Father Joseph P. Rush of Gibbsboro, former pastor and high school teacher, died July 23 at Saint Mary Center, Cherry Hill, at the age of 84.
A native of Philadelphia, born Oct. 5, 1935, he graduated from West Catholic High School before completing studies at Jordan Seminary in Menominee, Michigan. He received a master’s degree in history from the Our Lady of the Angels Seminary at Niagara University in New York.
On May 19, 1962, Father Rush was ordained at Camden’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Archbishop Celestine J. Damiano.
Five months after his ordination, he began teaching at Wildwood Catholic High School, and later became the school’s vocation coordinator. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he also served on the faculty of Cathedral Academy (Camden), Holy Spirit High School (Absecon), and Saint James High School (Carneys Point).
Father Rush served as pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua, Hammonton, (1981-85), Our Lady of Victories, Landisville (1985-89), Saint Teresa, Runnemede (1989-91), and Assumption, Pomona (1991-2002). He was senior priest at Saint Edward Parish, Pine Hill, from 2002 until his retirement in 2005.
He was one of three brothers who served as a priest in the Diocese of Camden. His brother Father James P. Rush died four years ago, on July 10, 2016. The remaining brother, Father Michael P. Rush, retired as pastor of Saint Damien Parish, Ocean City, on July 15.
Father Rush was the son of the late Paul and the late Pauline (nee Mellon) Rush. He was the brother of Paul and his wife Olga Rush, Father Michael P. Rush and the late Father James P. Rush; uncle of Ingrid Rush and Michael and his wife Rebecca Rush; and great-uncle of Gabriella Rush and Madelynne Rush.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 30 at Saint Andrew the Apostle Church in Gibbsboro. Interment was private.
Donations in Father Rush’s memory can be made to the House of Charity-Bishop’s Annual Appeal, 631 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102.
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