PHILADELPHIA – The Very Rev. Joseph T. Szupa, 51, suddenly fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, July 10. He had just concluded the 11 a.m. divine liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, where he served as rector since July 1, 2015.
Father Szupa, a native of Chester, Pa., was one of five children, born to the late Andrij and Eva (née Hrebinec) Szupa on May 12, 1965.
He received his elementary education at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic School in Chester and in the fall of 1979 entered St. Basil Preparatory School in Stamford, Conn. After graduation in 1983 and sensing a call to the priesthood, he enrolled in St. Basil’s College Seminary to prepare for ordination.
He completed his undergraduate studies at The Catholic University of America, where he earned a B.A. degree in philosophy while a seminarian at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington. He continued his matriculation at The Catholic University of America and was awarded a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree and completed the program of priestly formation at St. Josaphat’s Seminary.
On September 20, 1992, he was ordained a priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Metropolitan-Archbishop Stephen Sulyk.
The newly ordained Father Szupa celebrated his Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving in his home parish, Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Chester.
After ordination, he was assigned parochial vicar of the cathedral parish and also served at St. Andrew in Philadelphia. He also served the faithful in the following New Jersey parishes: St. Nicholas, Passaic; St. Nicholas, Rutherford; St. Vladimir, Elizabeth; and Immaculate Conception, Hillside.
He also held the following archieparchial positions: chancellor, member of the college of consultors, member of the archieparchial corporation, member of the presbyteral council, member of the finance council, protopresbyter of the New Jersey deanery and advocate in the tribunal. He was secretary of the board of directors of Ascension Manor, Inc.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Michael and Peter.
Father Joseph is survived by brother Stephan Szupa of Woodlyn, Pa., and sister Joanne Balandiak and her husband; nieces Dawn Marie Mastella, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Szupa and Dana Marie Gaffney; and nephews Kristopher Michael Szupa and Andrij J. Balandiak. He is also survived by four grandnieces and grandnephews.
The funeral divine liturgy for Father Szupa was celebrated on Friday, July 15, at Holy Myrrh-bearers Eastern Catholic Church in Swarthmore, Pa., by Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka and his brother priests.
His body lay in repose the previous evening at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, where the priestly parastas was sung.
Burial was at Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, Pa.