Msgr. Paul Taggart has died

November 10, 2005 - 12:00 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Catholic PRWire

Long-time diocesan official, Msgr. Paul J. Taggart has died at age 86.

November 10, 2005 --- (Wilmington, DE) --- The Reverend Monsignor Paul Joseph Taggart, long-time official of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington and Administrator of the diocese after the deaths of both Bishop Hyle and Bishop Mardaga, died today after a lengthy illness. He was 86 years old.

The Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, has issued the following statement regarding Msgr. Taggart's passing: "We have lost a most respected priest. His ministry and his service in this diocese is legend. He is one of the giants on whose shoulders so many of us have stood. We continue to benefit from his great foresight as he anticipated the challenges of a growing Catholic population.

The many posts he has held in his priestly service reflect the confidences the bishops who were my predecessors placed in him. Even in his retirement years he kept active in so many concerns particularly the children of St. Peter's Cathedral School and other worthy projects. I will miss his counsel and wisdom and his wonderful sense of humor. May he rest in the peace of the Lord."

Born on January 31, 1919 in Wilmington, Delaware, Msgr. Taggart was the son of Paul Joseph and Barbara Josephine (Eppig) Taggart. He received his early education at Ursuline Academy and Archmere Academy and attended Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland and did graduate studies in sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Msgr. Taggart worked for a while in his family's insurance business. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served during World Was II in communications intelligence in Washington, DC and as a gunnery officer aboard the USS Wisconsin. After his discharge in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant, he returned to his family's business.

In the 1940s, he was instrumental in the formation of the National Council of Christians and Jews in Delaware and Catholic Forum of the Air, a Catholic radio program that was used as a model for Catholic radio programs across the United States and is still on the air today in Wilmington under the name of Catholic Forum.

In 1947, Msgr. Taggart began his studies for the priesthood at the Theological College of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. His years of priestly service to the Catholic Church of Wilmington began when he was ordained by Bishop Edmond J. FitzMaurice on June 2, 1951 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Wilmington. His first Mass was held at his home parish of St. Ann's with the Trapp Family Singers (of The Sound of Music fame) who were personal friends of Msgr. Taggart, serving as choir.

He served as associate pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Salisbury, Maryland, Holy Cross Parish in Dover, Delaware (where he also served as administrator) and Christ Our King Parish in Wilmington, Delaware. He served as pastor of St. Paul's Parish, Wilmington, St. Ann's Parish, Wilmington and as rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter, Wilmington.

In 1959, Pope John XXIII appointed him a Papal Chamberlain with the title Very Reverend Monsignor. He was elevated to the rank of Domestic Prelate with the title Right Reverend Monsignor in 1965 by Pope Paul VI.

Msgr. Taggart has held numerous diocesan positions including Director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, Director of Catholic Cemeteries and Vocations Director. He served as member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Press of Wilmington, Inc. and member of the Diocesan Building Commission, Finance Committee, Pastoral Commission, Priests Senate and Priests Personnel Committee.

In 1966, Bishop Hyle appointed him Vicar General of the Diocese of Wilmington, a position he held until 1995. Msgr. Taggart served as administrator of the Diocese of Wilmington after the death of Bishop Hyle in 1967 and after the death of Bishop Thomas J. Mardaga in 1984.

Over the years, Msgr. Taggart has received numerous awards in recognition of his service to the people of the Diocese of Wilmington including the Monsignor Thomas J. Reese Award by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington. In 1966, he received the National Conference of Christian and Jews Award for outstanding work in promoting harmony in race and religion.

In 1976, Msgr. Taggart was named a member of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Also in 1976, he received the Mount St. Mary's Cardinal McCloskey Award for outstanding service to the priesthood among alumni. Monsignor was the founder and first Chaplain of the St. Thomas More Society of the Diocese of Wilmington and received the St. Thomas More Award in 1992. He received the Friends of St. Edmond's Academy Award in 1998.

In 1994, Msgr. Taggart retired from active ministry but continued to serve as Director of the Development Office for the Cathedral of St. Peter until the time of his death.

Msgr. Taggart had one sister, Sister M. Barbara Taggart, MD, a member of the Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries, who preceded him in death.

Viewing will be on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Ann's Church, Union Street and Gilpin Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware. A Vigil Service will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. at St. Ann's. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial with the Most Rev. Michael A. Saltarelli, Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington as principal celebrant, will take place on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 11:00 at St. Ann's. Interment will be in the Vicar General's plot at All Saint's Cemetery.

# # #

Contact: Bob Krebs 302/573-3116 rkrebs@cdow.org

Contact

Diocese of Wilmington
http://www.cdow.org
DE, US
Bob Krebs - Director, Office of Communications, 302 573-3116

Keywords

Paul Taggart Wilmington

Category

US Archdiocese & Diocese

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