Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial for Monsignor Francis X. Zorbach, who died on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The longtime pastor of St. Philip Neri Church in Linthicum, had been in residence at Our Lady Queen of Peace at the time of his death.
Francis Xavier Zorbach was born on March 29, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland to George and Anna (Bergman) Zorbach. He attended grade school at St. Elizabeth’s School and then St. Charles High School and College. He attended St. Mary’s Seminary on Paca Street where he completed his study of philosophy. He completed his study of theology at Catholic University. He was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ by Archbishop Francis P. Keough on June 7, 1952.
Father Zorbach’s first assignment was as an associate pastor at St. Adrian/St. Mildred from June 1952 to October 1958. The parishes closed in 1967. He then served as associate pastor at Ss. Philip & James from October 1958 to June 1970. In June of 1970, Father Zorbach was transferred to St. Philip Neri and was named Pastor the following year. He remained Pastor at St. Philip Neri for the next 32 years and retired with the title Pastor Emeritus in July 2003.
On February 10, 1990, Father Zorbach was bestowed the title of Monsignor, Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II.
In April 2005, Monsignor was asked by the Maryland State Court of the Catholic Daughters of America to be their State Chaplain which he graciously accepted and was officially installed at their 43rd Biennial State Convention in Ocean City, Maryland.
Monsignor Zorbach’s body will lie in state on Tuesday, November 11, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace and on Wednesday, November 12, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Philip Neri, where a Christian Wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m.