• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Bishop Robert Barron
          • George Weigel
          • Question Corner
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Suzanna Molino Singleton
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Paul McMullen
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Father T. Austin Murphy Jr.
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • Subscribe
Josephite Father Joseph Del Vecchio led a youth pilgrimage from West Baltimore to France, Portugal and Spain in June 2008, one that included Greer Dorsey. (Courtesy Greer Dorsey)

Josephite priest who influenced generations of youths in West Baltimore dies

Paul McMullen January 18, 2018
By Paul McMullen
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries, Urban Vicariate

Josephite Father Joseph Francis Xavier Del Vecchio, whose gruff exterior could not hide the compassion he showed several generations of children in West Baltimore, died Jan. 13 at age 72 at St. Joseph Manor, the society’s retirement facility in Baltimore.

Father Del Vecchio served as assistant pastor of St. Pius V for four years in the mid-1970s; returned to Baltimore as an associate pastor of St. Peter Claver from 1980 to 1983; and again in 2000 to begin a nine-year stint as administrator and then pastor of both faith communities, which now comprise one parish.

He challenged his young parishioners to do more, both on the playing field and in their community, and broadened their horizons by leading them on pilgrimages to foreign lands and even helping some families with college tuition bills.

From left, Jlen Buffingfon, Aprile Greene, Orrin Case, Ryan Tunstall and Greer Dorsey were among the youths from St. Peter Claver and St. Pius V in West Baltimore who accompanied Josephite Father Joseph Del Vecchio on a pilgrimage to France, Portugal and Spain in June 2008. (Courtesy Greer Dorsey)

A native of Flushing, N.Y., and lifelong fan of the New York Yankees, Father Del Vecchio completed his education at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Washington, D.C., and was ordained a priest in 1972. Other than a brief assignment in Alabama, he spent most of his 45 years as a priest serving the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington.

The people he impacted in Baltimore include Ray Kelly, who grew up in St. Peter Claver Parish and now serves on its executive committee.

“He was always thinking about the youth of the parish, the next generation,” Kelly said. “He knew that if they weren’t interested in the church when they graduated high school, they’re gone. Father Joe was adamant about us having something to do. He coached us in baseball and basketball, but it wasn’t all about play.

“He demanded that we be of service to the church. He preached that the key to heaven is the work you do for others. The Josephites are known for always working with the black community, and Father Joe had an uncanny way of becoming a part of that community.”

When Kelly was confirmed in 1984, Father Del Vecchio, by then an associate pastor at Incarnation in Washington, returned to St. Peter Claver to stand as his sponsor.

“I needed a lot of guidance as a youth,” Kelly said. “My mother would send me to him for discipline. I had to answer to both.”

Kathleen Filippelli, principal of Holy Angels Catholic School, had the support of Father Del Vecchio when she was principal of the former Father Charles Hall School, which was on the campus of St. Peter Claver.

“He was involved with anything that had to do with the children and youths of the school and parish,” Filippelli said. “He would stand outside to greet the children in the morning, and used to joke, ‘I’ve never seen kids run up to school with a smile on their face. It’s supposed to be the other way around.’

“As gruff as he was on the outside, he was a very gentle soul. He wanted to get children off the street, and into other experiences. He took them from the parish to World Youth Day to see the pope. When pennies got tight for families, he helped them keep their kids in college.”

Greer Dorsey benefited from that help in the spring of 2006, when Father Del Vecchio assisted with the balance of the second semester tuition of her sophomore year at Hampton University.

“My mom couldn’t afford it,” Dorsey said. “We asked a lot of people for help, but Father Joe was the only person who helped me. He was like a father to me.”

Dorsey did not have a passport, until she and other youths from West Baltimore joined Father Del Vecchio on a pilgrimage to Toronto for World Youth Day 2002, when she saw St. John Paul II. Her pastor also led a youth and young adult pilgrimage to Portugal, France and Spain in 2008.

“He got us involved in so many activities with the archdiocese, HiLi, Justice Action Week,” said Dorsey, still a parishioner of St. Peter Claver/St. Pius V. “He saw something in me, and did his best to bring it out, so that I could be a light for others.”

Father Del Vecchio was a proponent of BUILD (Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development); was honored several times by the archdiocese’s Catholic Youth Organization; and celebrated Mass in 2007 for the New York Jets before they played the Ravens in Baltimore.

He returned to St. Peter Claver/St. Pius V as associate pastor in 2014, but declining health forced him to retire last February. A viewing will be held at St. Peter Claver Jan. 19, from 9 to 11 a.m., with a funeral Mass to be offered at 11 a.m.

 

Email Paul McMullen at pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Paul McMullen

Paul McMullen

Paul McMullen has served as the managing editor of the Catholic Review since 2008.

The author of two books, Paul has been involved in local media since age 12, when he began delivering The News American to 80 homes in his neighborhood. He began his journalism career with the Capital-Gazette Newspapers in Anne Arundel County, and spent more than 25 years as a sports writer for The Sun in Baltimore. His favorite writing assignments have included the Summer Olympics in Australia and Greece, the Archdiocese of Baltimore's response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and “Feet for Francis,” a 2015 walking pilgrimage from the Baltimore Basilica to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Archdiocese of Baltimore plans ‘Safe Haven Sunday’ to fight pornography

Pasadena parish cites pandemic in decision to close preschool

Father Snouffer, information technology trailblazer for archdiocese, dies at 83

‘Blessing bags’ a focal point for merged St. Casimir Parish during pandemic

Young Mother Lange honoree keeps busy helping others

Latest World News

Heroes of love: New pathway open for future saints

Bishops: If passed, Equality Act will ‘discriminate against people of faith

Cardinal prays on CNN program marking 500,000 COVID-19 deaths in U.S.

Not your grandfather’s — or father’s — Superman

Passionist priest, relative of English princes, takes step closer to sainthood

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Reason for celibacy/ Blessing for non-sacramental marriage?
  • Archdiocese of Baltimore plans ‘Safe Haven Sunday’ to fight pornography
  • Heroes of love: New pathway open for future saints
  • Some English Catholics object to transfer of nun’s remains to Philadelphia
  • Bishops: If passed, Equality Act will ‘discriminate against people of faith
  • Pandemic Stories (or why there’s a Nerf gun in the tub)
  • Cardinal prays on CNN program marking 500,000 COVID-19 deaths in U.S.
  • Pasadena parish cites pandemic in decision to close preschool
  • Father Snouffer, information technology trailblazer for archdiocese, dies at 83
  • Not your grandfather’s — or father’s — Superman

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2021 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED