The Rev. Monsignor Edmund G. Haddad, 86, of 222 June Street, former Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Worcester and servant of GOD for more than 56 years, died Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 at his residence. He leaves a sister, Helen M. Faddoul of Shrewsbury and nephews and nieces. A brother Joseph E. Haddad and two sisters, Eugenie Thomas and Alice Haddad predeceased him.
Monsignor Haddad was born in Worcester, a son of Elias F. and Isabel (Ashkar) Haddad and lived and served his constituents in Worcester County for most of his life. He graduated from the former Commerce High School in 1935, and received an A.B. Degree from Holy Cross College in 1939. He attended Boston College, Business School for Law and Finance. He studied for five years earning degrees at the Seminary of Philosophy and the Grand Seminary of Theology in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Monsignor Haddad was pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish for 20 years retiring in 1989. He was elevated to Domestic Prelate by his Holiness, Pope Paul VI in June 1966. Previously Monsignor Haddad was Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Worcester for several years. He was Vice Chancellor from 1959-1966 and served as Assistant Chancellor from 1951-1959.
In addition to his service at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Monsignor Haddad served as Pastor and administrator at Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster, Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Worcester, St. Bernard’s Parish in Fitchburg, St. Francis Parish in Bolton, St. Joseph’s Parish in Auburn, and St. Leo’s Parish in Leominster. Most recently, he served as Assistant Pastor at St. Columba’s Parish in Paxton with his nephew, Fr. John D. Thomas.
Monsignor Haddad was a member of the Diocesan Building Commission, the Diocesan School Board, Canon Law Society of America, Bishop Beaven Assembly-4th degree Knights of Columbus, St. Thomas More Society. He was a Trustee of St. Vincent’s Hospital Corporation in Worcester and St. Camillus Hospital in Whitinsville. He was a director of the Worcestesr Area Mental Health Association, and a director of the Worcester Housing Corporation. He was director and treasurer of the Interfaith Housing Corporation. He was named an Overseer of Old Sturbridge Village, an Incorporator of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and served as a member of its first Distribution Committee. He was elected to The First Priests and First Dean of the Deanery I. In 1981, Msgr. Haddad was invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher by Maximilian Cardinal de Furstenberg. Msgr. Haddad initiated the Bishop’s Fund in Worcester and managed it for more than 10 years. He was instrumental in creating catastrophic property insurance for the Diocese of Worcester and helped develop clergy benefit plans for the Diocese. In 1984, along with Canon Clyde Cox, Rev. Wallace Robbins, and Rev. Donald Simpson, Monsignor Haddad reinstituted the St. Wulstan Society which was originally founded between 1862 and 1883.
The funeral will be held Monday, November 24 at 10:30 AM in Blessed Sacrament Church, 551 Pleasant St. Burial will be in the family plot in Notre Dame Cemetery. Visiting hours at Blessed Sacrament Church, wherein Monsignor Haddad will lie in state, are from 4-8 PM on Sunday, November 23rd. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Monsignor Edmund G. Haddad may be made to Abby’s House, 52 High Street, Worcester, MA 01609.