Msgr. Roy Kline

Msgr. Roy F. Kline, 93, of Garvey Manor Hollidaysburg died Tuesday January 29, 2019 at the Manor.

Msgr. Kline was born in Spangler, Pa on August 20, 1925, son of the late Otto and Helen (Lehmier) Kline.

He retired in 2001 and is a senior priest for Altoona-Johnstown Diocese with 50 years service.

He was a member of Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Altoona, Pa.

Msgr. Kline attended St. Patrick’s School in Spangler for eight years under the tutelage of the Sisters of the lmmaculate Heart of Mary. Feeling the attraction of a call to the priesthood, Msgr. Kline, through his pastor, Father Joseph C. Kreiter, made application to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, the only seminary in the United States directly under the supervision of the Pope. There he completed his high school, college and theological studies and was ordained at the seminary by the Apostolic Delegate to the United States on May 26, 1951.

Msgr. Kline was first assigned as assistant pastor to Father Jeremiah P. Flynn at St. Patrick’s Parish, Newry, Pa with the mission church of St. Anne, Claysburg, Pa. After five years in Newry, Msgr. Kline was named assistant principal of Altoona Catholic High School with residence at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. It was also at this time that he was appointed Episcopal Master of Ceremonies, a position that he held 40 years for five bishops. At the same time he was made the chaplain of the Catholic Daughters of the America, Eugene A. Garvey, Court #652, in Altoona. In August of 1962 he was named Monsignor with the title of Papal Chamberlain, then in December of 1986 he was raised to the dignity of a Prelate of Papal of Honor to His Holiness.

In the summer of 1968 Msgr. Kline was appointed pastor of St. Therese “The Little Flower” Parish in Altoona, an assignment where he remained for twenty seven tears. All the while he continued as Master of Ceremonies. During the summers of 1946-49 as a seminarian he attended the Pius X School of Liturgical Music in New York City. He served on the diocesan liturgical commission for 34 years and was its chairman for 17 years. He also served on the Boards of Directors of Blair County Civic Music Association for 20 years and Mount Aloysius College, Cresson for 8 years. In August of 1988 he led the St. Therese Parish Choir on a piligrimage to ltaly with stops in Milan, Florence, Assisi and Rome where the choir sang for the Sunday High Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and Monsignor concelebrated at the altar of the Chair.

In June 1995, Msgr. Kline was appointed pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Duncansville. While there he installed new carpet in the church and new electronic chimes were installed in the bell tower. In June of 2001 Msgr. Kline retired and took up residence at the Cathedral in Altoona as a senior priest with sacramental ministry. He accepted chaplaincy of the Serra Club in the summer of 2001. His travels have taken him to Quebec and Ontario in Canada, to Florida, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, California, Washington, Hawaii, Michigan, New England States, Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Mallorca, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Mexico. Tangiers in Africa and aloft in a hot air balloon. He visits relatives in Ohio and Virginia. In his free moments he might be found listening to his extensive collection of classical music recordings.

Msgr. Kline is survived by 2 nephews Andrew (Jackie) Kline of Camp Hill, Pa and Paul (Gail) Kline of Amelia, VA 2 great nephews Joshua and Caleb Kline of Amelia, VA 2 cousins Rosemary Kline of New Cumberland, Pa and Darlene Fritz of Chardon, OH. He was preceded in death by a bother Paul and a cousin Helen O’Leary.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Monday February 4, 2019 at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament with Bishop Mark L. Bartchak celebrant.

Committal Rites will be at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Nicktown, Pa.

Friends will be received from 6:30-8:30 PM Sunday, February 3, 2019 at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona, Pa.