May 18, 2016

Norfolk – Bishop Terry R. LaValley will preside at a Mass of Christian Burial for Father Edward E. Papp, 86, May 20 at the Church of the Visitation.

Father Papp died May 13 at St. Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg.

Priests of the diocese will concelebrate at the funeral Mass: Msgr. Harry Snow, pastor of St. Mary’s Waddington/St. John the Baptist, Madrid, will serve as homilist.

Reception of the body at the church will be May 20 at 9 a.m. with Msgr. John Murphy officiating; calling hours will follow until 10:45 a.m. 

Burial will be in the Church of the Visitation Cemetery in Norfolk. 

Father Papp was born in Norfolk Sept. 6, 1929, son of the late Julius and Ethel Nagy Papp.  After graduation from Norwood-Norfolk Central high school, he entered Wadhams Hall Seminary  in 1952. 

He completed his theological studies at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester in 1960 and was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral on April 2, 1960  by Bishop James J. Navagh.

Father Papp’s first assignment was as an assistant pastor at St. John’s, Plattsburgh, later that year at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg; St. Mary’s, Waddington; followed by St. Mary’s, Clayton; and St. James, Gouverneur.
He was then assigned to St. Alexander’s, Morrisonville; St. John’s, Plattsburgh, and St. Agnes, Lake Placid.
In 1971 Father Papp was named administrator of St.George’s, Burke and later, pastor. He was later pastor of St. Mary’s, Glenfield, and St. Rita’s, Deferiet. 

After a few months on a leave of absence, Father Papp returned as an associate pastor in St. Mary’s, Brushton, then temporary administrator of St. Edmund’s, Ellenburg, associate pastor in St. Mary’s, Champlain.

In 1980, Father Papp was named temporary administrator at St. Mary’s, Cumberland Head and then pastor at St. Therese in Newcomb.  In 1982, he was associate pastor in St. Mary’s, Ticonderoga; and St. Mary’s, Brushton; and, in 1997, associate pastor in St. Mary’s, Potsdam. 

Father Papp retired in October of 2004.

Father Papp was predeceased by his brother, Charles and is survived by his sister Mary Molnar, and sister-in-law Lulu Papp.

Below is a reflection on the life and ministry of Father Papp.

A week of joy... and mourning

Mary Lou Kilian
Editor/General Manager

The last weeks of May are always a priestly time of year in the pages of the NCC. Traditionally, ordinations are scheduled in May bringing a month of anniversaries and annual meetings to determine where any new priests might be placed.
While there are no new priests this May (check back in October!), the bishop and his committee on assignments met this past week to fill vacancies left by three priests who are retiring as pastors.

This week’s paper features the biographies of eight priests affected by the clergy transfers.

Next week we’ll salute our 2016 jubilarians, those observing 25, 40, 50, 60 and 70 years of priesthood as they celebrate with  their brother priests at the Presbyteral Assembly in Alexandria Bay.

This week of joy is tinged with a bit of sadness, though, as we mourn a priest who has served the Diocese of Ogdensburg for more than five decades.

Father Edward E. Papp died May 13 at St. Joseph’s Home where he had resided for the past several years.
Father Papp’s many assignments never included one near my parish so I actually first met him when he moved into St. Joseph’s next door to my dad.

This priest was a gentle man, much loved by the nursing home staff. He enjoyed old movies and attended daily Mass as often as he could.

Father Papp entered Wadhams Hall just a month after he was discharged from the navy during the Korean War.
After his ordination April 2, 1960 he served parishes all across the diocese.

His life was marked by love for his church, his country and his family.

We offer particular sympathy to his sister, Mary Molnar, another resident of St. Joseph’s who was able to sit with Father Papp in his final moments of life.

Rest in Peace, Father Papp.

Your diocesan family is grateful for your life of service to the North Country church.