Date of death: 12/15/2020
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1983
The Reverend Clifton E. Bishop, 65, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill Campus, on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Born in Richmond, VA, Father Bishop is the son of the late Clifton and Virginia (Carlin) Bishop. Father Bishop attended LaRoche College, Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree. He studied for the Priesthood at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD, where he earned a Masters of Divinity Degree in Theology.
He was ordained to the Priesthood on June 6, 1998 by Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, Bishop of Allentown, at Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown. Father Bishop’s first priestly assignment was Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph Parish, Reading; followed by Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield; Parochial Vicar, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hellertown; Parochial Vicar, St. Catharine of Siena Parish, Mount Penn; and Parochial Vicar, St. Anne Parish, Bethlehem. His first pastoral assignment was Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Sacred Heart Parishes, Nesquehoning; followed by Pastor, Incarnation of Our Lord and Holy Ghost Parishes, Bethlehem. During the course of his priestly ministry, Father Bishop served as Chaplain, Kutztown University, Kutztown; Chaplain, Albright College, Reading; and Chaplain, Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem. He also was a Member of the Marian Catholic High School Advisory Board. Father Bishop retired in December of 2018, with residence at Holy Family Villa, Bethlehem.