DANBURY—Reverend Paul F. Merry passed away on the morning of July 15, 2020. He was 73 years of age.
“Father Merry is fondly remembered by many across the diocese as a kind and humble man and a true servant priest who worked tirelessly and gave of himself sacrificially in his ministry to others. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Merry and for the consolation of his family,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.
Most recently Father Merry had served as Chaplin of Saint John Paul II Center for Health Care, Danbury, and In-Residence Priest at St. Peter Church in Danbury.
Paul Francis Merry was born in Stamford, Connecticut, on December 20, 1946, son of Francis and Mary (Tierney) Merry. He was baptized January 12, 1947, at St. Cecilia Church in Stamford, CT.
He attended St. Mary Grammar School, Stamford and St. Basil Preparatory School, also in Stamford.
Father Merry began his priestly formation at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield CT, continued at St. John Seminary and completed his theological studies at the North American College in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Reverend James A. Hickey at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on December 17, 1971.
He first served as Parochial Vicar of St. James Church in Stratford (1972-1976). In June 1976, he was appointed as the Priest Chaplain to Sacred Heart University. During this time, he resided at St. Andrew Church in Bridgeport and St. Stephen Church in Trumbull. From 1982 to 1985, he served as pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Chiclayo, Peru.
Returning to the diocese in 1985, Father Merry was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Mary Church in Bridgeport. He was named pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Bridgeport in 1989. Since 2007, Father Merry has served as the chaplain at Pope John Paul II Care and Rehab Center, residing at St. Peter in Danbury.
Throughout his years of priestly ministry in the Diocese, Father Merry also served on the Presbyteral Council, as Auditor Notary for the Marriage Tribunal, the Diocesan Advisor to the English Language Cursillos.
Father Merry’s body will be received at St. Peter Church, Danbury on Monday, July 20 at 3:30 pm for a private prayer service for the family and will lie in repose from 4 pm until 7 pm
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will celebrate the Funeral Mass on Tuesday, July 21 at 11 am, and Father Michael Boccaccio will be the homilist.
