Reverend Charles H. Brown, MD, JD

Father Charles H. Brown, MD, JD, a retired priest of the Eparchy of Passaic, and a resident of St. Mary's Villa, Langhorne, PA, fell asleep in the Lord on March 27, 2022.  Prior to his retirement, he was Pastor of Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church in Northeast Philadelphia, PA.

Father Charles was born in Philadelphia, PA on December 28, 1929 to Charles E. Brown and Helen Greenan Brown.  He was Baptized on March 16, 1930 at St. Rose of Lima Church and was confirmed on March 28, 1943 at St. Agatha Church.

Following graduation from local schools and service in the US Army ((1953-1955), he graduated from Villanova University in 1957 and from Hahnemann University Medical School in 1961.  He was certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  He also earned a JD degree in Law from Boston University in 1974 and was a member of the Massachusetts Bar.

Some of the positions he held during the course of his professional career included: Staff Physician at United Mine Workers Memorial Hospital (Turkey Creek, KY); Ships Surgeon at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (Falmouth, MA); Staff Psychiatrist at the VA Outpatient Clinic (Boston, MA); interim Chief Medical Officer with the Veterans Administration Psychiatry Service; and Chief Medical Officer at the VA Sub Clinic (New Bedford, MA). 

Discerning a call to the priesthood, Dr. Brown studied Theology at the Angelicum Pontifial Institute (Rome, Italy) where he was in residence at the Collegio Russo (Russico).  He received Clerical Tonsure as well as the Sacred Orders of Sub-Deacon and Deacon on September 14, 1986 at Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church in Philadelphia by Bishop Michael J. Dudick.  He was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ by Bishop Dudick on June 21, 1987 at Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church.  

Following ordination, he was assigned as Assistant Pastor to Father Paul Barnyock at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, NJ on July 15, 1987; on August 22, 1988, he was appointed Pastor of Holy Wisdom Byzantine Catholic Church in Flanders, NJ.  Later he was appointed Pastor of Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church in the Oak Lane section of Philadelphia where he remained until his retirement on September 2, 1996.

After his retirement from active parish ministry, he relocated to Puebla, Mexico where he lived at a local Catholic parish and practiced counseling services.  He also taught classes at a local medical college until 2010.  After this, he relocated to Houston, TX then to St. Petersburg FL and ultimately back to Philadelphia in August of 2021 for reasons of health.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters: + Helen (Tate), + Mary Jane (Rafferty) and + Sally (Magee).  He is survived by his nephew David Rafferty as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many family and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Tuesday at 9 AM at Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church.  The Funeral of a Priest with Pouring of Oil will be celebrated at 11 AM.  Committal prayers with Military Honors will be held on Wednesday at 1:30 PM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Father Brown's memory may be made to the Eparchy of Passaic for assistance for Ukrainian refugees;  Eparchy of Passaic (with "refugees" in the memo), 445 Lackawanna Ave, Woodland Park, New Jersey, 07424.  

"Well done, my good and faithful servant...Come, share your master's joy"  (Mt 23)

May his memory be eternal.

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