Gordon Eugene Marcellus was born on March 2, 1934, in Greenfield Center, New York, the son of Artell Marcellus and Amelia Pero. He had two brothers and three sisters. He was baptized on March 26, 1941, at Saint John the Baptist Church, Schaghticoke, New York, and attended Schaghticoke Elementary School and Hoosick Valley Central High School, Valley Falls, NY, from which he graduated in 1950. He then worked on the New York Central Railroad from 1951 until 1953. Gordon entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, NY, as a postulant in 1953 and was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1954. After a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY, he professed simple vows on September 10, 1955 after which he attended Villanova University, and received his BA in Philosophy in 1959. He pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, DC, and received his MA in Theology. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1958 and was ordained to the priesthood on February 9, 1963, by Bishop Edward Maginn, Ordinary of Albany, at Saint Augustine Church, Troy, NY.
Father Gordon was assigned in 1963 to Saint Joseph Friary where he taught at Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, PA. From 1968 to 1970, he was the Procurator of Saint Mary’s Hall, the Augustinian House of Formation at Villanova. He returned to Msgr. Bonner High School as the school’s business manager in 1970. From 1972 to 1974 he was the business manager for Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, PA. From 1974 to 1978 he was the Director of Province Planned-Giving, and from 1978 to 1988 Director of the Augustinian Seminary Guild. During this period, he was a member of the communities of Malvern, St. Joseph Friary, the Provincial House at Villanova, and Saint Augustine Friary, Villanova, successively. Father Gordon was then assigned to Saint Augustine Parish, Andover, Massachusetts in 1986 and returned to Msgr. Bonner High School, first as Principal in 1987, and then President in 1994. In 1997 he was assigned to Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova, and soon after to Saxony Hall, Rosemont, PA. He was appointed Director of Development for Villanova University in 1997, and Associate Director of Development for the Province, from 2006 until 2011. In 2010 he once again became a member of the Villanova Monastery community. In 2012 he formally retired from active ministry but continued as a frequent confessor for the retreatants at the Malvern Retreat House, as he had done during his many years in the Villanova area. Father Gordon was hospitalized briefly in March 2020 and, after several days at Bryn Mawr Terrace, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2020.
Father Gordon Marcellus’ contribution to the educational apostolate of the Province over many years was significant, as was his service on behalf of the Province’s own internal life. He was 86 years old at his death and 64 years a religious.
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Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
