Msgr. Joseph M. Champlin (May 11, 1930 – January 17, 2008) was a Roman Catholic priest, author, and lecturer.
Life.
Champlin was born on May 11, 1930, in Hammondsport, New York, the son of Francis Malburn and Katherine Masson Champlin and stepson of Charles Haynes. He was educated in his hometown public schools before graduating from Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts. After studying at Yale and Notre Dame Universities, he entered Saint Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, New York. He was ordained Thursday, February 2, 1956, and enjoyed a full and varied priestly ministry for over 50 years.
Champlin's first assignment was the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, New York. He subsequently served as pastor at Holy Family in Fulton, New York and St. Joseph in Camillus, New York, and returned to the Cathedral where he retired after serving as Rector from 1995 to 2005. At the time of his death, he was the sacramental priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Warners, New York, and later in the Our Lady of Pompei school (Syracuse New York). In addition to his pastoral ministry, Champlin served as the Diocesan Director of Parish Life and Worship, and associate director in the Liturgy Secretariat for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC. Champlin was an enthusiastic supporter of the institution of the ministry of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
A prolific writer, he wrote 50 books with over 20 million copies of his publications in print. For many years, he authored a weekly column on liturgy and worship, appeared in a dozen videos, and made numerous television appearances. He also frequented local radio with inspirational insights, always concluding with, “You may have tried everything else, why not try God?”
 He spent a year at the North American College in Rome, Italy.
In 1997, Champlin founded the Guardian Angel Society, a non-profit domestic trust effort to provide tuition assistance to children from economically challenged homes. The Society has raised close to $2 million and as of 2019 helped 300 youngsters reach their academic potential and have a better chance at life.
Champlin traveled more than two million miles here and abroad, lecturing on liturgical and pastoral matters as well as conducting retreats for priests and parish missions.
Death.
Champlin died January 17, 2008, at age 77 from a rare form of cancer. Having been diagnosed with Waldenstrom's, a bone marrow disease, in 2002, his health had been slowly deteriorating. Champlin had arranged to donate his body to Upstate Medical Center to help others through medical research to find cures for disease. Upon return of Champlin's cremains from Upstate Medical Center, they were interred on March 19, 2009, in the crypt of the Syracuse Cathedral.
References.
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