Father David C. Liebner

OREFIELD - Reverend David C. Liebner, 56, Assistant Pastor of Saint Joseph the Worker Church, Orefield died Tuesday at his residence. A native of Pottsville, he was born on May 14, 1952, a son of the late Fred J. and Anna Marie McMurtrie Liebner. He attended Saint Patrick's Elementary School and graduated from Nativity, B.V.M. High School in 1970. He also went to Orange County Community College, NY; Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C. and Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, PA. Father Liebner was ordained to the Priesthood on May 10, 1980 at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, by Bishop Joseph McShea. His first assignment began on June 16, 1980 when he was assigned as a Professor at Marian Catholic High School, Tamaqua, with his residence at Saint Canicus Church, Mahanoy City. Father Liebner also served as Assistant Pastor Pro Tempore at Saint Canicus Church, Mahanoy City; Assistant Pastor Pro Tempore at Saint Joseph Church, Summit Hill; Professor at Nativity B.V.M. High School, Pottsville; Assistant Pastor Pro Tempore, Saint Stephen Church, Port Carbon; Assistant Pastor, Saint Paul Church, Reading;; Assistant Pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Allentown; Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception Church, Jim Thorpe; Assistant Pastor, Saint Joseph Church, Reading; Assistant Pastor, Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena Allentown; Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi Church and Saint Barbara Church, Minersville and Assistant Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker Church, Orefield. Father Liebner served in the following secondary assignments: Advocate to the Diocesan Tribunal; Regional Director Vocations Apostolate, Schuylkill County; Bishop's Ceremony Team; Regional Youth Director, South Schuylkill Deanery; Regional Director of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Berks County and Carbon and East Schuylkill Counties; and Regional Coordinator of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) of Berks County. Surviving Fr. Liebner are: three borthers, Fred and his wife Ann Marie, Pine Grove, John J. and his wife Barbara, Pottsville and Mark and his wife Karen, Port Carbon; three sisters, Mary and her husband Charles Cagle, Lake Wynonah, Anne and her husband Michael Liptock, Pottsville and Jane and her husband David Wallner, Exeter Twp; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Father Liebner on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Patrick's Church, 319 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA. The Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, Bishop of Allentown, will preside. Family and friends may call at the church Monday evening from 7-9 PM and Tuesday from 9 until time of service. Interment will be private, held at the convenience of the family in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: the Allentown Diocese Youth Ministry, C/O Msgr. Gerald E. Gobitas, Diocese of Allentown, PO Box F, Allentown, PA 18105. The Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, Inc., 6th & W. Market St., Pottsville, is handling the arrangements. Condolences can be sent online by visiting out website at www.bestlifetributes.com.