Parishioners at St. Dominic Parish organized a farewell reception for the Rev. Brian Connolly, who will become parochial administrator at Assumption BVM Parish in West Grove, Chester County.
Connolly was not at St. Dominic for long, but parishioners grew close to him and he loved serving as pastor.
Ordained in 2017, Connolly was named parochial administrator of St. Dominic in June 2023. He had been pastor since June 2025.
As of July 1, the Rev. John Hutter is parochial administrator at Holmesburg-based St. Dominic, a 177-year-old parish that is the oldest Catholic church in the Northeast. Hutter had been a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Southampton.
Connolly celebrated his last Sunday Mass on June 28. The entrance hymn was Lift High the Cross, which is also the theme for the Dollars for Doms fundraiser, which seeks to raise money to place a cross back on the church steeple.
During the Mass, Connolly thanked staff, parishioners, the choir and altar servers.
At the reception in Marian Hall, parishioners presented Connolly with a green vestment, and Tim Sharkey led fellow parishioners in giving the pastor a blessing. Connolly offered a blessing to parishioners.
St. Dominic principal Christopher Pugliese attended the Mass and reception, and Knights of Columbus Holmesburg Council 1284 presented Connolly with a certificate of appreciation.
Connolly is expected to make return appearances for a Veterans Day Mass organized by the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association and for the placing of the cross on the steeple. ••
