, Joseph and John Horan and his sister Anne Marie Horan.

The last member of his immediate family Fr. Horan is survived by his sister-in-law Mary Claire Horan, his nieces; Maryclaire Wilkinson, Kathleen Recla, Regina Soroka and Mary Breen, his nephews; Joseph, Michael and Patrick Horan also by several great-nieces and nephews and cousins.

Fr. Horan attended St. Joseph's Parochial School and St. Joseph's High School, Girardville. He studied for the Priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, PA, where he also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy.

He was ordained to the Priesthood on May 19, 1962 by the Most Reverend Francis Furey, D.D., at the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Siena, Allentown.

Father Horan's first Priestly assignment was Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Church, Ashland, followed by Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Allentown; Parochial Vicar, Saint ursula Church, Fountain Hill; Parochial Vicar, Saint Lawrence Church, Catasauqua; Parochial Vicar, Saints simon and Jude Church, Bethlehem; Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Church, Limeport, and Parochial Vicar, Saint ambrose church, Schuylkill Haven. Father Horan's first Pastoral assignment was at the former Holy Rosary Church, Mahanoy Plane, followed by Pastor, Saint Mary Magdalen Church, Lost Creek, and Pastor, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Gordon.

During the course of his Priestly Ministry, Father Horan also served as an Advisory Board Member for CardinalBrennanHigh School, Ashland.

Upon retirement, Father Horan was named Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Gordon.

The Vigil Service will be held on Monday, 7 July 2014 at Saint JosephChurch, Girardville, at 7:00 PM. The Reverend Monsignor William F. Glosser, Dean of Schuylkill Deanery, will preside and give the Homily.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Horan will be celebrated at Saint JosephChurch, 211 West Main Street, Girardville, Pennsylvania, by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, Bishop Emeritus of Allentown, on Tuesday, 8 July 2014, at 11:00 AM. The Reverend Monsignor James A. Treston, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Ignatius Loyola Church, Sinking Spring, will be the Homilist.

Main Concelebrants will be Reverend Monsignor Gerald E. Gobitas, Secretary for Clergy, Chancellor, and Rector, Holy Family Villa; Reverend Monsignor Michael L. Burke, Pastor Emeritus, Saints Philip and James Church, Exton; Reverend Edward B. Connolly, Pastor, Saint Joseph Church and Saint Vincent de Paul Church, Girardville; Reverend John M. Gibbons, Pastor, Sacred Heart church, Allentown, and Administrator, Immaculate Conception Blessed Virgin mary Church, Allentown; Reverend Gregory R. Karpyn, Chaplain, Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Reading; Reverend Charles S. Sperlak, Pastor, Saint Cyril and methodius Church, Reading, and Reverend Monsignor James A. Treston.

Calling hours will be held at Saint JosephChurch, Girardville, on Monday, 7 July 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Tuesday, 8 July 2014 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Interment will be at St. Joseph's CatholicCemetery, Fountain Springs.

Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Girardville, Timothy M. Sullivan, supervisor is in charge of the arrangements.