Msgr. Harry Joseph Byrne

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Msgr. Harry Joseph Byrne, who served as pastor of two parishes in Manhattan for more than a quarter-century and was chancellor of the archdiocese, died May 28. He was 99.

Msgr. Byrne was pastor of Epiphany, 1982-1996, and St. Joseph’s, Yorkville, 1970-1982.

Cardinal Dolan was to preside at the burial June 3 in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne.

In 2017, Msgr. Byrne was indicted for possessing pornographic images of young girls on his computer at St. John Vianney Center for Retired Priests in the Bronx. A judge later determined that Msgr. Byrne was unable to participate in his defense and the case could not move forward.

Msgr. Byrne also served the archdiocese as assistant chancellor; archdiocesan service corporation director; archdiocesan service corporation assistant; executive secretary of the committee for housing and urban renewal; board of commission for community planning; and diocesan consultor.

He was parochial vicar of St. Thomas More, St. Francis de Sales, St. Emeric and Our Lady of Victory, all Manhattan, and St. Jerome, the Bronx.
Born in the Bronx, he graduated from Iona Preparatory School, New Rochelle. He studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie. He earned his JCD in canon law at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

He was ordained in 1945 and named a monsignor in 1968.
A Memorial Mass will be offered at a later date.

Msgr. Harry Joseph Byrne