Henry M. Bradbury

Rev. Henry M. Bradbury, C.M. entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 13, 2020, at St. Catherine’s Infirmary in Germantown, PA. He was 89 years old and had been in residence since 2018. Born in Brooklyn, NY, one of five siblings, Henry was a parishioner of Good Shepherd Parish, a neighborhood church that produced several Vincentian vocations. Soon after graduating from St. John’s Prep, Henry entered novitiate thus beginning a nearly seventy-year long relationship with the Congregation of the Mission. He pronounced his perpetual vows in 1953 and after six years of theological and ecclesiastical studies at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, PA he was ordained a priest by the Vincentian Bishop John O’Shea in 1959. During his 61 years of faithful service, Fr. Bradbury had many titles including that of teacher, spiritual director, chaplain, pastor, superior and an educator at both the high school and university levels. A kind and spiritual instructor who loved teaching as much as learning, he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Scripture from the Catholic University of America in 1970. From the southernmost and sunny tip of Miami, FL, to the frozen tundra of Niagara University, Fr. Bradbury left a legacy of good friends, lessons learned and a keen awareness and living example of corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Through the sacraments and his quiet but consistent example, he followed in the footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul and invited others to do the same. St. Vincent de Paul, in January 1617 while preaching a mission, heard the confession of a dying man who had not had the opportunity for the Sacrament for 40 years. It was this moment that moved St. Vincent de Paul to invite other priests to join him in the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission. For his last 15 years of ministry as a priest Fr. Henry Bradbury, C.M. was in the spirit of Vincent de Paul both preacher and confessor at St. John’s University. Fr. Bradbury was a common face at St. Thomas More Church as Daily Mass celebrant and confessor. After 61 years of faithful service as a Vincentian priest, Fr. Bradbury has earned his eternal rest. Condolences may be sent to: Mr. Robert Bradbury (brother), C/O Murray Funeral Home 1220 Bethlehem Pike Flourtown, PA 19031.